WHAT IS COLONIALISM?
Colonialism is the practice by which a country establishes direct political and economic control
over a place or the people (usually through military actions)
Colony is a place controlled by people from another country.
Positive effects:


Development of colonized country  industrialization, more jobs  economic growth
Civilisation  raise the standard of living
Negative effects:
Oppression of people, Exploitation of resources of the country, cultural tension, bringing in of
diseases which locals have no immunity to, loss of culture
REASONS FOR WESTERN COLONISATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
Conditions:
-
Long period of comparative peace in Europe  manpower and money available for colonization
Opening of Suez canal in 1869  journey to the East safer and faster
1. National pride and glory  competition among the European countries to gain supremacy over
each other due to the belief that more territories gained through colonialism would mean that
they were more powerful. Wanted to prevent newly unified Germany from being powerful
through acquiring new colonies
2. Political stability to SEA countries  enhance trade and industrial activity
- Example: In Perak, Malaya, conflicts with Chinese Secret Societies and succession disputes
hampered the progress of their tin mines.
3. Industrial Revolution  a shift from home to factory production  need for raw materials which
are found in abundance in SEA, markets to sell their goods
4. Spice Trade and Straits produce
5. China trade  silk, tea and porcelain, large market
- Ports in Southeast Asia would serve as a place for ships to dock before continuing to China
- Able to have a hand in protecting ships
6. Competition in Europe in acquiring colonies sped up the colonization process  wanted
monopoly of trade routes
SUPERIORITY COMPLEX
7. Idealism  belief in the superiority of one’s own culture and that locals can’t rule effectively
(colonization is required for the progress of the country)
8. Spread religion and ‘superior’ culture  improve welfare
Example: Religious zeal especially in the Philippines during the time of the Spain
Colonial Masters in SEA in the 19th century:
1. Britain – Singapore, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, Myanmar, Brunei
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Netherlands (Dutch) – Sumatra, Java, Moluccas islands, Kalimantan, West Iran (Indonesia)
France – Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam (Indochina)
Spain – Philippines (until 1898)
America – Philippines (from 1898)
Portugal – East Timor
REASONS FOR THE FOUNDING OF A THIRD PORT & SINGAPORE (DIFFERENT)
Reasons for a third port:
1. To break the Dutch Monopoly










Britain and Holland were rivals in SEA, however, in Europe they were allies who worked against
France.
In SEA, Dutch held key ports in Malacca and Batavia which had trade links with China and India
Britain had ports in Penang (1786) and Bencoolen
In 1795, France occupied Holland and Holland passed its territories in SEA, Malacca, to Britain
[the signing of the Kew Letters]  no motivation to find new port
Britain also occupied Java to prevent French occupation in 1811
1815 marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and Holland’s liberation
In 1816 and 1818, Britain returned Java and Malacca respectively to the Dutch
Dutch returned to SEA and had a monopoly of trade.
Dutch only allowed foreign ships at Batavia and taxed British traders heavily [port AND trade]
Britain needed to find a new trading settlement of a good geographical location to rival the
Dutch and break the Dutch monopoly of trade in the Archipelago, to secure their economic
rights.
2. Unsuitability of Penang and Bencoolen



Penang is too far north as an important port of call for ships to trade in the Malay Archipelago
Bencoolen is facing the Indian Ocean instead of the Straits of Malacca which was the main
trade route
Needed a third port with good geographical location to secure trade in the region
Reasons for the founding of Singapore:
1. Strategic Location
Singapore was located along the trade route between India and China. It was in the centre of
the Malay Archipelago and could serve as a collecting and distributing centre for SEA goods.
Singapore was also a convenient stopover for British trading vessels. Singapore could then be
used as a trading port to serve British trade in China and the Malay Archipelago.
2. Lack of obvious Dutch presence
Dutch friendship was required to maintain peace in Europe as well as Britain’s security in
Europe. Due to Holland’s close proximity to England, Britain needed her friendship to use
2
Holland as a strong buffer state. A lack of Dutch presence in Singapore would mean that they
would not antagonize the Dutch. Other suitable locations were already occupied by the Dutch.
3. Natural Conditions of Singapore
Deep harbour  ships could berth all the way in  save time and manpower
Fresh supply of water  sufficient amount of water for ships to re-stock their supply
Good geographical position  sheltered from harsh weather by Indonesian islands
ESTABLISHMENT OF SINGAPORE OF A COLONY







Stamford Raffles and William Farquhar set off on the Indiana in search of a suitable port of call.
Considered Karimun, Lingga, and Riau but they were already occupied by the Dutch (needed
Dutch friendship in Europe for Dutch to be a strong buffer state)
Temenggong running the island was agreeable with setting up a trading port but the final
decision lies with the Johor-Riau Sultanate, Sultan Abdul Rahman who was under Dutch control
Raffles also learned about the succession dispute between Sultan Abdul Rahman and Sultan
Hussein and decided to recognize Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan for Johor-Riau
Tengku Hussein was secretly brought into Singapore when he and the Temenggong signed a
treaty with the British allowing them to build a trading settlement in the southern part.
The Dutch strongly protested against this when they found out as they regarded Singapore as
under their influence and Singapore was a serious threat to the Batavia port
However as both sides did not stand to gain from a war, the Anglo-Dutch treaty was formed.
Anglo-Dutch Treaty (1824)
Reasons:
1. Holland as a buffer state for British due to its proximity to England [Holland used by France to
attack England before]
2. The Napoleonic Wars in Europe had also made Holland financially weak and they owed British
huge debts. Going to war would cripple their economy
Content of Treaty:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Divided the Malay Archipelago and the East Indies as two separate spheres of influence
Dutch ceded Malacca and her factories in India and the Malay peninsula to the British
Dutch also recognized Singapore as a British possession
British ceded Bencoolen and all her East India Company possession in Sumatra to the Dutch
Britain also agreed to not make any treaty with local rulers anywhere south of Singapore [Dutch
sphere of influence]
6. Most favoured Nation status granted to each other [priority in trade]
7. Holland’s monopoly of spice trade in the Moluccas accepted
8. Holland’s tin treaties in Perak and Selangor to lapse
9. Agree on custom rates for each other’s ships
10. Dutch agreed to pay 100 000 pounds worth of debt to the British government
11. Suppress piracy together
3
Aims and Effects:






End all hostility between the two country
Not very successful
Complaints from British traders about Dutch hampering their trade
Dispute over Borneo when it was ceded to the British by the Sultan of Brunei  Dutch protested
that Borneo was south of Singapore  solved in 1891
Creation of 2 separate spheres of influence
Split of Johor Empire into two parts [British and Dutch recognized]– Pahang eventually broke
away
Who is the founder of Singapore?
-
-
-
Sir Stamford Raffles:
Spotted the south coast of Singapore
Liased with the Temenggong
Thought of the idea to recognize Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan  crucial in obtaining
permission to establish trade in Singapore
Raffles Town Plan
Singapore Instituition
Closed gambling dens, discouraged drinking and opium smoking through heavy taxation,
banned prostitution
William Farquhar:
Offered rewards for every pest [rats and centipedes] caught  successfully exterminated these
pests and raised the standard of living
Encouraged people to live in Singapore  built up trading settlement and labour for industrial
activities
Set up a small police force  tackle problem of violence and disorder
John Crawfurd:
Officially made Singapore a British colony
Signed another treaty with Sultan Hussein in 1824 in which the Sultan and Temenggong
handed over the whole island to the British EIC.
SINGAPORE AS A COLONY
Political Aspect
In 1826, Penang, Malacca and Singapore became known as the Straits Settlements (SS) and
was controlled under one administration. This helped to cut down on manpower, time and
resources for Britain as one policy was applicable for all three places. Also, a common revenue
coffer ensured that the three settlements can help each other financially and the moving of
funds would be smoother. The SS saw an increase in trade and population as traders were
encouraged to trade there and there were no restrictions in immigration.
4
Singapore was the most developed of the Straits Settlements and made the greatest progress
in trade and population due to strategic location/natural conditions/economic policies. Made a
Presidency in 1826. Penang increased in trade and population too, but slowly. It was too far
north to become a major trading centre in the Malay Archipelago. Province Wellesly, which was
her hinterland, depended largely on agriculture which was the domain of indigenous people and
hence, was unable to attract Chinese immigrants. Malacca declined as a port with the rise of
Penang and Singapore. Heavy silting in the harbour meant that large ships could not berth and
hence, had to go to the trouble of docking further off at sea and using small smalls to carry their
goods. The population there was mainly Malay farmers.
From 1826 to 1867, the SS was placed under the government of India, which was the crown
colony of Britain, for the ease of communication. The Indian government would also be more
familiar with the SEA area. Furthermore, the SS was not deemed as very important. However, in
1867, the SS was placed directly under the Colonial Office in London and became a Crown
Colony.
The transfer of the SS was a result of protests made by people living in the SS. There were
mainly Europeans who settled in the SS as merchants, lawyers or newspaper editors. In as
early as 1857, they petitioned to the British Parliament for the SS to be ruled by London.
Reasons for transfer:
1. Inefficient administration
- Lack of officials [12 policemen in the whole neighbourhood] few officials to carry out duties
- Low Quality of officials  promising and young Indian officials all did not want to come to
Singapore as it was perceived as a demotion/not trained to local culture, language & conditions
As the India government did not want to incur extra expenditures of the SS, there was a lack of
officials to carry out government projects and administrative work. For instant, the Governor and
Resident doubled up as judges and heads of police forces, resulting in inefficiency. There was a
lack of officials to carry out important administrative work, such as land surveys and registration,
causing the land tenure to become highly disorganized. Furthermore, the officials sent were
usually of low quality. Many young and promising Indian officials did not want to be sent to the
SS as it was seen as a demotion. Those that came often had low morale and were disinterested
in their duties, which were further exacerbated by the lack of knowledge of the language, culture
and way of life in the SS. This resulted in the formation of inefficient policies and as trade and
population grew, the progress of the SS was impeded by the inefficient administration
2. Disinterest of Indian government  neglect
- Loss of British monopoly of trade with China in 1833  Penang and Singapore lost their use
- Many problems in SS Chinese secret societies, piracy  little done, no proper police
In 1833, British lost the monopoly of trade with China. Ports at Singapore and Penang was set
up to serve trade in China, hence after that, the India government was unwilling to incur any
extra expenditure on these ports, resulting in the neglect of SS. The problem of piracy and
Chinese secret societies were not tackled, and this threatened trade in the SS. Furthermore, the
merchants of SS wanted the India government to interfere in the Malaya states to protect their
5
commercial interests. Succession disputes between princes, rivalry between CSS and the
problem of piracy however, led to disruptions of tin trade in Perak and Selangor. With the policy
of non-intervention, the India government was unwilling to interfere as that would mean added
manpower and resources spent on the SS. This angered the SS Merchant community.
3. Lack of representation in Indian government – no say in policies, petitions took a year
4. Grievances against official policies
- Dumping of convicts in SS  threaten security
- Interference with trade and 1855 currency act  1856 attempted trade and port duties
In the 1855, the India government imposed the currency act which stated that the Indian rupee
would replace the Spanish silver dollar as the legal tender in the SS. This adversely affected
trade in the SS as the silver dollar was the common currency used. Furthermore, the Indian
rupee was not a currency recognized in international trade and was of a lower monetary value.
This caused the merchants to become very upset. In 1856, the Indian government also tried to
impose trade and port duties in the SS. Although this fell through eventually due to protests by
the SS community, the traders were convinced that the Indian government did not care about
their trade.
- Policy of non intervention in Malay states  succession disputes, secret societies, piracy
5. Growth of public opinion – key factor in causing the transfer eventually
After the transfer, a Governor [Sir Harry Ord] from the colonial office in London was placed in
charge of the SS. He had veto powers and was the most important person, assisted by the
Executive and Legislative Council. The Executive Council consisted of high ranking British
officials who advised and helped the governor in running the SS. The Legislative Council
consisted of members of the Executive council, as well as non-official members who were
traders and merchants. They helped to formulate laws. There was very little Asian participation
and the first Asian non-official member was Hoo Ah Kay (Whampoa).
Raffles Town Plan





is a plan initiated by Sir Stamford
organized the land specifically according to purpose and use: commercial area, government
buildings and residential areas
Residential areas are further split by races  efficiency in administration; each race has some
sort of a “leader” or head, whom the British just need to liaise with. Policies for that area also
just need to consider that specific race
is a logical use of space  people know where to go for different purposes
political interest  divide and conquer/rule [of races]  prevent the people from gathering
strength when they keep within their race
Economic Aspect
6
Singapore is developed mainly for its potential as a trading port due to its strategic location;
allowed Britain to trade with China and in the Malay Archipelago

Establishment of Singapore as a free port
Traders did not have to pay taxes for the usage of the port, nor import or export duties on any
goods brought in, like opium and liquor

Promotion of free trade in Singapore – minimal government interference
Did not enforce British Navigation Laws which required all trade between British colonies and
Britain to be carried out on British ships | Did not enforce the Anglo-Conventions which forbade
the Americans from trading in Singapore | No monopoly imposed by the government – traders
were free to trade anything with anyone

Establishment of entrepot trade
Port for selling and buying of goods; Singapore is located on main trading routes of India and
China, and is in the middle of the Malay Archipelago. Hence, many different goods from
different countries (e.g. china porcelain, Indian spices) can be sold and bought here, making
Singapore suitable for entrepot trade. European countries can also see their manufactured
products in Singapore. Furthermore, Singapore does not have any local produce to sell except
for gambier and hence is not suitable for the more conventional trade.

Maintaining safety at sea
Trade was sea-borne and piracy was active in the Straits of Malacca; Chinese pirates from
South China, Lanuns from North Borneos & Mindanaos from The Philippines. Britain sent gun
boats to patrol the region and got rid of pirate hideouts. Problem was never totally eradicated.

Attracting of immigrants to settle into Singapore
Immigrants to provide abundance of low skilled workers for the development of Singapore.

External factors: Opening of Suez canal
Made the route to the East shorter than the Cape of Good Hope route and hence, made the
Straits of Malacca more impt. than the Sunda Straits. SG became a more important port of call.
Social Aspect
In the 19th century, British did very little to improve the lives of the people in the SS as their main
concern was for economic gains and improving the welfare of the people would require both
money and manpower. However, from the end of the 19th century, things started to change
Education

19th century – Education in the hands of private organizations/individual communities
Classic Chinese vernacular education provided by temples and clan associations [high
emphasis on education in Chinese society due to high status of scholars]
Semi-government sponsored Malay schools  deplorable quality
Missionaries schools, e.g. SJI, St. Andrew’s Boys School
7
This caused segregation and the government has little control over what was taught

20th century – helped English and Malay schools
Higher demand for English-speaking people for jobs in government and businesses 
government provided grants
Established the Queen’s scholarship further studies in British universities local pool of talent
Setting up of a medical college funds raised by Asians [King Edward VII College of Medicine]
1928, Raffles College was opened  higher learning
Chinese schools were neglected  anti-British feelings  British plans for China colonialism
Concentrated on English schools to maintain loyalty among English-speaking Chinese and
students versed in English proved as assets to the British colonial government [civil servants]
Public Health

19th century – poor living conditions
Lack of sanitary facilities in Singapore and over-crowding in Chinatown  high death rate in
Singapore  affected reputation of Singapore  turned away potential traders

20th century
1887, Public Health Department was set up; malaria committee  supervise infilling of
mosquito-infested swamps, replacing pail system with a modern water-carriage sewage system,
clearing dirty streets and drains
Quarantine Law  prevent the spread of cholera and small pox  St. John’s island was used to
isolate locals and foreigners who had infectious disease
Lim Boon Keng [first Asia to join the Legislative council] campaigned against poor quarters in
Singapore; conducted the health survey in 1906; expansion of General Hospital in 1907
A general hospital, leper camp and lunatic asylum was also set up and the outpatient clinics
were set up in 1882.
Law and Order

-
Chinese Secret Societies
Originated from China  traced from Fujian province
In existence since warring states
Notions of “brotherhood” and kinship
Blood oaths of loyalty
Strong Nationalistic feelings  during the Qing Dynasty when the Man Chu minority took over
the government, they assumed political acts of rebellion and strife
First society in Singapore was the Ghee Hin Kongsi – an offshoot from “Tiandi Hui”, an anti
Manchu organisation
About 25% to 30% of the Chinese population in Singapore was involved in secret societies
8
-
-
-
By mid 19th century, secret societies started engaging in illegal activities to ensure a livelihood
for all its “brothers”  gambling dens, opium smuggling, protection money, coolie trade,
brothels, robbed, murder, arson
1850s was the peak of Chinese Immigration and the peak of Chinese secret societies as more
shady characters arrived  Short Daggers Rebellion Amoy 1853/4
Social unrest as rivalry between different secret societies exploded in open warfare.
 1846, 1851 against members who turned to the Catholic Church
 1854 riot sparked off from someone purchasing rice 600 deaths
 Great disorder, loss of life and property
At least 5 different secret societies with the largest being the Hokkien Ghee Hin
Used body and hand signals to avoid arrest by the authorities and to ensure secrecy
-
Reasons why Chinese immigrants joined Chinese secret societies:
1. Provided social structure for new immigrants known as “Sinkehs”
2. Livelihood  helped to find employment
3. Protection  helped to settle disputes, protected them from other secret societies
4. Spiritual Fulfillment  code of brotherhood, could fuel nationalistic sentiments
-
Problems faced by British:
1. Small police force due to low wages and poor weapons
2. Most of them accepted bribes
3. Largely made up of non Chinese speaking Malays and Indians – could not solve disputes
4. Key British officials had little knowledge of Chinese culture and languages
5. Weak support and protection for “sinkehs”
-
Measures taken to suppress secret societies:
1. 1869 Dangerous Societies Suppression Ordinance (DSSO) was passed: Registration of
societies, police and magistrates to attend meetings, illegal to administer oaths
2. 1877 Chinese Immigrants Ordinance and Crimping Ordinance: Licensing recruiting agents
and boarding of incoming ships, protecting of new immigrants
3.



1877 Chinese Protectorate:
First protectorate – William Pickering; could speak many Chinese dialects
Registration of societies
encouraged Chinese immigrants to settle problems at the protectorate  weakened power
of secret society leaders
 controlled coolie trade by registering coolie agents and lodging houses
 rescued young girls being sold to brothels, built up relationship between British and Chinese
secret societies through trust
 GRADUAL suppression of secret societies – unique as other colonies had total suppression
4. Strict regulation of gambling – attack on Pickering sent by the Ghee Hok
9
5. 1890 Societies Ordinance:
 All secret societies declared illegal
 banishment to China – effective as China was also clamping down on secret societies [anti
Manchu activities]
 Big “hui” broke into smaller bands – remained in existence but could not recover the large
organizations and widespread power.
-
Secret societies during Japanese Occupation: power was subdued due to harsh punishments of
Japanese
Post-war period:
 Involvement in politics  setting up of Malayan Hung Chi Gung in 1947
 Legislators found to have links with secret societies in 1954
 Involvement in riots in 1950s and 60s: Hock Lee Bus Riots in 1955
 Criminal Law Ordinance introduced in 1958: detainment without trial. CID se up a secret
societies branch.
WHAT IS MILITARISM?
Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a
strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national
interests.
Militarism is deep rooted in Japan.
Origin of Militarism in Japan:
 Edo Era (1603 – 1868) – Samurai leaders [Tokugawa Shogunate]
 Meji Restoration Era (1868 – 1912) – period of modernization and restoration of the emperor.
10





Background:
Strong Japan nationalistic fever
Militarism was intensified in the 1920s when the parliamentary system did not work [The Diet]
There was blind faith in the Emperor
The Japanese military became a political organisation, seeking to advance its goals or growth,
power and wealth accumulation. Officers were widely involved in national politics and
government. Its near autonomous status gave it tremendous power
Japan defeated a Western power, Russia, in 1905 [Russo-Japanese War]
REASONS FOR RISE OF MILITARISM IN JAPAN
1. Desire to be a Western-style imperialist power (Up to 1905)
- Make Japan a first-rate nation on par with other Western countries  bring about power,
prestige, and territory.
- Wanted to demand for rights and privileges in Asian countries
2. Concerns for safety and security (Up to 1905)
- Provide defence against RUSSIA, and other western powers (Fear of being invaded)
- Need to control Korea which borders Russia and China  geographical location makes it an
essential element to control to protect Japan
- Western powers could cause China to collapse  profound impact on Japan’s security
3. Leadership role in Asia (1905-1930)
- Manifest Destiny  believed that they were descendants of the sun goddess  entitled to a
leadership role
- First to defeat a western power (Russia in 1905)
- Free Asia countries from Western rule
4. Frequent provocations from the Western powers (1905-1930)
- 1919: Rejected racial Equality clause in the League of Nations Convenant at the Paris
Peace Conference
- 1921-1922: Washington Naval conference – Battleship ratio of 5:5:3
- 1924: Japanese Exclusion Act – shut off Japanese immigration into the US
- 1930: London Naval Conference – heavy cruiser ration of 5:5:3
5. Secure economic interests (1930 – WWII)
- Heavy dependence of foreign trade  badly hit due to the Great Depression
- Economic growth required strong exports and imports of raw materials  Invasion of
Manchuria for iron and coal
- Maintain self sufficiency
- Increase in Japanese population  more resources and food imports needed to support the
population  if otherwise, the economy will decline
The Western imperialists played an integral part in the rise of militarism in Japan. In some cases,
Japan followed the example of these countries (1). In others, Japan need to counteract or
defend against these western powers (2 – 5)
REASONS FOR JAPANESE COLONIZATION OF SINGAPORE AND MALAYA
11
Condition: Britain was preoccupied with the war in Europe. Left Singapore and Malaya
vulnerable
1. More Japanese believed in colonization
- Rise in societies and groups believing in the benefits of colonization in the 1930s
- Successful invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and China in 1937 boosted the cause of
colonization
2. Natural resources (economic interests)
- Lack of raw materials  for war effort and industries
- Trade suffered greatly due to the Great Depression  no imports of raw materials
- Trade embargo imposed by America and Britain in 1940
- War in China depleted natural resources
3. End western influence
- Perceived discrimination  Strained relationship [exacerbated by the China war]
- Wanted to oust Britain from Malaya and Singapore
4. Food and Living space
- Population increased rapidly  from 30mil in 1870 to 55mil in 1920 and 80mil in 1937
- Needed more living space
- Needed more food  limited agricultural land
5. Set up the greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere (Leadership role)
- To become the leader for the power and prestige
- Political independence and economic prosperity
TAKING OVER OF MALAYA
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Used Thailand as a base
Landed on both the west [Jitra] and east [Kota Bahru] of Malaysia Dec 1941
Attacked by the unguarded jungle which was deemed as a natural barrier by the British
Moved by tanks and bicycle
Set up headquarters’ at Sultan of Johor’s Palace by Jan 1942  Bird’s eye view of what was
happening [esp. in Singapore]
6. Sinking of the Repulse and the Prince of Wales off the coast of Kuantan
SINGAPORE – THE IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS



Air defence:
 Air bases built in Sembawang, Tengah and Seletar
 Sir Winston Churchill had promised to send more planes
Sea defence:
 Biggest naval base in the region built – King George VI Dock
 The Repulse and The Prince of Wales
 Guns were pointing towards the sea
Land defence:
 130000 land soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, India
12
 Built bunkers in Fort Canning, Sembawang, Labrador
TAKING OVER OF SINGAPORE




Air Raids  prevented the Allied troops from receiving aid
Fierce fighting commenced in Singapore
After one week of futile fighting, the Japanese captured the reservoirs, ammunitions and food
depots in Singapore
It took the Japanese just 8 days to conquer Singapore, from 8 to 15 February 1942
REASONS FOR JAPANESE VICTORY
1. Well-planned strategies
 Gathered intelligence about British defence
 Knew that Singapore’s sea defence was strong – attacked by Northern jungles
 Captured well-sited airfields at Kota Bahru, Alor Star and Taiping
 Broken importance defence lines at Jitra and Silm River
 Captured small towns by having small boat landings along the east and west coast of
Malaya
 Conducted frequent air raids as Singapore and Malaya’s air defence was weak
 Moved by bicycles and tanks for efficiency— emphasised on the speed of their attack,
never allowing the British forces time to re-group
 Set up headquarters at the Sultan’s palace in JB to get a bird’s eye view of what was
happening in Singapore
 Bombed Changi and Pulau Ubin to lure British soldiers away from north western
Singapore
2. Militarily superior army
 Prepared for tropical warfare – took precautions against malaria and sunstroke
 Well-trained in jungle warfare
 Experienced – had seen many years of action in China and Manchuria
 Prepared for hardship
 Training in landing manoeuvres @ indo-china and Thailand
 Learned to commandeer vehicles used
3. High Morale of Soldiers
 destruction of the American Fleet at Pearl Harbour, which resulted in their aerial and
naval superiority
 sure of their strength and confident of winning the war
 superiority in arms never challenges
 Prepared to die for their country
4. Well equipped
 Modern planes – zero fighter planes which were fast and among the best planes in the
world in 1941
 Had tanks
 Achieved air and naval superiority – successful attack on pearl harbour and the two
battleships, The Repulse and The Prince of Wales
13
5. Japanese Propaganda
 “Asia for the Asians”
 Greater co-prosperity sphere
 India fighting for independence  India leaders fled to Japan  Japan send this leaders
into Singapore as agents to affect the loyalty of the Indian soldiers by promising them
independence for India if they supported the Japanese  weakened British defence
6. Alliance with other ‘organisations’
 Signed a pact with the Axis powers
 5 year non-aggression pact with Russia
 Contract with Thailand – for Japanese to use it as a base and in return, Japan will not
colonize Thailand
REASONS FOR BRITISH DEFEAT
1. Tactical errors
 Left the northern jungles unguarded
 Destroyed bridges, but left large amounts of resources and men for the Japanese
 Retreated from positions Japanese were not attacking – got lured
 Surrendered under intimidation
2. Militarily inferior soldiers
 Inexperienced troops who were untrained in jungle warfare
 Hastily organized with only basic training
 Not prepared for hardship
3. Low Morale of soldiers
 Not supported with adequate military equipment
 Inadequate air supports – many comrades died due to Japanese Zero fighter-planes
 Sinking of the Repulse and the Prince of Wales
4. Europe War + Lack of military equipment
 Europe War caused Malayan forces to be inadequately equipped
 Britain was standing alone against the Axis powers
 Singapore and Malaya were distant outposts – important but not vital, Britain would
choose to save its own country first
 Hence, military equipment, aircrafts, naval ships, troops could not be spared!
5. Overconfidence
 Thought that the Japanese was putting on a “bluff” and would not attack
 Neglected civil defence
 Fed the people with propaganda that Britain would definitely win the war, if there is even
going to be one  no sense of urgency in people, especially the white civilian population
 Hence, they were caught by surprise, and the people were in no position to defend
themselves
SINGAPORE UNDER THE JAPANESE
Political Aspects

Military Government with Advisory Council
14








Divided into seven provinces. Each province had a governor and a consultative council
Governor: Japanese
Vice-chairman of council: Sultan
Advisory council could only advise, and since no one dared to speak up against the
Japanese, political decisions were generally a one-sided affair
 Council to win the trust of the people and to rule on a local level with their knowledge of local
customs
 Japanese took over the heads of the various departments from the Europeans
“New Malai”
Singapore renamed Syonan-To
Four northern states of Malaya; Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Trengganu returned to Siamese
control
Indian Army and Sikh soldiers were forced to pledge loyalty to the Japanese
Economical Aspects



Decline of economy
 Tin-mining and rubber processing machinery were destroyed by the British to prevent the
Japanese from using them
 Japanese stripped Malaya of whatever natural resources she had to fuel Japan’s war effort
 Disruption of trade, as Malaya became a close economy with no trade links with the rest of
the world
 High unemployment rate, poverty
Shortage of food and basic necessities
 Food was already scarce before the Japanese took over Malay
 Gave soldiers first preference for food and raw materials were taken for war effort
 No imports of food as Malaya was no longer engaging in international trade
 Rationing the food growing campaign – tapioca, sweet potato
 Used substitute to produce goods – pineapple fibre and coconut husks for ropes
Black Market and Banana notes
 Japanese printed banana notes without restriction hence causing high inflation – an egg
went up from 10 cents in 1942 to $35 by 1945
 Due to the shortage of essential necessities, a black market sprang up
 Black market worsened as banana notes started to get even more and more worthless due
to high inflation
 People’s lives got harder
Social Aspects

Fear and Terror
 Kempeitai – secret military police that had agents all over the island. This caused an
atmosphere of fear and mistrust as people did not know who could be agents amongst them.
The Kempeitai imposed brutal torture to make people confess.
 People found looting were beheaded and their heads were displayed in public areas
15




 Sook Ching massacre which identified thousands of Chinese males who were thought to be
anti-Japanese. They were massacred on the beaches.
 Death Railway
Racial Policy
 Europeans and Eurasians
- Became Prisoners of War
- Were forced to march to Katong Beach and then to Changi Prison
- Interned at Changi Prison
- Sent to built the Death Railway under conditions of cruelty
 Chinese
- Regarded as the largest threat. Traditional enemies as the Chinese had been actively
boycotting Japan and supporting the war in China against the Japanese
- Sook Ching Massacre  thousands of Chinese males died
- Made to donate 50 million for the war effort
- Sent to built the Death Railway too
 Malays & Indians
- Not seen as much of a threat
- Was treated less harshly
- Malays: Japanese convinced the Malays that they were the indigenous people and the
land was rightfully theirs as they wanted their support and cooperation. However the
Malays still held resentment towards the Japanese
- Indians: promised them independence of India. Indians formed the Indian Independence
League and the Indian National Army who fought with the Japan in India. However, the
Indians were also forced to work at ports and military installations after the rubber
plantations were cleared.
- Sent to work on the Death Railway
Nipponisation
 Promote Japanese culture, language and way of life
 Japanese language was taught in all primary schools. Sung the Japanese national anthem.
Bowed towards the Japanese throne
 On order of the War office in Japan, Domei News agency took over the newspaper in
Malaya – only articles that propagate and glorify the Japanese war effort were published
 Took over the cinema – only Japanese propaganda films and movies were screened
 Short wave radios were banned – to prevent civilians from picking up broadcasts from
Britain
 Children started to feel the effects of Nipponization the strongest
 Aim: to cultivate an intrinsic loyalty towards Japan and to believe in the Japan war effort
Public Health
 Japanese looted hospitals and used the medical facilities for themselves
 Preventive measures against tropical diseases were neglected
 Widespread diseases such as malaria, dysentery and tuberculosis
Resistance movements
EFFECTS OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION
16
Political
1. Loss of confidence in British
- Humiliating defeat of British to Japanese lowered much respect the people had of the British
- Subsequent hardship and trauma suffered by the people served to remind them of the
failure of the British to protect them
- Realized that they had to depend on themselves to protect their homeland  loss of
confidence in colonialism & British rule
2. Increased political consciousness due to past colonial exploitation under Jap and British
- In Malaya, the Malay political consciousness manifested in the formation of UMNO
3. Rise of communist
- Communists had helped in the war and set up the resistance group, MPAJA
- MPAJA used their fighting experience and remaining arms to fight against the British
4. Change of British policies
- Prepare the people for independence
Economic
1. Disruption of economy
- Crime was rampant
- High unemployment rate
- Food and water shortage; rice producing countries had no surplus to sell, merchant ships
were destroyed  black market
- Destruction of gas and electricity supplies
- Had to re-establish tin and rubber industries, rebuild bridges, docks, warehouses and
communication networks
Social
1. Chaos
- State of anarchy
- MPAJA came out of the jungle and assumed control  killed many people who were
suspected traitors
- MPAJA fought against the British (initially supported by the people, but their violet methods
caused a subsequent loss of support)
2. Loss of life and property  shortage of housing
3. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, lack of health services
- Poor living conditions and low job employment led to waves of strikes
4. Bad feelings between different racial groups  racial riots
Actions by British



Set up a provisional government, the British Military Administration (BMA)
Japanese POWs were put to work to restore electricity, gas, and other essential services and
repair water mains
Cleared the habour so that ships with foodstuff could enter port
17





Removed shipwrecks and mines in the sea laid by the Japanese
Docks were repaired and new warehouses were constructed
Food rationing
People’s Restaurants were opened to sell food at reasonable prices
Introduced law on rent control and constructed flats
WHAT IS NATIONALISM?
Nationalism is a collective state of mind or consciousness in which people believe that primary
duty and loyalty is to the ‘nation’.
Civic nationalism is based on a shared political motivation or social values;
Ethno-cultural nationalism is usually based on a shared ethnicity or culture to further protect the
rights of the group
Features: National Pride, National Identity, Search for the ideal form of government, removal of
colonial rule
NATIONALISM IN SINGAPORE
18








Response to post-war situation
British defeat and the fall of Singapore to the Japanese rocked the faith of the local population
had in the ability of the British to protect them
The sudden and secret evacuation of the British soldiers, women and children allowed the
people to realize that they could not rely on their colonial masters
Suffering during the Japanese Occupation  must take control to prevent such a thing from
happening
Harsh rule of the Japanese Occupation enabled the people to band together in hard times, and
by surviving and coming out of such a period, they form a stronger group identity based on this
common experience. This stronger national identity was crucial for the rise of nationalism in
Singapore.
Blamed post-war conditions on the British; hence, wanted control over their land
Partly due to external events; many other colonies are gaining independence. E.g. India in 1947
Influenced by two schools of thought: Communism and Capitalist-Democracy
 Communist Soviet Union and China turned communist in 1949
 Cold War
CHALLENGES FACED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
 Communist threats
 Communism is a system of society where property belongs to the whole community
 Aim: to establish an independent Malaya and Singapore based on communist principals
 Demanded for higher rice rations and cheaper foodstuffs
 Demanded for better working conditions and higher pay through organised strikes by the
communist-controlled trade unions
 Able to gain support of the people as they promised them a better life (most of them were
the working class) by capitalizing on the discontentment with the British who were unable to
improve living standards and working conditions
 Employment, political opportunities and education were much more limited for the Chinese
- English schools took 79.8% of the education budget while Chinese schools were only
allocated 5.8% when there were 131 English schools and 287 Chinese school, in 1950
- Teachers in Chinese schools were poorly paid and educational standards were low
- Many Chinese students who finished school had to take unskilled or semi-skilled jobs
- Graduates of Chinese High Schools found they could not get jobs in the civil service or
gain entrance to Singapore’s English language universities
- There were no opportunities for Chinese medium tertiary education
- Injustice Chinese educated students felt  partially led to the Anti-NS riots in 1954
- Better educated Chinese resented British policies that do not extend to Chinese
education or people who are literate in English.
 Protest against implementation of National Service
 1954 Anti-National Service Riot
- Males between the age of 18 and 20 are to register for National Service by May 1954
- Most of the secondary school students were 18-20 years old as their education had
been disrupted by the war, hence NS would affect them
19
-




Chinese students unwilling to defend colonial power who ignored their interest
Felt that it was a ploy to preserve colonial rule  gather youngsters to be their
ammunitions and fight against other Asians
- In May 1954, students from Chung Cheng High School held a demonstration
- On May 13 1954, over a thousand students gathered in front of the Istana to present
their petition. The peaceful demonstration turned into a riot with 500 students creating
havoc in the street, while another 1000 students locked themselves in Chung Cheng
High School
- Police was called in the disperse the crowd and 26 students were injured, while 48 were
arrested
- On May 18 1954, 55 students formed a delegation to request for exemption from NS but
were rejected
- School authorities decided to close school two weeks earlier for school vacation, fearing
that there would be further trouble
- 2500 students locked themselves in Chung Cheng and only dispersed when police and
parents stepped in.
1955 Hock Lee Bus Riots
Refer to attached
1956 Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Riots
Government measures against communists:
1. Passed laws to prevent TUs from being controlled by communists
2. Government could monitor membership
3. Government also could ensure money was not used for communist activities
Workers soon lost interest in the communist cause as
- They were not paid during strikes
- Tired of the disorder
- They realized communists were not really interested in fighting for worker’s rights
- Some workers had already managed to obtain better paying jobs
 Racial riots
 1950 Maria Hertogh Riots (refer to attached)
- Custody battle of a 13 year old girl, Maria Hertogh
- Maria was born in 1937 to Dutch parents in Java
- Parents were imprisoned during the Jap Occupation  Maria was cared upon by a
Malay woman, Che Aminah and her husband
- They renamed her ‘Nadra’ and brought her up as a Muslim
- Moved from Java to Trengganu in Singapore
- With the defeat of Japan, Maria’s mother, Adelaine Hertogh was released
- She located Maria in 1949 and wanted to claim her back. Maria’s case was then brought
to the High Court is Singapore
- May 1950: Court ruled in favour of Adelaine Hertogh
- Che Aminah opposed and sent an appeal; Maria was returned to Aminah 2 months later
- Nov 1950: Court ruled that Maria would be returned to her natural parents.
- Che Aminah appealed again; Dec 1950: Judge rejected appeal
20
-
Riots broke out; any European or Eurasian in sight was attacked, cars and behicles were
burned  growing unhappiness with British rule
2nd day: Curfew imposed; military police called in, 3rd day: Situation under control
18 killed, 173 injured, compensation claims of $20848 and repair of many public facilities.
SELF GOVERNMENT
Context: Countries around Singapore were gaining independence; Malaya in 1957, India in
1947 (Atlantic Charter between British and USA about decolonization based on WWII)
1948
elections
•First baby step
•Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) won 3 out of 6 seats; other 3 won by independents
•SPP was pro-british and believed that Singapore was not ready for independence (communist, racial riots, doubts
that Singapore could survive
1955
elections
•George Rendel led the Rendel Commission in 1953 to see how locals could be more involved in politics -- political
apprenticeship, increase in elected member, transfer of power from British to locals
•Rendel Constitution (1955) - local chief minister, 6 other local ministers, 25 elected non-officials
•Local ministers took charge of internal issues while british nominated ministers took charge of external issues
1956 First
Merdeka
Talks
•David Marshall led the talks to discuss full self government; he wanted singapore to be given control over defence
and external affairs. He failed and resigned
• Marshall was unwilling to clamp down hard on workers and communists
•British did not support him as he was not from the SPP (for economic interest) and they did not like his personality
•Lim Yew Hock took over as second Chief Minister and led the second merdeka talks -- was successful
•He had a good work relationship with the British and went down hard on communists, students and workers who
were creating trouble -- Singapore was to be granted full self government in 1959
1957 Second
•1957:
Citizen Ordinance Act -- larger proportion of population became citizens
Merdeka
Talks
• Executive Council: No British; local Yang di-Pertuan Negara + PM + local ministers
1959
elections
• Legislative Assembly: 51 elected members
•All areas except external defence and affairs under local government; internal security to be shared
• Hotly contested - 13 parties, compulsory voting; PAP won 43/51 seats (clear plan+united+put forth improvements)
National Flag, National Coat of Arms and the National Anthem was also born in 1959
MERGER




First mooted in 1946 by British
Singapore suggested it in 1955 but was rejected by Malayan government due to?
1. Predominant Chinese population in Singapore  upset racial composition and outnumber
Malays  affect Tunku’s political power adversely
2. Singapore was a hotbed for communist activities  Malayan government did not want these
activities to spread to Malaya nor did they want to take over the solving of this problem
However the Tunku proposed the formation of Malaysia on 27 May 1961
British reaction:
- Malaysia would provide peace and stability (check communist)
21
-
British investments would be protected
Independence could be granted to Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak
Reasons for merger

Malayan POV
1. To check communism in Singapore
 Worried that communist activities in Singapore would spread to Malaya
 Worried that PAP would not have enough power to control communist – e.g. lost byelection in Hong Lim Constituency (April 1961) and Anson by-election (Aug/Sept 1961)
to an independent and D. Marshall of the Worker’s Party respectively
2. Found a solution to balance racial composition
 Inclusion of Brunei, Sabah, and Sarawak which had predominantly Malay population
 Singapore could then be included to balance the ethnic ratio
 Hence, Tunku would be able to achieve political status quo
3. Economic Advantages
 Merger would make Malaysia to become a more powerful and wealthy country
 Singapore – prosperous trading centre
 Brunei – large reserves of oil
 Sabah and Sarawak – natural resources

Singapore POV
1. Gain independence quicker
 Ride on Malaya’s independence which was gained in 1957
2. Help in eradication of communist
 The federal government had the resources/money/strategies and position to interfere
and clamp down hard on the communist
3. Economic Advantages
 Malaya/Sabah/Sarawak/Brunei could provide raw materials for Singapore industries (act
as hinterland)
 Other countries can serve as markets for manufactured goods of Singapore
 Wanted a common market with goods being bought and sold freely without taxes 
increase trade, maximize profits, support new industries and create jobs
Merger terms
1. Structure of government
Federal government – 2 houses: Senate and House of Representatives (have reps from
all 4 different countries)
State government – 7 Malay states led by Sultan, Singapore under PM, Sabah and
Sarawak under Chief Ministers, as well as Penang and Malacca who does not have any
traditional Malay authorities as they were colonies.
22
2. Constitutional Matters
Parties on both sides could not take part in elections out of their country
Singapore could hold elections to elect own government
Singapore would have control over education and labour
Singapore entitled to 15 seats in federal Parliament (from original 24; reduced due to
granted autonomy over education and labour)
Singapore would leave control of the armed forces, police (internal security) and
dealings with foreign government (external affairs) with federal government in KL
3. The Borneo Loan
Malaya wanted a 50 mill grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah & Sarawak
Singapore wanted to provide a loan of 150mil to Sabah & Sarawak to be repaid in 15
years and no interest would be charged for first 100mil
50% of the labour used in the development of Sabah & Sarawak would be from
Singapore  job employment, Singapore government to establish links there
4. Common Market
Malaya was reluctant to set up a common market  fear that Malaya’s industries would
not be able to compete with Singapore industries
Wanted for details of common market to be worked out after the signing of the Malaysia
agreement
Singapore wanted the inclusion of the common market in the Malaysia agreement 
trade, industries, jobs
Eventually decided that common market would be established in stages and pioneer
certificates would be issued to businesses – no need to pay taxes for 5-10 years
5. Revenue
Malaya wanted to collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what was
needed for the running of the state
Singapore wanted to collect its own revenue and send a lump sum of money each year
to the federal government as taxes
Eventually agreed that Singapore would collect its own revenue and contribute 40% of it
to KL
6. Citizenship and Malay rights
Singapore citizens would remain so, but also become Malaysian nationals
Singapore citizens could not vote in Malaysian elections and vice versa
Malays in Singapore would not have special rights, but will be given free education up to
university
Problems faced
1. Split in PAP
 Pro-communist members of the PAP were against the idea of merger
23







Anti-communist federal government of Malaya would probably arrest them in the case of
a merger
Tried to convince the masses of the ‘merger bluff’ through propaganda
Pro-communist led by Lim Chin Siong tried to capture leadership of PAP from LKY by
winning over the support of the PAP Assemblyman. (internal struggle for power)
However, they did not win enough support to overthrow LKY
13 Assemblyman was hence expelled from the PAP and the formed the Barisan
Socialist Front in Aug 1961 under the leadership of Lee Siew Choh that campaigned
against merger
Eventually a referendum was held to find out the TYPE of merger the people wanted.
Pro-communists called it to be ‘phony’ and wanted the people to cast blank votes.
However, the results showed that the people wanted merger with reserve powers over
labour and education, as well as automatic conversion of Singapore to Malaysia
citizenship, with retention of multi-lingualism and 15 seats in parliament
2. Sabah and Sarawak
 Initially unwilling to the merger
 Eventually agreed as they wanted to gain support and protection and obtain help to
improve internal state affairs
3. Brunei
 Did not want to contribute oil revenue to federal government in KL
 Felt that the merger would threaten the position of the Sultan of Brunei vs. the other
sultans in Malaya
 Rejected Tunku’s proposal
4. Philippines
 Claimed the Sabah was part of historical Sulu Sultanate and should belong to the
Philippines
 Further, together with Indonesia, claimed that the people of Sabah and Sarawak were
forced to join Malaysia
 In response, the Cobbold Commission, a UN survey was set up to survey the wishes of
the people in Sabah and Sarawak
 Majority was in favour of merger
 Philippines accepted the findings
5. Indonesia
 Was afraid that a strong Malaysia would threaten Indonesia’s security from Sumatra, as
well as Indonesia’s dominant regional position
 Perceived that Malaysia was a British proxy
 Did not accept the findings of the Cobbold Commission and launched the period of
Confrontation under Sukarno; anti British and Malaysia
 Broke off diplomatic ties with countries involved in Malaysia (trade links, political links)
24



Set off bombs in Singapore (Macdonald House Bombing, March 1965)
Landing of Indonesian soldiers – commandos and saboteurs in Singapore (who were
executed)
Period of Confrontation (Konfrontasi) only ended when Sukarno was replaced by
Suharto
SEPARATION
Why was separation inevitable?
Economic Reasons
-
Delays in setting up common market
 Singapore wanted a common market to be set up, but was left out originally in merger
agreement
 The request was only acceded only after Singapore’s agreement to contribute 40% of her
revenue to the Central Government and a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah
and Sarawak and first $100 million free of interest. The loan is repayable in 15 years time.
 However, Kuala Lumpur saw Singapore as an economic rival, and implementation of
common market was delayed as a result.
 There was no increase in trade. Instead Singapore’s trade was badly affected by
Indonesia’s economic boycott of Malaysia due to the Konfrontasi.
 As there was no common market, Singapore’s loan to Sabah and Sarawak for development
purposes was withheld.
-
Attempts to increase Singapore’s contribution to the central government
 Tan Siew Sin, the Malaysian Finance Minister wanted Singapore to increase its financial
contribution to the Federal Government from 40% to 60%.
 Help KL pay for the expenses incurred with dealing the Indonesian Confrontation.
 Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore’s Finance Minister objected to the proposal as it would
cripple Singapore’s economy (Singapore also had to deal with Konfrontasi activities)
-
Closure of bank of China
 On December 1964, Federal government made announcement for Bank to be closed in July
1965 despite pleas from the Singapore government.
 Bank served as a channel for the people to send money to relatives in China.
 Singapore adversely impacted due to the bank’s role in Singapore’s trade with China.
-
Discrimination against businessman in Singapore
 They were not given pioneer status certificates and allotment of textile export quotas.
-
Imposition of new taxes on Singapore;
 The central government wanted to protect Malaysian industries, it imposed new taxes on
Singapore and this hindered Singapore’s efforts to industrialize.
Political Reasons
25
-
Political rivalry
 In the 1963 State Election in Singapore, the Alliance leaders from KL came to support the
UMNO- Singapore Alliance. They contested in two traditional Malay areas of Geylang Serai
and Kampong Kembangan. However, the Singapore Alliance (made up of UMNO, MCA and
MIC) did not win any seats, causing Alliance leaders in KL to be upset.
 Also, in the 1964 Federal Election in Malaysia, PAP sent 17 candidates to take part. The
Alliance saw PAP’s participation as a direct challenge to its supremacy in Malaysia. During
the election campaign, PAP criticized the MCA as a poor representative of the urban
Chinese in Malaysia, and an ineffective partner in the Alliance. PAP won 1 seat, 7% of votes,
which further upset the Alliance Party.
 In Oct 1964, the Singapore Alliance announced that the party would be undergoing a major
reorganization for the 1967 election in 1967  direct political challenge
 This political rivalry between the PAP and the Alliance for power further called for the need
of separation
-
Communal & Racial politics
 PAP and UMNO have different ideologies - UMNO was for communal politics in Malayan
politics while the PAP wanted a multi-racial approach in politics.
 The PAP tried to convince the Malays in Malaysia of its programme to create a just and
equal society, causing UMNO was further disturbed.
 UMNO embarked on an anti-PAP campaign using the Malay press, esp Utusan Melayu
while criticizing PAP for not looking after interests of the Malays in Singapore and made an
issue of the PAP resettlement project in which Malays were involved. (Many of the Malays
were reluctant to move out of Kampong Glam and Rochore) More misleading articles of PAP
ill-treating the Malays: e.g PAP treats Malays as stepchildren”
 Malaysian Malaysia campaign; PAP brought together four other Malaysian opposition
parties to form Malaysian Solidarity Convention (MSC), which aims for a Malaysian Malaysia
where everyone would be treated equally regardless of race or religion, to oppose the
Alliance party/ to provide alternative. PAP greatly angered UMNO leaders, some even called
for the arrest of Lee Kwan Yew
 Meetings were held between PAP and Malay representatives regarding education,
employment and housing for Malays. Tension grew as matters did not improve. This led to
the racial riots in 1964.
Social Reasons
-
Racial riots
 July 1964 Riot at the Padang during Prophet Muhammad’s birthday;
 over 25000 Malays turned up to celebrate
 Word of fighting spread among the Chinese, and riots broke out
 23 people lost their life and 454 were injured
 Island wide curfew until 2 August
 Setting up of goodwill committees made up of community leaders from various racial groups
 help restore harmony by representing their race; LKY toured the island; Tunku and DPP
visited affected areas in Singapore
26



Sept 1964 at Geylang Serai; clashes between Malays and Chinese
 Some Chinese caused the death of a Malay
 Further investigations reveals that they were provoked by Indonesian agents
 13 dead, 106 injured
 Island wide curfew re-imposed
Signed an agreement to avoid sensitive racial issues for two years
Tunku was afraid that racial clashes were likely to happen again and even spread to other
parts of Malaysia. In the interest of Malaysia’s security and peace, he felt it best that
Singapore separated from Malaysia
NB: Economic Issues as one point, communal politics +racial politics one point, racial riots one
point, political rivalry one point


Singapore was asked to leave on the 6 August
On 9 August, Singapore was proclaimed as a sovereign, democratic and independent nation
27