1. Political developments in Singapore from 1946 to 1959
After Japanese Occupation people started making more demands for changes from the colonial government.
Citizenship
Local civil servants Political groups
(demand for better treatment) (more say in govt.)

2. Constitutional changes from 1946 to 1959
British introduced constitutional changes to increase local involvement in the government.
Limited elections introduced in
Significance
Eligible voters to vote their local representatives elected representatives could
in the Legislative Council raise concerns about local issues

3. Elections held between 1948-1959
About 14,000 voters x X = 50,000 votes
About 160,000 voters X X Xx
About 525,000 voters XXXXXXXXXXx
1948
1955
1959
*Only Br. Subjects eligible to vote
*No automatic registration of voters
*Voting was not compulsory
*Automatic registration
of voters
*Voting was not compulsory
Citizenship Ordinance passed in 1957
More people became citizens with right to vote
Automatic registration of voters
Voting compulsory

4. Control over Government (1)
1955 – RENDEL COMMISSION recommended limited self-government
6 elected locals
25 elected non-officials
1948
1955

5. Developments that led to Constitutional Changes in Singapore
External developments(pg64-66)
Internal Developments (pg67)
Independence movements in countries under colonial rule.
British India
Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)
French Indochina (Vietnam)
Fear of S’pore & Malaya turning
communist. Activities of MCP led to
declaration of Emergency.( pg65-66)
Rise of political consciousness
More local born who began to take an interest in how Singapore was ruled.
British government recognized that they had to give more political control to the people.

7. PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS 1945-1959
POLITICAL PARTIES ( Pg.70-77)
Singapore Progressive Party
Formed in 1947
Leaders: John Laycock, C.C Tan
N.A.Mallai
Members:multi-racial/mainly English-educated professionals and businessmen
Political aim: to achieve self-government/work with British govt. /introduce changes gradually.
Labour Front
Formed in 1954
Leader: David Marshall
Members –multi-racial/low-income /English educated members of trade unions
No clear political aim : protect workers’ interest
anti-communist/work with
Br. to attain self-government
People’s Action Party
Formed in 1954
Leaders: Dr.Toh Chin Chye/Lee Kuan Yew/Dr. Goh Keng Swee/S. Rajaratnam
Members: Eng-educated lawyers/journalists/t
Trade unionists.
Political aim: immediate
independence

8. CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
GRIEVANCES
UNFAIR TREATMENT BY THE BRITISH
Limited opportunity for National Service Registration
University education for males age 18-20(pg79-80)
Poor job prospects ( compared to English
Visitors to China not educated)(source7pg78)
allowed to return (fear of spread
of Communist ideas)

9. TRADE UNIONS (pg. 81-84) (SET UP TO PROTECT RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF WORKERS)
UNDER COMMUNIST INFLUENCE
Leadership:
former leaders from Chinese middle schools (Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan)
Activities: organized anti-colonial activities
NON COMMUNIST
Leadership: English educated
(Devan Nair and Sidney Woodhull)
Activities: Street protests to demand for better working conditions for workers.
BRITISH RESPONSE
Suspicious of trade unions
Arrest of members
Negotiations: for example in 1955 workers from Hock Lee Bus Company went on strike and riots broke out.
British negotiated settlement and riots ended.

10. 1955 ELECTIONS
More voters
Political parties worked hard during election campaign to get people’s interest. i)made house visits
ii) distributed pamphlets
iii)gave rally speeches
iv) newspapers published
articles about political parties
Election results
Party No/candidates Seats won
Labour Front
S’pore Progressive P
People’s Action Party
Alliance
Independent candidates
Democratic

11. LIMITED SELF GOVERNMENT 1955-1959
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
CHIEF MINISTER 3 British officials
6 ELECTED LOCALS nominated by Governor
In charge of Education In charge of External
Health affairs, defence,
Housing finance, internal
Trade security & law
25 elected non-officials
3 British officials
4 nominated non-officals

12. Pushed British colonial government for internal self-government
LABOUR FRONT GOVERNMENT (pg88-90) ( Formed coalition government with Alliance party)
DAVID MARSHALL AS CHIEF MINISTER
LIM YEW HOCK AS CHIEF MINISTER
Pushed British colonial government for internal self-government
Launched Merdeka campaign
Led first delegation to London for Merdeka talks in 1956
Resigned when talks failed
Took strong actions against Chinese middle school students and trade unions.
Led 2nd delegation to London in 1957
Succeeded in securing internal self- government

13. Control over Government (2) INTERNAL SELF GOVERNMENT 1959
Head of State
Yang di-Pertuan Negara
In charge of external affairs
and defence
Internal security
British government in London
Legislative Assembly
51 elected members
Cabinet
* Prime Minister
8 local ministers appointed from 51 elected members
*In charge of education,finance,
health, housing, law & labour
trade & industry
Area of shared control

14. 1959 GENERAL ELECTIONS (pg 91) ( To elect people to form the new government)
51 seats in Legislative Assembly to be contested
525,000 voters
More parties took part.(12 )
* Singapore People’s Alliance ( won 4/39)
* Workers’ Party
* People’s Action Party (won 43/ 51)
* Liberal Socialist Party
5 June 1959 PAP formed the government of Singapore.
Lee Kuan Yew became its First Prime Minister.
Yusof Bin Ishak was chosen as the Yang di-Pertuan Negara
( Head of state)