chapter 10: how did singapore tackle its challenges in its early years of independence?

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: How did Singapore Tackle its How did Singapore Tackle its

Challenges in its Early Years of Challenges in its Early Years of Independence? Independence?

REVIEWREVIEW

1945 - British set up the British Military Administration

1946 - Penang and Malacca joined the Malayan Union while Singapore remained as a separate Crown Colony

1948 - Federation of Malaya was formed. Singapore was left out. Why?

1. The federation and Singapore had different economies

2. Singapore had a large Chinese population which threatened the basic rights of the Malays

3. Singapore was an important naval base to the British

The British had no intention to give up control over Singapore but they also knew that the people would not be contented. Hence they decided to allow the people to be involved in the first elections

Gradual Progress Towards Self-Gradual Progress Towards Self-GovernmentGovernment

1948 Election1948 Election

Rendel Commission, Jul 1953Rendel Commission, Jul 1953

1955 Elections1955 Elections

SPP won 3 out of 6 seats. The rest were won by independents.

Recommended limited self-government.

- Housing, Education, Health, Trade and Industry

LF won 10 out of 25 seats. Formed coalition government. David Marshall became the first Chief Minister. Faced challenges such as Hock Lee Bus Riots.


1956 – First Merdeka 1956 – First Merdeka TalksTalks

1957 – 21957 – 2ndnd Merdeka Talks Merdeka Talks

1959 Elections1959 Elections

Led by David Marshall. Requested for internal self government. Failed. Marshall resigned. Why? Lim Yew Hock became 2nd Chief Minister. Faced challenges such as Students’ Riots.

Led by Lim Yew Hock. Requested for internal self government. Succeeded. Why?

First fully elected democratic government. PAP won majority of seats and formed new govt. Lee Kuan Yew became first PM and Yusof Ishak became the first Head of State.


1963 Merger with Malaya, 1963 Merger with Malaya, Sabah and SarawakSabah and Sarawak

19641964

19651965

Formed the Federation of Malaysia. Singapore held its first State Election in 1963. Participated by SUMNO. SUMNO failed to garner support.

First Federal Election held in KL. Singapore won 1 seat.

Concept of Malaysian Malaysia introduced and angered the Malaysian Federal government. Racial Riots occurred in Singapore.

Singapore separated from Malaysia and became a sovereign independent nation.

Learning Objectives

• Challenges faced by Singapore in its early years of independence

• Strategies adopted in response to these challenges

• Effectiveness of these strategies in preparing Singapore for the future

Challenges faced by Singapore in its early years of Independence

• Lack of raw materials• Limited land space• Loss of Malaysia as a potential

hinterland market - Weak industry base - Fall in trade• Growing population• Need to create jobs for the people

Economic Uncertainties


• Announcement of the withdrawal of British military forces by the end of 1971

• Need to build up its own defence to protect the nation from both internal and external threats

Political Uncertainties


Challenges• Lack of natural resources

such as rubber, palm oil and minerals like tin and gold

• Lack of diversity in the economy due to dependence on entrepot trade

• High Unemployment

Economic Challenges & StrategiesStrategies – Two-pronged• Incentives to MNCs from

Japan, Western Europe and the USA to set up factories in S’pore

• Transformed S’pore into a more organised and efficient country

- High standards of public service


Economic Challenges & Strategies

Dr Albert Winsemius, a Dutch economist- Export-led industrialisation

• to develop faster and stay ahead of other countries• recommended in response to loss of potential

hinterland market and aptitude of its people to work in manufacturing industries

• government would provide key infrastructure (efficient port, good communication and transport system, sound

banking and financial system; p. 203)• Positioned as low cost manfacturing export centre


Economic Challenges & Strategies

Dr Albert Winsemius, a Dutch economist- Export-led industrialisation

• Setting up of Economic Development Board (EDB) in Aug 1961 to drive development of new and existing

industries (eg. Setting up of Jurong Industrial Estate, JIE)• Success: By 1968, almost 300 factories providing jobs

for 21,000 people were set up• 1968, Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) was formed to take over the management of JIE and other industrial estates in Kallang Basin, Sims Avenue and Redhill)


• By 1985, S’pore developed into a modern city-state

• Had a diversified economy and global trade network

Impact on the Present


Challenges in Housing• Singapore Improvement

Trust (SIT) set up in 1927 failed to solve housing problems

• Estimated half a million people lived in slums and squatter settlements by 1959

• Living conditions were cramped and unhygienic – spread of diseases as well as fire hazards (Bukit Ho Swee fire in May 1961)

Social Challenges & StrategiesStrategies• Housing and

Development Board (HDB) set up in 1960 to replace SIT


Social Challenges & Strategies

Housing and Development Board

• Implemented three five-year plans to build flats quickly and economically

1st 5-yr Plan• Built housing estates based on neighbourhood concept comprising 1,000 to 1,500 families (self-contained shops,

schools, clinics, community centres, playground)• Eg. Tiong Bahru, Queenstown, Toa Payoh,

MacPherson)



Housing and Development Board


2nd 5-yr Plan• Focused on quality of housing programme (designs,

open spaces, landscaping, car parks, point blocks)



Housing and Development BoardMr Lim Kim San, first HDB chief


3rd 5-yr Plan• Focused on catering to needs of middle-income

households who wanted bigger flats but could not afford private housing (eg. HUDC)


• S’pore became a home-owning society• Fostered social stability• Gave citizens a stake in the country and its

future• Promoted a sense of national pride and

identity among S’poreans



Challenges in Education• Means to support S’pore’s

economic development• Need to get people of

different races to interact • Colonial rule saw education

largely left to the different ethnic and religious organisations

• Quality of education varied

Social Challenges & StrategiesStrategies• Common medium of

instruction• Daily flag-raising and

pledge taking ceremonies

• Civics Education and ECA



Educational Reforms

1st 5-yr Plan• Focused on increasing level of literacy of people

• Large scale recruitment of teachers and teachers-in-training

• Introduction of compulsory bilingual policy in 1960 for primary schools and 1966 for secondary schools

• Students were also equipped with relevant technical skills, in addition to the basic skills of reading and writing


• Shaped social relations among different races

• Equipped workforce with technical skills• Students equipped with EL (working

language) and mother tongue (roots to culture and race)



Challenges• Strong defence was critical in

ensuring peace and stability which would in turn draw foreign investors to S’pore

• Constraints of limited manpower and funds

Political Challenges & StrategiesStrategies• Establishment of

Ministry of Interior and Defence


Political Challenges & Strategies

Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID)Dr Goh Keng Swee

• Introduced National Service. Passed NS Amendment Bill on 14 March 1967

• S’porean male citizens aged 18 would enroll for NS• After NS, they would become reservists or

Operationally Ready NSmen• Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) set

up in June 1966 to provide military training• Measures to overcome opposition put in place


Political Challenges & Strategies

Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID)Dr Goh Keng Swee

• Steps taken to set up Navy and Air Force• Bilateral training introduced

• Five Power Defence Agreement signed with Britain, Australia, NZ and Malaysia – assistance in times of

attacks


• Ready pool of combat trained male citizens• Forged closer bonds among people of

different races and religious background


chapter 10: how did singapore tackle its challenges in its early years of independence?

Documents

challenges effectiveness

redhill slide

present slide

future slide

learning objectives

democratic government

limited self government

formed coalition government