Chapter 8How did Singapore progress to Internal Self-government?

Part 1

Objectives

1. Compare & Contrast David Marshall & Lim Yew Hock

2. Reasons for British granting self-governance to Singapore in 1957

The Britishstill control the

importantareas of

governanceat the end of the election in

1955.

They need

to secure the British’s Interests.

British’s Opinion of

Singapore Leaders

David Marshall

Lim Yew Hock

David Marshall was a locally-born Singaporean who became Singapore’s first Chief minister after his party, the Labour Front, won 10 seats in the 1955 election.

Coming into Power

As the Labour Front had won the mostseats, it

formed the government.

Marshall became the ChiefMinister while six

local representatives became Ministers.

Relationship with BritishAs Chief Minister, Marshall was still under the control of the Governor.

The Governor and the British officials only viewed him as a figurehead and did not give him proper respect.

Figurehead

A leader with no real authority or power

Because Marshall’s party was not the one that the British expected to

win, they did not receive full British support.

Ability to

Secure British Interests

Hock Lee Bus Riots

Student’s Riots

Hock Lee Bus Riots

What caused the riots?

Workers from two trade unions

Singapore Bus Workers Union Hock Lee Employee’s Union

went on strike for better pay and working conditions in April 1955.

The protest gained support from the Chinese school students who came in lorries and brought food and entertainment for the strikers.

The workers thus gathered at the company’s bus depot and blocked the gatesto prevent the buses from leaving the depot.

What was done to stop itWhen the police were called in to disperse the crowd, the strikers threw stones at them. The police foughtback and the clash led to more than 15 people being injured.

David Marshall attempted to settle the dispute between the bus company and the union by setting up a Commission of Inquiry.

However, both parties failed to reach an agreement.

The protests by the bus workers continued.

When the protest turned increasingly violent, the government called in the police to control the workers and students by using fire hoses.

The strikes only came to

an end on

14th May 1955.

Impact of Riots on David Marshall

Marshall seemed reluctant to arrest and imprison the Communists during the Hock Lee Bus riots.

This caused the British to have a negative impression of Marshall.

After the Hock Lee Bus riots, David Marshall led his delegation to London in 1956 for the

first Merdeka talks.

David Marshall refused to be a figurehead by demanding the British government grant his government full control of all internal matters of government, including areas that were under British control.

He threatened to resign if the British government did not meet his demand for internal self-government.

Merdeka talks

In the first Merdeka talks, he demanded internal self-government, including areas of defence and external affairs

As the British felt that Marshall’s government was not able to overcome the Communist threat, they refused David Marshall’s request and the talks failed.

When David Marshall returned to Singapore, he resigned as ChiefMinister.

Coming into Power

Lim Yew Hock, the second most important leader of the Labour Front, became the next Chief Minister after David Marshall resigned.

Relationship with the British

Unlike David Marshall, he did not believe in threatening the British to get what he wanted.

He chose tocooperate with the British government to fight against the Communist threats.

He took a tough stance against the Communists to gain the confidence of the British

He believed that this was the best way to gain internal self-governance for Singapore.

Ability to

Secure British Interests

Hock Lee Bus Riots

Student’s Riots

Students’ Riot

What caused the riots? These riots started when it was announced that the Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Union would be closed down due to its Communist activities.

ReasonTaking part in

Communist activities.

4student leaders were arrested.

ReasonTaking part in

Communist activities.

4 142student leaders were arrested.

student were expelled.

Students retaliated by camping at their campuses for two weeks.

The government sent out the police, whoused tear gas to force the students out from the schools.

What was done to stop it?

A curfew was imposed in vain. Eventually, the army was called in and road-blocks were set up during the curfew to prevent the congregation of large crowds.

The riots only ended when the police arrested almost all the union leaders, including the pro-communist Lim Chin Siong (left) as well as Fong Swee Suan(right).

Impactof Riots on

Lim Yew Hock

The British showed confidence in Lim Yew Hock as he managed to suppress the riots successfully.

The British were impressed with Lim Yew Hock’s stance on communism as he made arrest of the people who were believed to be involved in communist activities.

Student Riots Impacts of Riots on leader

Ability to Deal with Riots

The British were impressed by his capability in handling the student riots in 1956

The British hadconfidence in the government of Lim Yew Hock in dealing with the communists.

MerdekaTalks

When Lim Yew Hock led his team for the second Merdeka talks in 1957, the talks were successful.

Lim Yew Hock was willing to compromise on the issue of internal security as he knew that the British were still worried about the communists.

The areas of External Affairs and Defence would also remain under the control of the British.

The proposals of Marshall’s first Merdeka talks formed the basis for the talks.

This led to the formation of the November 1958 constitution.

This successful second Merdekatalks would lead Singapore to achieve internal self-government with elections to be held in May 1959.

Question Which of the following was the main reason for the British granting self-governance to the Lim Yew Hock government in 1957?

1. British’s opinion of Singapore leaders 2. Singapore leaders’ ability to secure British’s interests

against Communism3. Change in British politics in 1957

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