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Elections and Constitutional Changes (Internal Developments (Rise of…
Elections and Constitutional Changes
Constitutional Changes from 1946 to 1959
The Right to vote
Limited Elections
were introduced in
1948
,
eligible voters
in Singapore were allowed to vote for their
representatives in the Legislative council
3 Major elections held in Singapore between the years 1938 and 1959
Citizenship Ordinance
was passed in
1957,
made it easier for people who were not born in Singapore to becomes citizens and attain the right to vote.
Control Over Government
A
Commision
was led by a British official recommended that
limited self-government
be granted to to Singapore in
1955
The number of elected
local
members
in the government
increased
from 6 in
1948
to 25 in
1955
The number of
local ministers
also i
ncreased
over time
Control over government was further increased with the attainment of internal self-government
Locals had a greater in governing Singapore
External Developments
Many countries that were previously under colonial rule were moving towards independence:
India (British)
Indonesia (Dutch)
Vietnam (French)
Rise of communism after WW2
The British
feared
that its colonies (Malaya and Singapore) would
turn communist in their struggle for independence
, this fear was heightened after the
communist victory in China
(1949)
MCP:
it sought to
spread communist ideas in Malaya and Singapore
had earned the respect of some people as it had previously aided in resisting the
Japanese
in the form of
MPAJA
(Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army)
wanted an immediate end to British rule and resorted to force by attacking rubber plantations and tin mines in Malaya
also tried to spread their influence to
trade unions and Chinese medium schools
in order to
stir up anti-British feelings
British wanted to ensure that the government was
handed over to non-communist groups
that were willing to work with them to bring about constitutional changes
Internal Developments
Rise of political consciousness that was taking place in Singapore after 1945
Many groups emerged to push the British colonial government for political changes
The British colonial government recognised this development, as well as external developments and knew that they had to give more political control to the local people