Chapter 8 Waves of Unrest: Strikes and Riots after the War

Chapter 8

Waves of Unrest:

Strikes and Riots after the War

3 things you need to know

1. Reasons for the Strikes and Riots

2. Strikes and Riots

3. Effects of the Strikes and Riots

The Malayan Communist Party

• Mastermind of the strikes and riots• Involved in anti-Japanese activities –

earned the respect of the local people• Recognized as a lawful party when

returned weapons as requested by the British – kept some behind for future use

• Aimed to end colonial rule so that Singapore can be controlled by China – a communist country

The MCP’s targets

1. The Trade Unions

2. Chinese newspaper

3. Student leaders in Chinese schools

The MCP’s targets

1. Trade Union• Workers were unhappy because of their low

pay and poor working conditions

2. Chinese newspapers• Generally anti-British and pro-China in their

stand

3. Student leaders in Chinese schools• Unhappy about the lack of educational and

employment opportunities

Initial Phase (1945 – 1948): Limited Impact

1. Activities • Stirred up feelings among people by writing articles about the poor living

conditions• Encouraged the forming of trade unions to demand for better working

conditions• Encouraged the trade unions to go on strikes to achieve their demands

2. British follow-up actions• Registered all trade unions• Passed laws that prevent communist control of trade unions

3. Local reactions• Lost interest when realized communists only interested to create chaos• Loss of jobs – strikes did not meet needs of workers• Demands met – no need for strike anymore

The Emergency in Malaya 1948-1960

1. What is Emergency?

• A period of time when the British government carried out drastic measures such as setting curfew, increasing police and military presence, and restricting the movements of communists to curb their influences and activities


2. Why Emergency?

• The communists turned to more violent means such as attacking rubber plantations, tin mines, police stations, trains and lorries carrying policemen and soldiers in order to achieve their aim


3. Effects of Emergency

• Communists forced into the jungles

• Adopted guerilla warfare against the British

• Very limited support from the locals

Strikes and Riots in Singapore

1. Chinese-medium schools• Most of the teachers from China• Textbooks which contained communist

messages also from China• Students could not study in the University or

get better paying job • Teachers and students who were unhappy

about the British became members of MCP• Involved in communist-instigated strikes and

riots


2. Anti-National Service Riot

• Chinese students unhappy with the British government’s decision to introduce part-time national service

• Chinese students also unwilling to defend a country controlled by the British


3. Hock Lee Bus Riots• Students supported workers of the Hock Lee Bus

Company in their demands for better employment conditions

• Strikes and riots turned violent when demands not met• Several Chinese student leaders were arrested for their

role in the strike and riot• 2000 students then camped in their schools as a protest

and demanded their release – the government gave in• Students’ confidence grew and they begin to believe

their ability to make the government give in to their demands


4. Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Union Riots (SCMSSU)• The government had closed down the SCMSSU for its communist

activities and also arrested student leaders and expelled many students from Chinese High and Chung Cheng High

• Several thousand students protested and staged a demonstration by occupying these two schools

• Police managed to clear the students from the schools but they continued their protest towards the city where they damaged government property, overturning and burning cars

• Police imposed a curfew in order to force people to go home• The army was also called in to curb the riots• Road-blocks were set up to prevent the crowd from getting larger• Arrest of almost all the union leaders ended the riots

Strikes and Riots in Singapore5. The Maria Hertogh Riots – The Background• Maria Hertogh was born in Java in 1937 to Dutch parents who were Roman

Catholics• Maria’s parents were captured and imprisoned during the Japanese

Occupation in 1942• Maria was then looked after by a Malay woman, Che Aminah, and was

brought up as a Muslim• Maria’s parents were released in 1949 and wanted her back but Che

Aminah refused and the matter was brought to the court• Maria stayed with Che Aminah before the court hearing• Maria married a Malay teacher in 1950 when she was 13• The judge ruled that under British law, Maria’s marriage cannot be

recognized as she was underaged and her natural father had not consented to the marriage

• The court then returned Maria to her natural parents who then placed Maria in a Roman Catholic convent and this angered the Muslim community

• Che Aminah appealed again but was rejected by the courts


5. The Maria Hertogh Riots – Muslim Reaction

• Muslim community unhappy as they feel the British government did not respect Muslim law

• Muslim community also felt that the British government sided with the Dutch government


5. The Maria Hertogh Riots – Events

• European were attacked and vehicles were burned

• Many public facilities were also damaged

• British imposed curfew and the military was called in to curb the riot

Strikes and Riots in Singapore – The Reasons

1. Social-Economic• Poor working

conditions (low pay & long hours)

• Unfair educational opportunities

2. Religious• Insensitivity to

cultural differences• Ignorance to

religious laws

Strikes and Riots in Singapore – The Effects

• Loss of properties

• Loss of lives

• Loss of business

Documents

Chapter 8 Waves of Unrest: Strikes and Riots after the War