History-

Chapter 1: was there Singapore before 1819?

The Singapore stone:
- Located at the mouth of the Singapore River
- Measures 3 metres high and wide
- Found 150 years ago.
- Writing dated back to the 12th or 13th centuries
- Writing shows that people of those days could read and write but in a
different language from us today

The Serajah Melayu:

- Tells of life in the 13th and 14th centuries
- Singapore was called Temasek, meant sea port or sea town
- Singapore was founded by a ruler from Sumatra, Palembang in
Sumatra, renaming Temasek Singapura meaning Lion City (the guy
was Sang Nila Utama)
- Singapore grew into a triving trading centre under the leadership of
Sang Nila Utama and his descendents, even the Majapahit empire
wanted to seize Singapore for its own.
- So the wall of the fort stretched from the sea to the wall called Bukit
Larangan, now known as Fort Canning Hill.

Daoyi Zhi Lue (Description of the Barbarians of the Isles):

- Travel Accounts by Wang Da yuan, visiting Singapore during the 14th
century.
- Singapore was a great and famous place, many foreigners visited it.
The Chinese trading ships had to sail through a dragon’s teeth strait
between south coast of Singapore and Sentosa Island
- There was a large range of exported products such as hornbill
casques, laksawood and cotton
- Traders were afraid to come to Temasek due to piracy.

Jewellery, porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware:

- Found at fort canning park
- Dated in the 14th and 15th centuries
- Some of these objects came from China, Yuan and Ming dynasty (blue
and white porcelain), Sri Lanka and Thailand (glazed pottery)

What happened to Singapore after the 14th century?

- Parameswara from Palembang murdered the local ruler and made
himself king in Singapura.
- Parameswara was driven out by the Javanese or Siamese troops and
fled to Melaka where he founded a port city taking away Singapore’s
importance as a trading port
- Melaka was later captured by the Portuguese in 1511, thereby
controlling the spice trade in the region
- In 1613, they burnt down the settlement at the mouth of the
Singapore River to prevent from other European forces from settling
there and having a share of their great profits
- The region was later on taken over by the Dutch
- Singapura still traded with China in the 16th and 17th century as the
Blue and white porcelain made during that time period was discovered.

How different are archaeologists and historians?

- Archaeologists study the past through material remains people left
behind whilst historians study the past through written records or texts
- Examples of what archaeologists study: Artefacts, Rocks (Geology),
floral and fauna remains.
- Examples of what historians study: Maps, Diaries, Inscriptions,
Photographs, and Interviews with eye witnesses.

Chapter 2: Who was the founder of Singapore?

Why was Singapore chosen by the British?

Need to break Dutch control of trade in the Malay Archipelago.

- Competition between British and Dutch East India Companies outside
Europe for profit and Monopoly of trade routes.
-Britain had already commerce with China, India and the Malay
Archipelago.
- Dutch controlled a large part of Java and Melaka. They restricted
British to only trade at Batavia
- The British were taxed heavily on the goods they sold or bought.
- Every Asian trading boat had to fly a Dutch flag and carry a Dutch
permit or pass in order to trade at Dutch-controlled ports.
- Thus, the Dutch became the biggest rival of the British in Southeast
Asia

Importance of India-China trade

- British had a lucrative trade with China
- A new trading settlement was needed as a stopover point.

Ineffectiveness of Bencoolen and Penang versus Melaka

- Location of both ports was too far from main trading area in Malay
Archipelago
- Bencoolen was an unsuitable trading port as it was situated on the
wrong side of Sumatra, facing the Indian Ocean instead of the Straits
of Melaka.
- Penang was lying too far north of the Straits of Melaka and was not
very useful for controlling the Straits of Melaka and protecting British
ships using the Straits.
- Dutch controlled both Straits of Melaka and Straits of Sunda. They
could cut off the valuable trade between Penang and the important
trading centres within the Archipelago.

Singapore’s qualities
- It has an excellent harbour and a good supply of drinking water
- Could protect shipping in time of piracy
- Central position in the Straits of Melaka
- Protect ships between China and India

What problems did the British face in starting a trading settlement in

Singapore?

The Dutch were in control

- Singapore was under the rule of Sultan Abdul Raman who was under
the Dutch
- Raffles decided to recognise Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan
and obtain permission to set up a settlement in Singapore
- To ensure the Dutch did not suspect anything, Tengku Hussein left
secretly to come to Singapore.
- 6 February 1819, Sultan Abdul and the Temenggong signed a treaty
with the British to build a settlement in southern Singapore
- Sultan was paid an annual allowance of 5000 Spanish dollars and
Temenggong 3000 Spanish dollars

Reactions of the Dutch and the Dutch East India Company

- Dutch protested and EIC directors and British government were angry
with Raffles
- The Dutch claimed that Singapore indirectly belonged to them.
- British were afraid not to anger the Dutch as Holland was important in
war against hostile European countries as a buffer state.
- British had learnt a lesson from the Napoleonic Wars in Europe that a
strong enemy country like France could use Holland as a base to
launch a military attack on Britain.
- Dutch did not want to anger Britain as Holland was financially
crippled during the Napoleonic wars, the Dutch did not want to wage
another war
- They were on the verge on bankruptcy. Another war would cripple its
economy.
- The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 17 March 1824 was signed to make peace
with each other, as they had nothing to gain from a war.
- Malay Peninsula and Singapore under British sphere of influence
- Indonesia was placed under Dutch
- Dutch agreed to give Melaka in exchange for Bencoolen

Treaty with Sultan and Temenggong in August 1824

- British did not gain control of the island yet
- The treaty had given the British rights to start a trading settlement in
Singapore, but they only controlled the southern part of Singapore.
- Singapore was still a territory controlled by a Malay ruler.
- Dr. John Crawfurd, the second resident of Singapore was the one who
made Singapore a British possession.
- He signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein on 2 August 1824 in which the
Sultan and the Temenggong handed the payment of larger sums of
money than what they had previously received.
What did Farquhar do to get the settlement started?
- The day after Raffles had signed the treaty with Sultan Hussein and
the Temenggong, he left for Bencoolen where he was appointed the
Lieutenant- Governor.
- Farquhar served as resident or the local ruler of the settlement and
the commander of the British and Indian troops who were left behind.

Clearing the Jungles

- The northern bank of Singapore River was filled with trees, bushes
and tall grasses
- Clear jungles to build attap huts for Farquhar and men

Defence
- Soldiers built big guns facing the sea

Getting food for the settlers

- People of Melaka sailed to Singapore in boats with poultry and fruits
- Food was expensive

Getting people to come and trade

- Farquhar invited settlers from Melaka to come
- A British official was stationed on St. John’s Island was to invite ships
to trade in Singapore

Law and Order

- Robbery fighting and murder took place often
- A small police force was set up to restore peace and order
- The police force was made up of mostly Indians and Malays, thus
unable to communicate with the Chinese and their dialects.

Pests
- Rats and centipedes were everywhere
- Farquhar gave money for getting rid of these pests and was
successful
- Rats could spread diseases and centipede bites are poisonous.

Chapter 3: What part did the different immigrant

communities play in Singapore’s development?
Why did the immigrants come to Singapore?

Push factors- reasons why people came to Singapore because

of unfavourable conditions in their homeland
Chinese:
- Rapid population growth- which deprived people of living space due
to overcrowding
- Shortage of food
- Natural disasters
- War with foreigners
- Weak Qing government

Malays:
- War in Java and Malaya
- Piracy in Java and Malaya
- This has threatened the trade and lives of the merchants whose ships
were seen in that region. Thus in order to safe keep their lives and
property, merchants decided to come to Singapore.

Indians:
- Rapid population growth
- Shortage of food and jobs
- Natural disasters such as droughts and famines.
-Therefore in order to keep their lives, the immigrants have no choice
but to flee to a safe place

Europeans/British:
- Need of markets for goods
- British companies set up branches in Singapore

Pull factors- benefits of coming to Singapore (e.g. jobs,

drinking water)
- No restriction on immigration as the original population of the country
was only a few orang lauts and fishermen. Thus in order to build up the
economy and the country’s profile, there was no restriction on
immigration.
- Good geographical location of Singapore as they were situated
between 2 trading giants, India and China which made it suitable as a
stopover point for traders to trade and refuel and replenish food
supplies.
- Better jobs and opportunities for trade
- Peace and Stability
- Free port status where traders need not pay taxes

Where did the immigrants live?

- Settled near the mouth of Singapore River
- Town plan was developed where commercial, government and
residential were demarcated to improve the haphazard way in which
buildings were built in the settlement
- Races and the Chinese dialet groups were separated. A kaiptan was
appointed for each community
- Roads were widened
- Land was reclaimed
- Rubber and Gambier plantations were grown all over the island
- Malays stayed at Kampong Glam
- Indians stayed at Chulia Kampong
- Europeans and rich Asians stay in European town
- Chinese stay at Chinatown

How did the immigrants contribute to Singapore’s growth as a trading

centre?
- Europeans act as agents controlling rights to sell goods
imported/exported from England
- Chinese worked as coolies at the dock and construction sites
- Chinese who could speak sufficient English, Malay and local dialects
worked as Chinese middlemen acted as coolie agents
- Some Chinese worked as barbers, shop owners, rickshaw pullers,
street hawkers, and shop owners
- Indians worked as labourers, chettiars and controlled transportation
- Malays worked as gardeners, hunters and ship builders.

What social impact did the immigrants have on Singapore?

- Diseases such as Malaria, Cholera and smallpox were rampant
- People were sick and poor
- Tan Tock Seng set up Paupers’ Hospital
- Syed Mohamed bin Alsagoff spent money building wells and providing
medical services and an Arabic school.
- Money was spent for providing proper burials for the poor
- Christian missionaries helped set up hospitals, one such school was
Chinese Girl’s School which is now known as St. Margaret’s School.
- Abuse of coolies, slave trade, secret societies, prostitution and opium
smoking were rampant in the 1850s
- There was also gangsters and kidnapping which made streets unsafe.
- Crime rate was high
Chapter 4: How did the British Govern Singapore before
WWII?
- Colonial Office in London in 1867
- Governor of Straits Settlements could approve/reject the passing
of laws.
- There were 2 councils that helped: Executive council- British officials
who
Help run
settlements
 Legislative council- Includes also
Asians and
European traders who help
make laws

Profile of Legislative Council

- Ratio of non-offical to official members became equal
- Prominent members such as Eunous Abdullah set aside a large piece
of land to build a Malay settlement. Lim Boon Keng wanted opium
smoking be banned as it was destroying lives of the
Chinese/immigrants but was unsuccessful.

Problems British faced in maintaining law

Chinese secret societies:
- formed gangs, robbery and killing
- operated opium house/dens brothels and gambling dens

Solutions:
- Increasing pay and provide training for policemen to attract them into
the profession
- Officials who could speak Malay and Chinese dialects were recruited
- Detective Branch (1862) was set up to monitor secret society’s
activities (CID in 1931)
- Finger Printing was introduced
- All Chinese secret societies had to register with Chinese Protectorate.
- Pickering persuaded Chinese to settle quarrels at Chinese
Protectorate

Abuse of Immigrants:
- Coolies were locked up in filthy conditions before sent to work.
- Abuse by employers and coolie agents
- Girls were kidnapped and sold to brothels.

Solutions:
- Coolie agents and lodging houses were to be registered with the
Chinese Protectorate
- Po Leung Kuk was set up to rescue young girls from being sold to
brothels or as maid servants. It provided shelter for those poorly
treated as servants
- Cordial relationship between Chinese Protectorate, Chinese secret
societies and Chinese community build trust between British and
Chinese.

Piracy
- Danger to the lives, property and trade.
- Attack ships at short distance outside limits of harbour
- Adverse effects on growth and wealth of Singapore

Solutions:
- Gunboats to patrol waters and fight piracy
- Arrival of steamships to fight against piracy.

Diseases being widespread, vices.

Problems British government faced in the aspect of social

services provided:

Education
- Education was left in the hands of locals in the 19th century.
Solutions:
- Set up English and Malay schools and provide grants as there is a
need for English speaking people to fill up government offices and
trading companies.
- Chinese schools were neglected as they were believed to breed anti-
British feelings among the students.
- Queen’s scholarship was provided for top secondary school students
to further their studies.

Health
- Death rates were high between the 19th and 20th centuries
- Diseases such as Malaria and beri-beri were common
- Diseases were caused by dirt, overcrowding and malnutrition
- Inadequate water supply and no proper waste disposal system made
it worse

Solutions:
- Public Health Department (1887) was set up
- Malaria committee was set up
- Housing conditions were improved
- General hospitals, leper camp and lunatic asylums were built
- Outpatient clinics were established
- Quarantine Law was passed; prevent smallpox and Malaria from
spreading.

Treatment of British towards the Asians

- British believed they were more superior
- Well-qualified Asians were not given important or senior posts in the
government and medical sectors
- Asians were discouraged from traveling first class carriages
- Asians were not allowed to use the dance floor or bars in hotels.

Chapter 5: How did external events before WW1 affect

Singapore?
Industrial Revolution

Plus:
- Produced goods in large quantities – cheaper
- Shortened production time. Causes people to produce in nulks, use of
effective machines increase,
- Travelling time shortened, people moved at faster speeds (trains)
- Raw materials: Tin and rubber needed to manufacture goods
- New Markets needed to sell goods: East
- More ships visiting Singapore: growth in trade
- Port of call:
Communications improved
Close contact with the world Use of advanced forms of
Transportation: Trains, cans to move goods; steamships, over long
distances people could make more trips to other areas and travel more
frequently.

Minus
- Workers go to factories to work and working conditions were very
poor
- Migration of people from countryside to towns. This would lead to
overcrowding.
- Work increases as demand in goods increases because people are
getting richer
- Division of labour, use of assembly lines
- Starting of industrial revolution
- Welfare of workers were neglected. People dying from work-related
accidents, but were not insured (Family members were not
compensated)
- Labour exploitation People’s welfare being neglected
Many people died and families not
compensated
Interesting
- Took place in Britain in the 18th century and spread to other parts of
Europe and America
- Turning point in history of mankind
- Previous machines were only able to produce for personal
consumption and production time was consuming sewing
machines to produce for their families.
- Invention of new machines and discovery of new sources of power to
drive machines. E.g. Spinning Jenny wheel sailing ships to
steamships
- People coming together to increase work productivity
How did the industrial revolution affect Singapore
- With the invention of the steamship, Europeans could now sail to the
East to obtain raw materials
- This resulted in more ships visiting Singapore and led to growth in
trade
- Many Europeans and American steamships made Singapore their
port-of-call, stopped to refuel and obtain food supplies there
- Asians in Singapore also used steamships to transport their goods
between Singapore and other ports in the region
- Singapore’s position as a port for the collection of goods from the
East and the distribution of manufactured goods from the West gained
importance.
- Communications also improved as a result of the arrival of
steamships
- Letters instead of taking 4 to 5 months took about 5 weeks.
- With the shorter time taken to deliver, Singapore came in closer
contact with Britain and the rest of the world.

Opening of the Suez Canal

Why?
- Second half of the 19th century was the opening of the Suez Canal.
- There was a need for raw materials and new markets to sell their
goods which caused many merchants to seek a shorter route to the
east.
- Ships travelling between Europe and Asia had to sail around the
southern tip of Africa, called the Cape of Good Hope
- This long and dangerous journey took 120 days from London to
Singapore.
- The Suez Canal is done by the cutting of a long canal to link the
Mediterranean Sea with the Read Sea
- When it was opened, the cost was nearly double the amount
originally intended, but Ferdinand de Lesseps still got it done in 1869
- Became one of the busiest waterways in the world.
- Faster steamships replaced slower sailing ships as they used the
shorter Suez Canal instead of the Cape route
- Only took 50 days after that.

Effect
- Singapore benefited greatly from its opening as people, mail and
cargo took a shorter time to travel from Europe to Singapore, thus
costs reduced.
- Closer to Britain and the rest of the world: World appears smaller
because travelling was made more accessible, could travel around the
world more frequently.
- A great expansion in Singapore’s trade
- There was an increase in speed and volume of ships passing through
the Straits of Melaka and calling at the port of Singapore to refuel and
collect supplies
- Singapore thus maintained its role as an important trading centre and
a port-of-call.
- As there was an expansion in Singapore’s trade and the arrival of
more steamships, the Old Harbour became overcrowded as the mouth
of the Singapore River was too narrow to cater to large volume of
incoming ships
- Not enough space along the banks of the river to build storehouses
for keeping goods and coal or to build dry docks for ship repairing.
- Thus, New Harbour (Keppel Harbour) was built to solve overcrowding
problems and unsuitable anchorage point at mouth of Singapore River.
- Singapore Harbour Board to make improvements to port: Port
facilities, modern machinery, railway system. Docks, wharves,
warehouses; Forklifts, cranes, tractors to load and unload goods; Link
Singapore to Malaya to facilitate transport of goods
- Better and faster services. Singapore became one of the busiest ports
Causes and Consequences of World War 1

Which countries were involved?

Alliances Central Powers vs. Allied powers
Central powers: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Allied powers: Britain, France, Russia
When did WWI happen?
1914 – 1918

Where WWI first started?

- Austria-Hungary vs. Serbia

How did it start?

- This spark was produced when the Archduke of Austria-Hungary,
Franz Ferdinand was murdered.

What were the problems Singapore faced during WWI?

Problem:
- There was a frantic rush to buy food when news of the war in
Europe broke out.
- Traders from neighbouring islands stocked their shops with food
which they brought from Singapore.

Solution:
- As prices soared, people became worried. To bring prices down, the
government forbade the export of large quantities of foodstuff to
neighbouring countries
- Increased the imports of rice from Siam and Vietnam and assured the
people that there was enough food for everybody
- A few weeks after the outbreak of war, things returned to normal.
- Prices came down.

Problem:
- Singapore’s shipping and trade was threatened by the presence of a
German warship, the Emden, which was at the Straits of Melaka
(Sep 1914)
- It did not attack Singapore, but it affected trade between Singapore
and Europe as it attacked British trading ships in the Indian Ocean.

Solution:
- Destruction of Emden by Australian warship (Sydney) helped British
(part of allies).

Problem:
- Sepoy regiment was ordered to sent to Hong Kong in November 1914
- The sepoys heard rumours that they might be sent to Europe or
Turkey to fight the Muslims. So when they received orders to sail to
Hong Kong, they rebelled.
- Mutiny was put down after 10 days, 43 people killed, 12 wounded.
Many Europeans were killed, their cars and property were burnt. Areas
that were attacked included Bt. Timah, Alexandra Barracks, Tanglin.
Solution:
- 126 Sepoys were sentenced to jail while 4` mutineers were
sentenced to be shot
- Sepoys failed to gather any support from locals especially the Indians
and the Sikhs (policemen who co-operated with British).
- Sepoys are Indian Muslims. They were instigated by the Germans who
were residing in Singapore to go against the British government as the
Germans had spread the above rumour.
- British government realized it could not neglect Singapore’s defence –
internal and external threats. Mutiny started by local Indian Muslims.

Why did WW1 happen?

- World War 1 started when Archduke of Austria Hungary, Franz
Ferdinand was murdered. The Attack on Serbia escalated into a world
war.
- Imperialism Territorial conquest
- Arms race Balance of power

Great depression:

Shares:
- Buying shares to make quick money

Effect:
- Companies lose money in 1929 as they were not able to sell goods.
- They sell shares, which led to prices of shares being plunged, which
then led to the Wall Street crash
Savings:
- People lost their life savings as the banks closed down

Effect:
- Poverty and hardship. Begging in the streets, cannot afford basic
necessities, some were homeless.

Goods:
- Demand for goods fell as people were unable to afford to buy them.

Effect:
- Companies had to decrease production of foods to cut cost

Workers:
- Cut wages of workers and unemployment rose
- Spread to the rest of the world

Effect:
- Unemployment: Whenever there was a job vacancy, hundreds would
rush to apply for it.
- Limited jobs: Even the government had to cut down and reduce the
pay of the workers.
- Return to homeland: their friends or relatives could not support them.
- Immigration law: Restrict and reduce the number of immigrants
coming into Singapore, especially unskilled male Chinese labourers.
Also arranged for large numbers of unemployed Chinese and Indians to
return to their homeland

Chapter 6: Life during the Japanese occupation

What Singapore did to defend Singapore
- They used the ‘Main fleet to Singapore’ strategy
- Britain would send ships from Europe if needed. Britain sent 2 main
battle ships (HMS Repulse, and HMS Prince of Wales) and some
cruisers and destroyers.
- Built a huge naval base in the Far East, and Singapore was chosen
(Sembawang, 1938)
- In order to defend the naval base, 15-inch guns, usually mounted on
ships were installed facing the sea in case of any attacks.
- 6.15-inch cannons were built at Fort Canning, Sentosa, Changi and
Buona Vista
- There were military airfields at Tengah and Sembawang.
Unfortunately, the air force had old and outdated planes, also known
as ‘flying coffins’
- There were underground bunkers at Fort Canning, Labrador and
Sembawang
- The British abandoned the use of tanks. Instead, they used anti tank
guns. They thought that using tanks through Malaya was impossible
due to its dense forest, but they were wrong later
- Thus, this was the impregnable fortress of the British Empire in the
East

- Meanwhile in 1937, China was attacked by the Japanese. USA cut off
their oil supply to Japan. This led to them attacking Pearl Harbour
- Japan then set their sights on Southeast Asia which was rich in oil and
other raw materials.
- Axis Powers: Germany and Italy
- Germany wanted to be the master of Europe, and Japan wanted to be
the master of Asia and the Pacific region
- When the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse sunk, the British
could not send more naval and air reinforcements because of its
involvement in the war in Europe and North Africa

Why did the British fail to stop the Japanese

Japanese had intelligence services for them

Landowners – Monitor coastal defence, construction of naval base
Photographers – Take pictures of roads, railways
Military officers – Disguised themselves as waiters in posh British
restaurants
Fishing fleet – Conducted surveys of the Malayan coastal areas

British had underestimated the Japanese

- They believed that the Japanese army, airforce and navy were inferior
- British had an obsolete air force. Their planes were old and outdated
against the ‘zero’ fighters
- Their naval fleet was smaller compared to the Imperial Naval fleet the
Japanese used
- The British were poor jungle warriors. They did not anticipate the
Japanese use of tanks, and bicycles used to attack them.

The Battle of Malaya, 8 December – 31 January 1942

8 December 1941: Northern Landings (Sigora and Patani)
10 December 1941: HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales sunk due to
lack of air support
11-12 December 1941: Battle of Jitra
17 December 1941: Penang and Ipoh were captured
7 January 1942: Battle at Slim River (Perak). British tried to use anti-
tank
Guns but failed. Japanese gained many supplies there
31 January 1942: Fall of Johor. British withdrew to Singapore and blew
up
The Causeway

The battle for Singapore

1) Johor Sultan’s palace
General Yamashita set up headquarters at the Sultan’s palace. He
knew that he could get a bird’s eye view of northern Singapore, and
The British wouldn’t attack their old friend
2) The Japanese trick
The Japanese bombed Changi and Pulau Ubin. This made the British
move its defences from the northwest to the northeast.
3) Landings from the Northwest
Japanese used rubber boats and rafts to cross over to Singapore on the
northwest
4) Order for withdrawal
The Japanese repaired the Causeway. Percival issued an order telling
the troops to withdraw to town centre if necessary, but due to
miscommunications, they withdrew before they even came

5) Battle at Bukit Timah Hill

11 February 1942, the British lost Bukit Timah Hill, a reservoir and
supplies
6) Fall of Pasir Panjang
13 February 1942, Pasir Panjang fell, both sides suffered heavy
casualties. By then, British troops were exhausted and demoralized

- On 15 February 1942, which was the Chinese New Year, the British
had its final conference at the Fort Canning bunker
- Percival wanted to discuss of ways to fight back, but too many
commanders were against the idea. They felt that there were too many
problems and the soldiers were exhausted
- More men would be killed if they were to go into street fighting
- Food and water supplies were running out
- To prevent further bloodshed, on 15 February 1942, Lieutenant-
Colonel Sugita led Percival and his men to Ford Motor Factory to
negotiate the surrender terms.
- It was an unconditional surrender
- Yamashita was smart. If the British did not surrender, the Japanese
would not have won as he was outnumbered, had a lack of supplies
and he too did not want to go into street fighting.
- Singapore then became ‘Syonan-to’, which meant Light of the South
or the Radiant south
- A heroine by the name of Elizabeth Choy was captured, being
accused of passing food, medicine and messages to British POWs.

Political impact
- Japanese military police, Kempeitai, took charge to restore order in
Singapore by using fear and cruelty to get people to obey them.
- At the slightest offence, punishment was swift and severe. Many anti-
Japanese suspects were subjected to terrible torture or decapitation at
the Kempitai centre
- The Japanese sent the POWs to labour on the ‘Death Railway’ camps
in Thailand. Many died from the harsh living and poor health
conditions.
- Japanese tried to win the Malays and Indians over, promising them
independence from British rule. However, those who resisted were sent
to the ‘Death Railway’ too
- The Europeans and Eurasians were treated harshly as the Japanese
felt that they were threats. They were set to prison camps, or put to
death.
- Chinese were threats to Japanese. This was because the Japanese
met strong resistance when they invaded China. Tan Kah Kee led a
boycott for Japanese goods, and contributed funds to the war in China.
- Chinese had to undergo a process called Sook Ching. This was to get
rid of all anti-Japanese elements. All men between the age of 18 and
50 years were to report at centres such as the YMCA building and the
Central Police Station. They were ‘examined’ by the Japanese. At these
centres, people wearing hoods, masks or paper bags would just point
out who were the anti-Japanese elements. Lucky ones were set free,
with a small piece of paper with the Chinese word ‘examined’ rubber-
stamped. They were then allowed to go home. However, the unlucky
ones were sent to Changi or east coast to be gunned down.
- They were forced to contribute 50 million towards Japan’s war efforts
too
- Anti Japanese Groups: MPAJA and Force 136 carry out secret attacks
and sabotage activities of Japanese. They were sent to India to be
trained and then sent secretly to Malaya via submarines to help them.
- The Japanese did not regard the Malays and Indians as a threat to
their rule. They tried to win the support of the Malays and Indians and
convince them that Japan would free them from British rule. But if
anyone who disobeyed or displeased the Japanese would still be
punished

Economic impact
- Singapore’s entrepot trade was disrupted resulting in a food shortage
- Available food and medical resources used to support Japan’s war
efforts
- Rationing of necessities was practiced
- People were given a ration card called a ‘Peace Living Certificate’
- Black market was set up due to the rationing
- Japanese issued unlimited supplies of banana notes, which had no
serial number and could be forged easily Inflation

Social impact
- Japanese promoted the Japanese spirit (Nippon Seishin)
- Propaganda via newspaper, radio stations, movies to influence people
to be loyal to Japanese
- Those who tuned into foreign stations were punished severely
- Teachers and students had to learn the Japanese language
- To promote the Japanese culture, mass drills and singing of the
national anthem was implemented.

- After the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese

surrendered shortly. British troops returned to Singapore on 5
September 1945.
- The British then set up a provisional government called the British
Military Administration (BMA) which governed Singapore till 1April
1946.

Post war problems

Problem:
- Shortage of public utilities: water, electricity, telephone services
- Streets were filthy and dark
- Poor sanitation

Solution:
- Japanese POWs were put to work to restore electricity, gas and repair
water mains

Problem:
- Lack of health services

Solution:
- Island-wide health campaign launched
- Free medical services provided at all medical centres were set up all
over the Island
- Vaccinations against infectious diseases such as tuberculosis were
available

Problem:
- War destroyed many houses, resulting in thousands being homeless
- Rents became very high
- Those who could not afford to pay high rentals lived in overcrowded
squatters or cubicles
- Lack of housing
Solution:
- Law on rent control was passed to stop landlords from raising rents
and forcing tenants to move out
- Government constructed flats to alleviate housing shortage

Problem:
- Unemployment

Solution:
- British Military Administration referred unemployed people to Labour
exchange which was tasked to meet employers’ needs with
employees’ skills.

Problem:
- Shortage of food

Solution:
- British cleared harbour, removing sunken ships and sea mines so
ships could enter the ports
- Wharves repaired and warehouses built to store commodities
- Food rationing was introduced
- People’s restaurant set up to sell food at reasonable prices
- Food supplies increase with resumption of entrepot trade in
Singapore

Chapter 7: How did the local people respond to British

rule after WW II
- Living conditions were bad.
- This led into strikes and work stoppages by thousands of workers
from the port, factories, transport, and business companies after 1945
- Strikes took place so often in 1947 that it was then named ‘The Year
of Strikes’. More than 300 strikes took place.
- The Malayan Communist Party stirred up people’s feelings against the
British through the trade unions, by blaming them.
- The communists then encouraged them to join communist-controlled
trade unions
- British government then passed laws to control trade unions as the
communists were organising strikes to create disorder
- The government would make sure that no money was used for
Communist led activities.
- People’s attitude towards the British has changed. They thought that
the even if the British ruled Singapore for over a hundred years and
failed to protect it, they should leave.
- Was actually due to external events, in India where they gained their
independence
- British decided to introduce gradual change
- Elections were introduced, and locals were allowed to be elected into
the Legislative Council, and there was democracy
- Only born in Singapore citizens were allowed to vote.
- Only the Singapore Progressive Party took part in the 1948 election.
- The SPP worked closely with the British government
- It was not popular with the Chinese-educated as it was made up of
English-educated members, thus making it pro-British and gradual self-
government.
- The social and economic problems continued
- 2 Riots about anti-British feelings

Maria Hertogh Riots

- Maria Bertha Hertogh was born in Java in 1937 to Dutch Catholic
parents
- Her parents were imprisoned during the Japanese Occupation, thus
Maria came under the care of a Malay woman, Che Aminah and her
husband.
- She was then brought up as a Muslim
- On 1949, Maria’s mother, Adeline Hertogh came to claim her
daughter back.
- This was brought to the High Court in Singapore.
- In May 1950, the court ruled that Maria be returned to her natural
parents.
- Maria was married to a Malay Teacher under Che Aminah’s care when
she was 13
- Che Aminah then tried to make an appeal.
- In November 1950, they went back to court.
- The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents
again. The Dutch law did not recognise Maria’s marriage as she was
under-aged and her natural father’s consent was not obtained
- This led into dissatisfaction within the Muslim community, as they felt
that the Muslim law was not respected.
- Maria was put under the care of a Catholic convent in Thomson Road
- Che Aminah appealed yet again for the custody of Maria
- However, the court threw out the appeal within 5 minutes.
- This caused more dissatisfaction to the Muslim community, as they
felt that the British took sides with the Dutch. Therefore, the
supporters of Aminah started to riot
- Cars were overturned and burned; the rioting also erupted in the
vicinity of Mosques
- Europeans and Eurasians were attacked at sight
- Riots continued for 3 days and a curfew was imposed for 2 weeks.
- Army was called in to maintain law and order.
- The situation was under control within 3 days. However, 18 people
were killed and 173 were injured during the riot.

Who were involved?

- Maria Bertha Hetogh
- Adeline Hertogh
- Che Aminah

What happened?
- Mariah was adopted by Che Aminah while her natural parents were
imprisoned by the Japanese, but when her perpetual parents came to
claim for her in 1949, her foster parents were unwilling to give her up.
Court trials were heard, Che Aminah got custody but still lost in the
end. Malays were angry with the verdict, thought the Judge was biased
and started a riot.

Impact on people
- Europeans and Eurasians were attacked at sight
- Cars were overturned and burnt-
- 173 people were injured and 18 killed
- Business and economy were affected due to riots and curfews
imposed

Anti NS Riots
- Riots were started by the Chinese-educated students when the
government introduced National Service
- National service ordinance required all males from age 18 to 20 to
register for it.
- It was not very popular with secondary students. Most of them were
20 years or above as their education had been disrupted by the war.
- The students did not want to defend the British as they were biased
against the British
- Only very few students from the Chinese schools turned up
- On 13 May 1954, more than one thousand students gathered in front
of the Government house to present the petition in a peaceful way
- It then turned into a riot when the police were called in to disperse
the crowd
- The police and students clashed
- 26 people were injured and 48 students were arrested
- This was partly because the British has been biased against the
Chinese. They were treated unfairly in the educational and economic
terms.
-In 1950, English schools took 79.8% of the budget, and Chinese
schools took only 5.8%. There were 287 Chinese schools and 131
English schools.
- The Chinese were also not allowed to go to universities in Singapore,
and had to go to China for further education, until Nanyang University
was set up. The Chinese were also given odd jobs.
Who were involved?
- Chinese males ages 18 to 20

What happened?
- Chinese did not feel the desire to defend the British government and
wanted to pursue their studies which had been disrupted during the
occupation

Impact on people
- Chinese became more politically conscious and anti-government
feelings stared to breed amongst the public

Chapter 8
Hock Lee Bus Riots
- It was organised by communists.
- Strikers made up of employees of Hock Lee Employee’s Union and
Singapore Bus Workers Union
- Workers were unsatisfied with long working hours and low wages
- Took place in April 1955. Workers wanted better pay and working
conditions.
- Hock Lee Bus Company dismissed 229 workers because of it.
- Strikers gathered at the company’s depot in front of the gates to
prevent buses from leaving the garage
- The police were called in. Strikers threw stones at the police, so the
police used their batons to clear the crowd and 15 people were injured.
- More than 10 000 students from Chinese schools arrived in Lorries,
and showed their support by bringing food and entertaining workers
with songs and dance
- David Marshall attempted to settle the dispute by setting up a
Commission of Inquiry, but both parties failed to reach to an
agreement
- Workers from six other Chinese bus companies joined the strike to
protest
- Fire hoses were used to control the workers and students.
- On 12 May 1955, the crowd started to attack the police with bricks,
stones and bottles. The riot lasted till 3 a.m. the next day.
- Four people were killed, 31 injured.
- The strike finally came to an end on 14 May 1955. Sacked workers
got their jobs back.

What happened?
- Disagreement over working conditions and wages between upper
management and the workers

Impact on people
- Attacks on police were carried out, workers were injured as well
- Bus services were disrupted

Who were involved?

- Bus drivers from Singapore Bus workers Union, Hock Lee Employee’s
Union and upper management
- Police Force
- Chinese school students

Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Union riots

- Came about when Lim Yew Hock wanted to close down the Singapore
Chinese Middle School Students’ Union because of its communist
activities
- Government also arrested four student leaders from Chinese High
School and Chung Cheng High School and expelled 142 students
- Students camped at the schools for 2 weeks.
- Government told their parents to persuade their children to return
home but most refused.
- Same day, Lim Chin Siong organised a meeting, and when the
meeting ended, some of the workers joined the students in creating
disorder
- Police was then sent to clear students with tear gas.
- The students then headed for the city. They threw stones and bottles,
overturned cars and damaged traffic lights, for 3 days.
- Police imposed a curfew, and army was then called in.
- In the end, union leaders, including Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee
Suan were arrested.
- 13 people died, more than 100 injured
- Similar to Hock Lee Bus riots which had students and workers
- Clear evidence that communists were rising up to challenge the
government.

What caused the riot?

- Singapore Chinese Middle Schools’ Students Union closed down
because of its communist activities

Which were the parties involved?

- Chinese High School and Chung Cheng High School students

What happened during the riot?

- Lim Chin Siong organised student and labour movement to challenge
the government, when the students were driven out of the school, they
headed to the city, in the midst they retaliated by throwing stones and
bottles, over turned cars and damaged traffic lights

How did the riot come under control?

- Police were called in, use of tear gas on students to clear students
from schools, curfew was imposed and army was called in.

How many people were injured and how many were killed?
- 100 injured, 13 killed

What was the outcome of the riot?

- Union leaders Fon Swee Suan and Lim Chin Siong were arrested.
Chapter 9:
Reasons for merger

- Singapore lacked natural resources and faced a declining entrepot

trade and a growing population which required jobs
- Prevents growth of the Singapore market as less raw materials would
lead into lesser variety of job sector and opportunities
- E.g. Singapore did not have a plantation of spices, thus people would
rather go to Malaysia to increase their trade in Singapore
- Malaya government introduced import and export tariffs on goods
between the countries
- Neighbouring nations’ markets and trading ports were developing,
and the Singapore port was no longer in great significance, causing
trade to fall and people loosing their jobs
- Common market could be set up, to support Singapore’s industries
where goods could be bought and sold freely without being taxed
- This would lead into increase trade, expand industries and more jobs
- PAP wanted to break free of British control, but British didn’t want as
Singapore would die on its own as there were a lot of communists, thus
need the merger.
- Communists were strong and in order not to allow Communists to
control Singapore which threatens security of Malaya; Tunku Abdul
Rahman could help fight the Communists with its army
- Barisan Sosialis was causing much havoc (Communist Party of that
time)

- Sabah and Sarawak, the Cobbold Commission was set up in January

1962 by the Malayan and British governments to find out whether the
people of both colonies wanted to join Malaysia
- And they did on 31 August 1963
- It was delayed by Indonesia and Philippines because they wanted
Sabah and Sarawak to join them.
- The Philippines refused to recognise Malaysia as it claimed that
Sabah rightfully belonged to the Philippines
- Broke off relations with Malaysia in 1963

What led to separation?

Political views:
First difference
- Malaysia thought that Singapore was adapted to the Malaysia system,
but they were not
- Political parties in Malaya were formed along racial lines and interests
of the individual races were protected by their own racial political
parties E.g. United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malayan
Chinese Association (MCA) and Malayan Indian Congress (MIC).
- Political parties in Singapore were multi racial in form and actions
Second difference
- In Malaya, the Malays were given special rights to improve standard
of living
- In Singapore, everyone was treated equally and given the same
opportunity to better oneself. PAP believed standard of living would
improve through education and industrialisation.

Economic matters:
- Singapore was seen as an economic rival rather than as a partner.
- E.g. the Central Government imposed tariffs on electric bulbs, even
the ones from Singapore. It was to protect a proposed electric bulb
factory to be in Malaya for the Malayan market
- The common market was not set up, due to some delays. Malaya
continued to tax Singapore so as to protect the Malaya market
- The central government increased Singapore’s contribution of
revenue from 40% to 60%
- Singapore leaders felt it was unjust as it was receiving lesser revenue
because of Indonesia’s konfrontasi (confrontation)

- An anti-PAP campaign began after the Singapore Alliance’s in the

Federal election.
- One issue was when government wanted to redevelop the Crawford,
Kampong Glam and Rochor areas
- In order to initiate the project, some 2500 families had to be
resettled. 200 out of the 2500 families were Malays. However, the
Utusan Melayu claimed that 3000 Malay residents were affected
- Secretary-General of UMNO then made an anti-PAP speech
- Lee Kuan Yew and Othman Wok met 900 Malay representatives on 19
July 1964, and pledged that the Singapore government would do its
best to help Malays in education, employment, and housing
- However, on 21 July 1964, when more than 25000 Malays gathered at
the Padang to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, the Malays
went to attack a policeman. That incident led into a race riot after the
group of Malays attacked ethnic Chinese-Malay passers-by and
spectators.
- 23 people died, and 454 people were injured. Curfew was imposed
and lifted for short periods for people to buy food
- Goodwill committees were then set up to restore harmony among the
various races by addressing their concerns
- Another race riot took place in September 1964, after six weeks of
calm as a Malay rickshaw puller was believed to be killed by ethnic
Chinese. 13 people died, and 108 injured.
- September 1964, the Alliance and PAP agreed not to raise any
matters that were racial in nature. They both then agreed not to
challenge each other politically for the next 2 years
- However, on October 1964, the Singapore Alliance announced that
they would undergo major reorganisations to prepare itself for the
Singapore state election in 1967. This was a direct political challenge
to the PAP
- In May 1965, the PAP brought together four other Malaysian
opposition parties to form the Malaysian Solidarity Convention (MSC).
They campaigned for a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’, where everyone would be
equal. This upset leaders in UMNO, as it seemed to question the
special rights enjoyed for Malays. UMNO then called for Lee Kuan Yew’s
arrest
- By mid-1965, the Tunku was afraid that more racial clashes is yet to
come. Many disagreements could not be settled, and thus, he thought
it was best for them to leave Singapore

Chapter 10
Challenges faced in Singapore’s early years of independence:
- Defence: British withdrawal of military troops in 1971, resulting in
economic losses especially for those manufacturing military goods and
services for those working in military bases. There ought to be plans to
defend Singapore from internal and external threats. Without securing
political and social stability, economic development would be difficult

- Economy and Jobs: There was a lack of natural resources, such as

rubber, palm oil and minerals such as gold and tin. Singapore’s
economy, was not diversified as it was largely dependent on entrepot
trade but it was losing trade to its neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia
as their ports develop. The population was increasing and this led to
heighten unemployment

Strategies adopted to resolve challenges

- Attract foreign investors: By having Multi National Co-operations
(MNCs) from Japan, Western Europe and the USA to set up factories
here, it provided jobs for population and succeeded. Singapore could
also establish itself as a base and low cost manufacturing export
centre and tap on the technological and marketing expertise of these
MNCs to gain a competitive edge in the global markets
- Transform Singapore into a more globalised and developed country in
the region: Establish high standards of public service such as security
housing, education, telecommunications and transport. This would in
turn attract foreign investors and professionals as it would set apart
itself from other countries.
- Engage Dr Albert Winsemius: To advise Singapore on its economic
development. He gave the idea of export-led Industralisation due to
the lack of a hinterland market and the need for good aptitude from
the people to help strengthen Singapore’s economy so that it could
develop faster and stay ahead of countries.

Action Plans (Support facilities)

- Airports: From Paya Lebar (1960) to Changi (1981) to handle growing
volumes of cargo and airfreight services
- Port of Singapore Authority: Oversee, manage and develop port
facilities (1964) to development of container port (late 1960s)
- Banking and finance: Banks providing necessary support (1960)
- Public Utilities Board: Coordinate water, electricity and gas supplies to
people (1963)
- Singapore Telephone Board: Promote communication from within
Singapore and also with other countries where economic activities can
be promoted.

Action Plans: (EDB)

- Set up to initiate and develop industralisation programme in 1961
- Jurong Industrial Estate was the first major project undertaken and
became Singapore’s manufacturing base. This created employment
and encouraged many joint ventures between local and foreign
entrepreneurs from Asia
- Jurong was chosen because it was located away from any built-up
area which provided space for future expansion
- Close to Malaysia, Singapore’s hinterland and had deep waters for
building a harbour
- Jurong Town Corporation was assigned to develop and manage JIE
and other industrial estates in Kallang Basin, Sims Avenue and Redhill

Action Plans (Housing)

Problem:
- Singapore Improvement Trust was set up by British to look into
housing problems (1927)
- SIT’s housing units were not sufficient and housing conditions were
poor such that about half a million people were living in slums and
squatters
- Cramped and unhygienic living conditions bred infectious diseases
and was a hazard for fire escapes (i.e. Bukit Ho Swee fire)

Solution
- Housing development Board (1960) replaced SIT.
- Three Fiver Year Plans were introduced
1) 1st 5 Year Plan (1961-1965): Housing estates were based on a
neighbourhood concept where there was a self contained cluster of
facilities to minimise travelling outside the neighbourhood. These
estates were called New Towns located at Tiong Bahru, Queenstown,
Toa Payoh and MacPherson.
2) 2nd 5 Year Plan (1966-1970): Improvements made to design of
estates and flats. Amenities were provided and point blocks were
introduced for more privacy
3) 3rd 5 Year Plan (1971-1975): Bigger flats were built and Housing
Urban development Company (1970) was set up to design flats that
cost less but comparable in quality and design to private sector.

Action Plans (Education)

Problem
- During the colonial period, education was left in the hands of different
racial and religious groups
- Lessons were conducted in their own language and syllabi
- The government in 1959 had to integrate these different educational
systems

Solution
- Under PAP government, there was a need to standardise medium of
instruction. Daily Flag raising and pledge taking ceremonies are
introduced, primary education was complulsory and co-corricular
activities were promoted
- A 5 Year Plan was implemented in 1960s:
* Equal treatment of all language streams
* Establishment of Malay as National language
* Emphasis on Mathematics, science and technical subjects
*Provision of education beyond primary levels
* Educational facilities were upgraded
* Number of teachers also increased
- Bilingual policy was introduced (1960)
- Shift from academic to technical and vocational training to meet the
needs of industralisation

Action Plans (Defence)

Problems:
- Small funds and small manpower
- High costs in maintaining regular army that is well-trained and well
equipped
- Chinese parents were strongly against national service and feared
military training would be tough and life threatening for their sons.

Solutions:
- National Service Amendment Bill was passed, (1967) where medically
fit young men of 18 years of age are to be enlisted into the army. Upon
completion of NS, these men would become Reservists and has to be
called up for short training periods to be in touch with their military
skills
- Concept of citizen’s Army was adopted
- Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute was set up to provide
military training (1966)
- MPs explained to people the importance of NS and organised get-
togethers and variety shows to clarify doubts and fears of NS. Radio,
television and pamphlets were used to educate the purpose of NS
- Steps were taken to build up navy and airforce
- Conducted training overseas and got help from foreign military
advisers
- Need to establish military cooperation with other countries to ensure
Singapore’s safety/security
- A Five Power Defence Treaty was signed by Australia, Britain, New
Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore to assist in case the threat of attacks
from other countries should arise