POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SINGAPORE

1948 - 1959

THE ROAD TO SELF-GOVERNMENT

1948 Legislative Council Elections

1951 Legislative Council Elections

1955 Legislative Assembly Elections

1959 Parliamentary Elections

Maria Hertogh Riots

Hock Lee Bus Riots

First Merdeka Talks

Students’ Riots

Second Merdeka Talks

Start of Malayan Emergency

Full internal self-government

Anti National Service Riots

CHANGE IN POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

• British were more willing to allow more political freedom to the people:– Atlantic Charter, 1941: “All

nations have a right to self-determination”.

• Locals disillusioned with British rule:– Effects of the Japanese

occupation.– Beginning of decolonisation.

British British unwilling to unwilling to give up total give up total control of control of Singapore and Singapore and granted some granted some gradual gradual changes.changes.

ACTIONS OF COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

• Forced to implement political reforms.• 1948:

– Limited legislative council elections.– 6 elected members and 4 nominated by

governor.– Small voter turn out (13,800 out of 940,000).

• Only Singapore-born voters allowed to vote.• Voting not made compulsory.

EFFECTS

• Only one party took part in the elections:– Singapore Progressive Party.– Made up of English-speaking upper-class

professionals.• Effects:

– Majority interests not represented in the government.

– Pro-British – did not push for more radical changes.

RENDEL CONSTITUTION

• In response to increasing unhappiness at colonial rule, British decided to grant more political power to the locals.

• Commission under George Rendel was formed.

• Recommended self-government for Singapore.

RENDEL CONSTITUTION

• Refer to the diagram on p.145:– Locals given more control over government.– All local representatives would be elected.– British retained control over certain key

ministries.

EFFECTS:

• Led to elections of 1955:– Rise of political parties:

• Labour Front• People’s Action Party

– Greater interest from the electorate:• Election campaigns focused on anti-colonialism• Dynamic and interesting election campaigns• Sought to win support from the Chinese majority.

– Labour Front, led by David Marshall, won 10 out of 25 seats.

LABOUR FRONT GOVERNMENT

• Labour Front elected to power.– Difficulties working with Governor.

• Refer to source on p.156.– British did not support Labour Front and did

not expect Labour Front to win.

HOCK LEE BUS RIOTS

• Communists influenced unions organised regular strikes.

• Hock Lee Bus Riot:– Began as a strike for better

pay and working condition. Company fired 227 workers in return.

– Turned violent on 27 Apr 1955.

– Students and other bus companies supported the Hock Lee employers.

– Escalated into large scale riots with 4 killed and 31 injured on 12 May 1955.

• Marshall government attempted to mediate.

• However, they failed and eventually force was used.

• This was to have a big impact on the Marshall government’s push for independence.

FIRST MERDEKA TALKS

• In 1956, Marshall led a delegation to London to negotiate for full internal self-government.– Announced that he would step down if he failed.

• Failed to secure internal self-government:– British did not agree as they did not have confidence

in Marshall’s government.– Marshall stepped down and was succeeded by Lim

Yew Hock.

SECOND MERDEKA TALKS

• 1957, Lim Yew Hock led another delegation to re-negotiate for internal self-government – Full control over all internal matters of government.

• Internal security became a shared responsibility. British retained control over foreign affairs and defence.

• Full internal self-government a reality by 1959.

EFFECTS

• Singapore became a state:– Own national anthem– Local Head of State.– Full control of internal affairs.

• Elections of 1959:– Greater voter turn out due to a relaxation of laws to

allow those not born in Singapore to vote.– Thirteen parties and 194 candidates.– Great political awareness of the population due to

campaigns by the different parties.– PAP victory (43 out of 51 seats)