sa2-essay2
TRANSCRIPT
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I agree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the
1950s.For example, the Maria Hertogh riots. The riots were based on the custody
battle for a 13 year old Dutch girl. Maria was married to a Malay teacher at the age
of 13. However, the court ruled that the marriage was not recognised as it was not by
Dutch Law as she was underage & the marriage was not consented by her natural
parents. This had severely upset the Muslims as they felt the Muslim law was not
respected by the British. Later, Che Aminahs appeal was thrown out within 5
minutes into the appeal. This provoked the Malays as they believed that the 8 years
Che Aminah had spent as a foster mother raising Maria was not considered by the
judge. The Malays also thought the British were biased towards the Dutch, which
were their fellow Europeans. This then caused the riots to take place as a large group
of Malay supporters of Che Aminah were outside the Padang started to riot to show
displeasure to the Britishs insensitivity towards the locals. Therefore, I agree more
than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the 1950s.
I disagree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in
the 1950s. For example, the Hock Lee Bus Riots. The Hock Lee Bus Riots first started
with a strike when the Singapore Bus Workers Union (SBWU) wanted to get better
pay and working conditions for the bus workers from Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus
Company, however, the workers from Hock Lee company were instead fired. The 229
workers then started to protest by blocking the buses from leaving the depot atAlexandra Road . This was made worse when a rival union, who were given better
schedules and monetary incentives were roped in to help. The workers hence felt
challenged and protested even more. Furthermore, it was only when the police were
called in, did the strikers start attacking the British showing that the strikers did not
intend to oppose the British blatantly. Therefore, I disagree more than disagree that
Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the 1950s.
I agree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the
1950s. For example, the Anti-National Service Riots. The National service ordinance
required all males aged 18 to 20 to register or face a jail term or fines. Chinese
secondary School students from Chinese Schools like Chinese High & Chung Cheng
High were however, unwilling to do so. This showed anti-British feelings as the main
reason why many students were not willing to defend the colonial British
government was because they felt that they were treated unfairly as they were
depriving good educational and employment opportunities as they were seen as
communist, the opposing forces to the ruling government. The Students were also
unhappy at how the British had abandoned Singapore during World War 2. The riots
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also showed that students from Chinese Schools were politically conscious against
the British and were willing to be arrested rather than support Britishs actions,
causing the riot in front of the government house. Anti-British sentiments were also
present in their daily speeches and according to the letter they had drafted to the
governor, the Chinese wanted to unite under the Malaya Communist Party to fight
for liberation against the British. Therefore, I agree more than disagree that
Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the 1950s.
Therefore, I agree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the
riots in the 1950s. Although Anti-British feelings were not the cause for the start of
the riots however, it still contained anti-British sentiments. During the riot, a Chinese
student was accidentally killed by a police. However, he was not sent to the hospital
immediately but instead was paraded by the rioters to arouse anti-British feelings
among others, showing the strikers dissatisfaction and hope that more would turn
against the British and demand for independence, thus, displaying anti-British
feelings.