"Singapore's 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 stand.
I think that all the efforts put in to struggle to achieve internal self-government in the period 1945-1959 was worth it. It had leads to our independence and we could govern Singapore our way, without the approval of the British.
Firstly,the British might not understand the needs of the people in Singapore. Thus, many riots occurred due to that. An example would be the Hock Lee Bus Riot. At that time, workers from the Singapore Bus Workers Union went on a strike. They wanted better pay and working conditions then. Hock Lee Bus Company dismissed 229 workers instead of listening to them. The British neglected the peoples' interest and this resulted the riot.
Secondly, the British do whatever they like, whatever they received the best profit and they did not ruled for the best of Singapore.Through riots, we can tell that the British way of governing did not satisfied the people of Singapore. The people riot for their own rights and I think that what they did was right. Instead of trying to meet the needs and demands of the people in order to prevent riots and strike, the British simply ignored.
In conclusion, Singapore's struggle to achieve internal self government was worth it. In this way, our own government can make the laws that is the most suitable for the locals and could be in charged of education, economic, military, and the welfare of the locals. It proved that Singapore leaders were more capable to rule the country than the British. Therefore, it is worth for our past leaders to struggle to gain self- governing at its cost. With all these, Singapore is walking towards a brighter future!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
rEfleCtiOn tOpIC Ⅳ}}
In your opinion, what could have prevented the Maria Hertogh riots in 1950? Give at least 2 suggestions.
The Maria Hertogh riots broke out over the custody battle of a 13-year-old girl, Maria Hertogh. This riot continued for three days and a curfew was imposed for two weeks, about 18 people were killed and 173 were injured during the riot.
During the Japanese Occupation, Maria's Dutch Catholic parents were imprisoned, thus she came under the care of Che Aminah and her husband. They brought her up as a Muslim and named her Nadra. In 1949, Maria's mother, Adeline Hertogh came to claim her daughter back and eventually, Maria's case was brought up to the High Court in Singapore.
In May 1950, the court ruled that Maria be returned to her natural parents. Che Aminah opposed the decision and sent an appeal. Two months later, the court returned Maria to Che Aminah.
Under Che Aminah's care, Maria went through a marriage ceremony with a Malay teacher at the age of 13. In November 1950, the battle for custody continued. The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents. However, the judge announced that the Dutch law did not recognise Maria's marriage as she was under-aged. This upset the Muslim community as they felt that the Muslim law was not respected.
Meanwhile, the court put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent in Thomson Road. Reporters and photographers were allowed to enter the convent to take pictures of Maria knelt in worship before the statue of Virgin Mary. This had inflamed the Muslim, as in their eyes, the worship of images of any kind is not acceptable.
On 11 December 1950, Che Aminah appealed again for the custody of Maria. Large crowds gathered outside the court at the Padang to know the verdict. Unfortunately, the judge rejected the appeal. The Muslim supporters of Che Aminah felt betrayed by what they saw the British taking sides with the Dutch, this caused a riot to start.
In my opinion, I felt that measures could be taken to prevent this riot. Initially, I felt that the court should not be so indecisive, to have Maria been returned to her parents then after 2 months returned to Che Aminah then once again returned back to her parents. This would have cause agony among the Muslim. If the court stand firm on their decision from the start, the riot might have been prevented.
Secondly, If the judge were more sensitive and sensible, they would know that Muslims, can worship no other than their God. Thus, they should do better than to put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent. By doing so, he angered the Muslim community and disrespected the Muslim law.
Thirdly, if troops of army and police forces were ordered to maintain the order outside the court beforehand or better even surround the Pandang court and forbid anyone to crowd near the court while the verdict was made, this would certainly reduce the chances of the riot from occurring.
In my conclusion, many precautions could have been taken to prevent the riot and thus, no injures, to both human and public, would have be done.
The Maria Hertogh riots broke out over the custody battle of a 13-year-old girl, Maria Hertogh. This riot continued for three days and a curfew was imposed for two weeks, about 18 people were killed and 173 were injured during the riot.
During the Japanese Occupation, Maria's Dutch Catholic parents were imprisoned, thus she came under the care of Che Aminah and her husband. They brought her up as a Muslim and named her Nadra. In 1949, Maria's mother, Adeline Hertogh came to claim her daughter back and eventually, Maria's case was brought up to the High Court in Singapore.
In May 1950, the court ruled that Maria be returned to her natural parents. Che Aminah opposed the decision and sent an appeal. Two months later, the court returned Maria to Che Aminah.
Under Che Aminah's care, Maria went through a marriage ceremony with a Malay teacher at the age of 13. In November 1950, the battle for custody continued. The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents. However, the judge announced that the Dutch law did not recognise Maria's marriage as she was under-aged. This upset the Muslim community as they felt that the Muslim law was not respected.
Meanwhile, the court put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent in Thomson Road. Reporters and photographers were allowed to enter the convent to take pictures of Maria knelt in worship before the statue of Virgin Mary. This had inflamed the Muslim, as in their eyes, the worship of images of any kind is not acceptable.
On 11 December 1950, Che Aminah appealed again for the custody of Maria. Large crowds gathered outside the court at the Padang to know the verdict. Unfortunately, the judge rejected the appeal. The Muslim supporters of Che Aminah felt betrayed by what they saw the British taking sides with the Dutch, this caused a riot to start.
In my opinion, I felt that measures could be taken to prevent this riot. Initially, I felt that the court should not be so indecisive, to have Maria been returned to her parents then after 2 months returned to Che Aminah then once again returned back to her parents. This would have cause agony among the Muslim. If the court stand firm on their decision from the start, the riot might have been prevented.
Secondly, If the judge were more sensitive and sensible, they would know that Muslims, can worship no other than their God. Thus, they should do better than to put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent. By doing so, he angered the Muslim community and disrespected the Muslim law.
Thirdly, if troops of army and police forces were ordered to maintain the order outside the court beforehand or better even surround the Pandang court and forbid anyone to crowd near the court while the verdict was made, this would certainly reduce the chances of the riot from occurring.
In my conclusion, many precautions could have been taken to prevent the riot and thus, no injures, to both human and public, would have be done.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
rEFlecTiOn +opic Ⅲ。..
Did the Industrial Revolution affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better or for the worse? Explain your answer by providing examples.
Industrial Revolution is the invention of new machines and the discovery of new sources of power to drive these machines that brought about changes.
In the 18th century, making cloth by hand was a slow and tedious process. Workers could only produce enough cloth for self-use. New machines like the spinning machine were invented later on. These machines greatly changed the way goods were produced and shortened the production time.
The early machines made use of water power to work, steamed-engine was then invented to replace the initial one. Coal was burnt in the steam-engine to turn water into steam. The pressure from the steam provided the energy for machines to produce goods in great quantities. At the same time, railway trains and steamships were invented following the discovery of the steam-engine. People could travel longer distances in a shorter period of time to look for markets and raw materials.
With the invention of these machines, this help to create more job opportunities for the people and workers began to work in factories instead of working at home. The use of more effective machines meant that goods could produce cheaply in great quantities and at a faster rate. Raw materials were needed to manufacture these goods. More goods produced meant that there was a need for new markets. They began to look to the East for raw materials and markets for their goods. One of the places they turned to was Asia where they could sell their goods in return for the profits.
Communications also improved as a result of the arrival of steamships. Letter, which previously took about four to five months to arrive in the days of sailing ships, was reduced to about five weeks at that time.Letters and documents could be delivered in a much shorter time, this also bought Singapore into closer contact with Britain and the rest of the world.
In my opinion, i would conclude that the Industrial Revolution did affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better.
Industrial Revolution is the invention of new machines and the discovery of new sources of power to drive these machines that brought about changes.
In the 18th century, making cloth by hand was a slow and tedious process. Workers could only produce enough cloth for self-use. New machines like the spinning machine were invented later on. These machines greatly changed the way goods were produced and shortened the production time.
The early machines made use of water power to work, steamed-engine was then invented to replace the initial one. Coal was burnt in the steam-engine to turn water into steam. The pressure from the steam provided the energy for machines to produce goods in great quantities. At the same time, railway trains and steamships were invented following the discovery of the steam-engine. People could travel longer distances in a shorter period of time to look for markets and raw materials.
With the invention of these machines, this help to create more job opportunities for the people and workers began to work in factories instead of working at home. The use of more effective machines meant that goods could produce cheaply in great quantities and at a faster rate. Raw materials were needed to manufacture these goods. More goods produced meant that there was a need for new markets. They began to look to the East for raw materials and markets for their goods. One of the places they turned to was Asia where they could sell their goods in return for the profits.
Communications also improved as a result of the arrival of steamships. Letter, which previously took about four to five months to arrive in the days of sailing ships, was reduced to about five weeks at that time.Letters and documents could be delivered in a much shorter time, this also bought Singapore into closer contact with Britain and the rest of the world.
In my opinion, i would conclude that the Industrial Revolution did affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Stamford Raffles 『v.s』 Tan Tock Seng
The National Museum has decided to erect a statue infront of its entrance. They have to choose between Stamford Raffles and Tan Tock Seng.If you were working for the museum,who would you choose and why?
In my opinion, I would choose to erect a statue of Tan Tock Seng. One of the reasons is that people often commemorate Sir Stamford Raffles as the founder of Singapore, and few really noted about our locals whom also contributed greatly to the formation of Singapore today.
Tan Tock Seng was born in Melaka and came to Singapore in 1819, at the age of 21. He was indeed a visionary and an entrepreneur as he soon amassed wealth, but he did not ignore the suffering and plight of his unfortunate fellowmen.
He founded a pauper hospital in Pearl's Hill where the immigrants could seek medical help at little or no cost. Tan Tock Seng was not only one of the richest merchants in Singapore, but also a philanthropist who gave liberally to charity. He was also a leader of the chinese community and was the first Asian to be appointed justice of the Peace.
However, i would not deny that Stamford Raffles indeed played an important part in the Singapore's history. Without him, there might not even be Singapore today. But as for Tan Tock Seng, he is the one who had transformed Singapore into what it is today. Tan Tock Seng contributed greatly to Singapore, with his passion for the sick and the poor, he unindemnified for the benefit of others.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Who is the 'founder' of Singapore。。?
Have any ever been pondering over who is the founder of Singapore?
Some may consider William Farquhar as the founder of Singapore, as he was left to be in charge of Singapore when Raffles left after he had signed the treaty with Sultan Hussein. William Farquhar is the one who went through the first few years of hardship together with Singapore, indeed, he had played an important part in the initial stages of Singapore.
While others regard John Crawfurd as the founder of Singapore, as he is the one who signed the treaty in August 1824 which made Singapore a British possession. Under the treaty, the whole island was handed over to the British.
There could be several plausible answers to this question. However, I think that Stamford Raffles should be honoured as the founder of Singapore. Raffles was the one who signed the treaty on 6 February 1819 with Sultan Hussein which allowed the British to build a settlement in Singapore. Raffles also fought hard to keep his new settlement when the Dutch claimed that Singapore indirectly belonged to them, and he tried to get the support of important people in Britain to keep the island. If it wasn't for Raffles, Singapore would not be transformed from an obscure fishing village to a busy town full of new settlers. Hence, he is popularly regarded and honoured as the 'founder and architect of Singapore', whom had changed the future of Singapore.
Some may consider William Farquhar as the founder of Singapore, as he was left to be in charge of Singapore when Raffles left after he had signed the treaty with Sultan Hussein. William Farquhar is the one who went through the first few years of hardship together with Singapore, indeed, he had played an important part in the initial stages of Singapore.
While others regard John Crawfurd as the founder of Singapore, as he is the one who signed the treaty in August 1824 which made Singapore a British possession. Under the treaty, the whole island was handed over to the British.
There could be several plausible answers to this question. However, I think that Stamford Raffles should be honoured as the founder of Singapore. Raffles was the one who signed the treaty on 6 February 1819 with Sultan Hussein which allowed the British to build a settlement in Singapore. Raffles also fought hard to keep his new settlement when the Dutch claimed that Singapore indirectly belonged to them, and he tried to get the support of important people in Britain to keep the island. If it wasn't for Raffles, Singapore would not be transformed from an obscure fishing village to a busy town full of new settlers. Hence, he is popularly regarded and honoured as the 'founder and architect of Singapore', whom had changed the future of Singapore.
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