rEFlecTiOn +opic Ⅴ。..

"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!