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History-: Chapter 1: Was There Singapore Before 1819?
History-: Chapter 1: Was There Singapore Before 1819?
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
Defence
- Soldiers built big guns facing the sea
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
- 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
- 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.
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
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
How many people were injured and how many were killed?
- 100 injured, 13 killed
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)
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
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.
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
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