How did How did

The Local PeopleThe Local People Respond to British rule Respond to British rule

After World War IIAfter World War II??

Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes• At the end of At the end of this chapter this chapter you will learn you will learn

about:about:

1.1. response of the local people to British ruleresponse of the local people to British rule

2.2. Steps taken by the British government to Steps taken by the British government to prepare Singapore for limited self-governmentprepare Singapore for limited self-government

Post-War Conditions in Singapore Post-War Conditions in Singapore

• World War II ended with World War II ended with the defeat of Japanthe defeat of Japan..

• The Japanese surrendered on The Japanese surrendered on 1515thth August 1945. August 1945.

Post-War Conditions in Singapore Post-War Conditions in Singapore

• On On 55thth September 1945 September 1945, the British troops , the British troops returned to Singapore. returned to Singapore.

• On On 1212thth September 1945 September 1945, a grand victory parade , a grand victory parade was held at the Padang to celebrate the Japanese was held at the Padang to celebrate the Japanese surrender in Singapore.surrender in Singapore.

The raising of the Union Jack at The raising of the Union Jack at the Padangthe Padang

The British Flag was raised again The British Flag was raised again in 1945 in Singapore after 3 ½ in 1945 in Singapore after 3 ½ years.years.

Let Us Ponder?Let Us Ponder?

• Why did the local people celebrate and Why did the local people celebrate and welcome the return of the British troops to welcome the return of the British troops to Singapore?Singapore?

• Do you think the feeling of jubilation among Do you think the feeling of jubilation among the local people lasted for long? Why?the local people lasted for long? Why?

The return of the British The return of the British to Singapore to Singapore

==PeacePeace

BUTBUT the people were still not the people were still not

free from free from

hardshiphardship

Post-War Conditions in Singapore Post-War Conditions in Singapore

Post-War Problems in SingaporePost-War Problems in Singapore

• JoblessJobless• PovertyPoverty• Shortage of foodShortage of food, water, electricity and , water, electricity and

housinghousing• People lived in slum conditionsPeople lived in slum conditions• Diseases were commonDiseases were common• Poor sanitationPoor sanitation• Lack of health servicesLack of health services

Post-War SingaporePost-War Singapore

• The difficult living The difficult living conditions made the conditions made the local people very local people very unhappyunhappy..

• After 1945, there After 1945, there were were waves of strikes waves of strikes and work stoppagesand work stoppages by thousands of by thousands of workers.workers.

Post-War SingaporePost-War Singapore

• Strikes took place so often in Strikes took place so often in 1947 that the year was known 1947 that the year was known as as ‘The Year of Strikes’.‘The Year of Strikes’.

– More than 300 strikes by almost More than 300 strikes by almost 70, 000 workers were held in the 70, 000 workers were held in the year aloneyear alone..

• How do you think this would How do you think this would affect Singapore?affect Singapore?

Post-War SingaporePost-War Singapore

• The strikes became worse with the The strikes became worse with the involvement of involvement of the Malayan Communist Party the Malayan Communist Party (MCP)(MCP)..

– The Communists stirred up people’s feelings The Communists stirred up people’s feelings against the British through trade unions.against the British through trade unions.

– They blamed the British for all the post-war They blamed the British for all the post-war problems.problems.

– They encouraged workers to join Communist-They encouraged workers to join Communist-controlled trade unions to fight for better working controlled trade unions to fight for better working conditions and higher pay.conditions and higher pay.

How did the British Respond?How did the British Respond?

• The British government passed laws to control The British government passed laws to control trade unionstrade unions

– From 1947 onwards, all unions had to register From 1947 onwards, all unions had to register with the government.with the government.

– This meant that the British can now monitor This meant that the British can now monitor membership to the trade unions and ensure that membership to the trade unions and ensure that money was not used for Communist-led activities.money was not used for Communist-led activities.

Change in Political Attitude of the Local Change in Political Attitude of the Local PeoplePeople

• A group of local people emerged who began to A group of local people emerged who began to think about the future of Singaporethink about the future of Singapore

– Their attitude towards the British government had Their attitude towards the British government had changed since the Japanese Occupation.changed since the Japanese Occupation.

– Their attitude was also influenced by external eventsTheir attitude was also influenced by external events• Many countries around the world that were under colonial Many countries around the world that were under colonial

rule had gained independencerule had gained independence

All these made the local All these made the local people people want to govern want to govern

themselves.themselves.

They want to have a hand in shaping their own They want to have a hand in shaping their own fate. fate.

British Response?British Response?

• The British The British had no intentionhad no intention to give up to give up complete control over Singapore.complete control over Singapore.

• To win the support of the people, the British To win the support of the people, the British decided to introduce decided to introduce gradual changegradual change..

British Response?British Response?

• In In 19481948 – elections were – elections were introduced for the first timeintroduced for the first time– British allowed some locals to British allowed some locals to

be elected into the Legislative be elected into the Legislative CouncilCouncil

• The conduct of elections is an The conduct of elections is an important feature of important feature of democracydemocracy..

1948 Elections1948 Elections

• Low-key eventLow-key event– Only 13, 800 people turned up to vote in the Only 13, 800 people turned up to vote in the

election out of the population of 940, 000 election out of the population of 940, 000

WHY?WHY?– Many people Many people were not eligible to votewere not eligible to vote– The British only allowed The British only allowed those who were born in those who were born in

SingaporeSingapore to vote. to vote.– Voting was also Voting was also not made compulsorynot made compulsory..

1948 Elections1948 Elections

• Only the Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) Only the Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) contested in the 1948 election.contested in the 1948 election.

• SPP won SPP won 3 out of the 6 elected seats3 out of the 6 elected seats in the in the Legislative Council. Legislative Council. – The other 3 seats were won by Independents.The other 3 seats were won by Independents.

Singapore Progressive PartySingapore Progressive Party

• In the Legislative Council, the SPP worked In the Legislative Council, the SPP worked closely with the British governmentclosely with the British government

– The party fought for equal treatment for both local The party fought for equal treatment for both local and European civil servantsand European civil servants

– SPP introduced proposals to provide financial SPP introduced proposals to provide financial security for workers in their retirement or for security for workers in their retirement or for those are no longer able to work.those are no longer able to work.

Singapore Progressive PartySingapore Progressive Party

• The SPP was The SPP was not popular not popular with the Chinese-with the Chinese-educated localseducated locals

WHY?WHY?

– The party was made up of The party was made up of English-educated membersEnglish-educated members

– It was It was pro-Britishpro-British and believed in gradual self-government and believed in gradual self-government

– It did not press the British government for more changesIt did not press the British government for more changes