Singapore Riots of the 1950s

• This chapter explores how people in Singapore reacted to British rule after WWII

The Early 1950s: Riots and Reform

• Focus is on identifying a cause of discontent in each major riot
• Focus is on identifying and describing the major riots in postwar Singapore and the impact on British interests

Maria Hertogh Riots (11-13 Dec 1950)

• A Dutch couple left their daughter with a Malay family named Che Aminah, who raised her Muslim during WWII
• In 1950, the parents tried to reclaim their daughter, and the British court ruled in favor of the Dutch parents
• The Malay community felt disrespected and angered

Factors Behind Maria Hertogh Riots

• Racial and Religious Insensitivity: Maria was placed in a Convent during court proceedings, leading to a perception that Muslim laws were not respected
• Anti-Colonial Sentiments: Religious tensions combined with anti-British feelings
• Irresponsible Press Coverage: Newspapers sensationalized the story and stoked tensions

Anti-National Service Riots (13 May 1954)

• National Service Ordinance passed in 1953 required all males between 18 and 20 to register for National Service
• The British needed to shift responsibility of defending Singapore due to the Malayan Emergency
• The decision was deeply unpopular with Chinese students because war had disrupted their education, and NS threatened to do so again
• The British did not give much support to Chinese schools, and many Singaporeans did not want to serve a foreign government
• On 13 May 1954, a peaceful march by 500 students turned violent when British riot police clashed with protestors
• British ordered closure of Chinese schools the next day, escalating the unrest
• On 22 May, thousands of students locked themselves in Chung Cheng High in protest
• In response the British postponed registration for NS
• The event encouraged/politicized Chinese students to become politically active, leading to many joining unions

Significance of Riots in the 1950s

• The British realized that discontent toward Colonial Rule was high
• Locals were granted more political power
• The events led to the Rendel Constitution in 1955

Rendel Constitution

• Formed in July 1953 for British review
• Recommended Limited Self-Government
• Local ministers focused on education, health, housing, trade and industry
• British retained control of defence, internal security, and foreign affairs
• Elections were to be held in 1955

1955 Elections

• Easier to vote as registration was automatic
• More public interest due to limited self-government
• Increased political activity resulted in more parties emerging such as the Labour Front and People's Action Party
• Voters became attracted to campaigns focused on anti-colonial messages
• The Labour Front won 10 out of 25 seats
• The results came as a shock, because the British expected the more pro-colonial Singapore Progressive Party to win

1955 Elections: Political Parties

• The Labour Front (LF) was led by David Marshall, and its key members included Lim Yew Hock and Francis Thomas
• The LF was a multiracial party comprised mostly of low-income and English-educated members of trade unions, founded in July 1954
• The LF supported immediate independence for Singapore
• The party prioritized improved workers' rights and working conditions
• It fought to extend Singapore citizenship to China-born immigrants, which led many Chinese-speaking people to support the party
• The People's Action Party (PAP) was co-founded by Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Dr Toh Chin Chye, S. Rajaratnam and Kenneth Michael Byrne, founded in November 1954
• The PAP included mainly English-educated lawyers, journalists and trade unionists
• Like the LF, the PAP was a multiracial party that opposed British rule and wanted immediate Singapore independence
• It sought the support of workers, trade unions and students in Chinese-medium schools

Hock Lee Bus Riots (1955)

• April 1955: Singapore Bus Workers' Union felt unfairly treated
• The Hock Lee Bus Amalgamated Company Dismissed union workers, who went on hunger strike and blocked buses from leaving the depot
• 27 April: The police intervened, leading to the injury of 15 people while >10,000 Chinese school students gathered to support the strike
• 12 May: The police attempted to clear the crowd with water hoses, leading to a violent response from the crowed resulting in 4 dead and 31 injured
• David Marshall's attempts to resolve the dispute failed
• 14 May: An agreement was struck after government helped to negotiate an agreement between the union and company, agreeing the dismissed workers got their jobs back

Aftermath of the Hock Lee Bus Riots

• Significance:
• Marshall looked Weak to the British because he refused to take stronger action against the rioters by calling in British troops (he did not want to appear pro-British to local Singaporeans)
• Marshall's demand for full internal self-govt in 1957 failed, leading to his vow to resign if negotiations failed
• The British wanted a strong and stable govt in Singapore to protect their interests and prevent communism, resulting in the proposal being rejected
• Lim Yew Hock became the next Chief Minister