Blog Topic 5

Question:

Singapore's struggle to achieve internal self-government in the period 1945-1956 had its costs.

Was it worth it?

Give at least 2 reasons to support your stand.
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I think that it was worth to have the costs for internal self-government although riots, disagreements and unhappiness took place.

The first reason is that the british did not understand the needs of the people in Singapore. Riots such as, Anti-National Service riots and Maria Hertogh riots sparked off due to that. The Anti-National Service riots involved mostly chinese students who were anti-british and chinese. They striked because the British did not thought for those who were aged 18-20 but were still studying because of the delay caused by World War 2. And the Maria Hertogh riots happened due to lack of consideration of the British. The riots were meant for the British to take more notice but they failed to as many riots continued to take place due to unsatisfication of the people's need. This showed that the British was incapable of handling Singapore.

The second reason is that people who lived in Singapore understand the people more than the British. Knowing the needs of the people will not cause riots to take place as they know them better and unlike the British, not knowing anything of the needs and culture of people in Singapore and causes riots to take place.

Thus, i think that although deaths, injuries and chaos were created, it allowed the British to see that they are incapable to handle us and that the people of Singapore and this freed us to internal self-government.