MALAY POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN SINGAPORE 1945-1959

Abstract

Malay politics in the post-World War II and pre-self government era in Singapore is a relatively "dark" and obscure topic in the history of Singapore. Many, even the Malays themselves, are quite ignorant of the development and the role of Malay political activities during this critical period of Singapore's political evolution. Such ignorance is largely attributable to the deficiency of writings on the topic. It is, therefore, in view of such a situation that I hope this academic exercise will contribute, in a small way, towards illuminating this "dark" and obscure area not only in the history of Singapore but also that of the Malays on the island. Writing this academic exercise has been somewhat of a challenge for me mainly because of the lack of sources. But on the whole, it has been rather an experience and an eye-opener for it gave me tremendous insight into the world of Malay politics in Singapore during the period under study, something of which I myself was equally in want of knowledge at the start. This academic exercise focuses on the development of pre-World War II Malay political activities and how they laid the foundation for what were to come in the post-war Malay political scene, Malay anti-colonial posture and following that, Malay attitude towards the achievement of Singapore's independence, and how the various Malay political bodies related to one another. At all times, too, the nature of the Malay society in Singapore and how it affected Malay politics on the island are kept in mind.