Topic 5

"Singapore struggle to achieve internal self-government in the period 1945-1959 had its costs. Was it worth it? Give at least two reasons to support your answer."



Even though there was death, injuries and damaged done due to the riots for internal self-government, I think it was worth it because they managed to gain internal self-government in year 1959.


Riots such as the Hock Lee Bus Riots and the 1956 Students' Riots made the British recognise the needs of workers and students and also to let the British government know that the communists are doing so to gain internal self-government for Singapore even with 4 people killed and 31 injured for the Hock Lee Bus Riot and 13 people died and more than 100 injured for the Students' Riot.

After the first Merdeka talk, where David Marshall failed to gain internal self-government for Singapore in 1956 because the British government sees that David Marshall's government could not protect British interests and prevent Singapore from falling into the Communist hands in the Hock Lee Bus Riot. However, Lim Yew Hock gained internal self-government for Singapore in the second Merdeka talk in 1957 after the Students Riot in 1956 where he had the police to arrest almost all the union leaders, including Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan to stop all communist activities. These actions done by him pleased the British government as it shows the success in suppressing the strikes and riots. Therefore, it gained trust from the British government to let Singapore have internal self-government.

In conclusion, events that had happen from 1945-1959 is worth it as Singapore gained internal self-government form the British government through actions done by the leaders of Singapore at that time to control strikes and riots by workers and students.