How far do you agree that the need to set up a Common Market was the most important reason for merger between Singapore and Malaya.

I agree to a great extent although political reason like gaining complete freedom would be one of the important reason. I think the setting up of a Common Market was the main and the most important reason for a merger because it was thought to be able to bring about a rapid economic growth in Singapore and the PAP government felt that Singapore's survival as an independent state would be difficult due to the lack of natural resources, the declining of entrepot trade and the growing population which required jobs.

Morever, Malayan government introduced import and export tariffs, taxes that are collected by government on goods coming into or going out of the country, on goods traded between the two countries. Besides, the setting up of a Common Market which is an agreement between countries allowing goods produced in one country to enter another country without having to pay taxes would help to support Singapore's new industries. Goods could be then bought and sold freely without being taxed. This would in turn increase trade, expand industries and create more jobs for people in Singapore.

Although there was political reason like independence for merger, it was not seen as the priority, unlike the economic reasons such as the setting up of the Common Market. PAP government saw that Singapore's best hope for complete freedom was through a merger with Malaya because there was still areas like defence and internal security under British control.

Therefore, i think the setting up of a Common Market was the most important reason for a merger.

" Singapore's struggle to achieve internal self-government in the period 1945-1959 had its costs." Was it worth it? Give at least 2 reasons to support your stand.

I think all the effort was worth it. If not for the stuggle to achieve internal self-government, Singapore would not be what it is of today or in fact, still under the British.

Firstly, the riots in the early 1950s were caused by the displeasures of people with the British. For example, there was anti-national service riots which was due to the British who failed to spare a thought for the students in Chinese schools. If they had been bothered to ask for opinions from the students, things might have been different. Thus, Singapore's struggle to achieve internal self-government was worth it. In this way, locals can be in charged of Trade and Industry, Health, Education, Housing, Law and Labour as well as Finance. As the locals would be able to understand more about the feelings and thoughts of people in Singapore as well as the situation and conditions in Singapore, they would be able to make laws that are suitable to be carried out in Singapore. Hence, there would be less displeasures in the minds of people.

Secondly, the British insisted their way all along and forgot that people here in Singapore were different from those who were in Britain. The conditons of living were totally different. Thus, they would not be able to understand more about the needs and wants of the people in Singapore. They just think they were always right and tried to control the people the way they wanted and did not allow people to voice out their opinions. These actions stirred up the feelings of people. Hence, communists emerged to go against them and chaos were seen everywhere. If Singapore had not put in the effort to fight for internal self-government, I believe Singapore today would be still as chaotic as the past.

In conclusion, all the things, struggles and efforts that have been put in and done were worth it in exchange for internal self-government and the way Singapore is today. The struggle for internal self-government was really important and with that, Singapore managed to take a big step in moulding its future.

In your opinion, what could have prevented the Maria Hertogh riots in 1950? Give at least 2 suggestions.

Maria Hertogh's riots which broke out in 1950 were mainly due to the custody battle over a 13-year-old girl, Maria Bertha Hertogh. She was born in Java in 1937 to Dutch Catholic parents. During the Japanese Occupation, she came under the care of a Malay woman, Che Aminah, who brought Maria up as a Muslim. In 1949, Adeline Hertogh, Maria's mother, came to claim her daughter back. This case was brought to the High Court in Singapore. The court ruled that Maria be returned to her natural parents. However, Che Aminah opposed the decision and sent an appeal. Two months later, Maria was returned to Che Aminah. At the age of 13, Maria went through a marriage ceremony with a Malay teacher.

In November 1950, the battle for custody continued. The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents and announced that the Dutch law did not recognise Maria's marriage as she was under-aged and her natural father's consent was not obtained. This in turn upset the Muslim community because they felt that Muslim law was not respected. Meanwhile, the court put Maria in the care of a Catholic convent in Thomson Road. Reporters and photographers entered the convent to take pictures of Maria who had knelt in worship before the statue of Virgin Mary. In Muslim eyes the worship of images of any kind is not acceptable and thus, inflamed Muslims feelings.

On 11 December 1950, the court once again sat to hear Maria's case but the judge rejected the appeal in the end. The supporters of Aminah who gathered outside the court at Padang felt betrayed by what they saw as the British taking sides with the Dutch, started to riot. About 18 people were killed and 173 were injured during the riot.

In my opinion, the government should send police to maintain order even before the hearing; send police to be on standby. So that in case of any mishaps or tragedies would not take place. If they had done so, the riot might not have happened and many loss of lives could be prevented. Also, reporters should not be allowed into the Catholic convent to take photographs or make any report. Because some reporters are bias and exaggerating at times, so even if Maria was not kneeling in worship of Virgin Mary, the reporters might exaggerate the matter and make people believe that she did that, not showing respect to the Muslims. In conclusion, if more precautions could be take, this whole riot could have been prevented and lives would not be lost.

Did the industrial revolution affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better or worse? Explain your answer by providing examples.

It changed people's lives for the better. The industrial revolution is the invention of new machines and the discovery of new sources of power to drive these machines that brought about changes that transformed the way people lived.

In the 18th century, making cloth was a slow process and workers could only produce enough cloth for themselves as they worked by hand. But because of industrial revolution, new machines like the spinning machine were invented and these machines greatly changed the ways goods were produced and it shortened the production time. Also, there was an invention of the steam-engine. Coal was burnt in the steam-engine to turn water into steam and the pressure from the steam provided the energy for machines to produce goods in great quantities. The invention of these machines meant that the Europeans could produce their goods cheaply in great quantities and at a faster rate. At the same time, railway trains and steamships were invented and it brought great convenience for people. People could then travel longer distances in a shorter period of time to look for markets and raw materials.

As Europeans could now sail to East to obtain raw materials and find markets to sell their goods, more ships visited Singapore and this led to the growth in trade. Communications also improved as a result of the arrival of steamships as letters which used to take four to five months to arrive from Europe now took only about five weeks. With the shorter time taken to deliver letters and documents, Singapore came into closer contacts with Britain and the rest of the world. Thus, I think the Industrial Revolution had changed people's lives for the better.

The national museum has decided to erect a statue in front of its entrance. They have to choose between Sir Stamford Raffles and Tan Tock Seng. If you were working for the museum, who would you choose and why.

Tan Tock Seng amassed wealth through his industry and thrift acumen but he did not ignore the suffering and plight of his unfortunate fellowmen. The immigrants who came to Singapore were poor and suffered from diseases like malaria, cholera, typhoid, smallpox and tuberculosis. Tan Tock Seng spent large sums of money on providing medical services and amenities like water wells for the community and he also spent money to ensure that the poor had proper burials.

Raffles was the one who founded Singapore and he fought hard to take control of Singapore. Although he did not do much with the setting up of the new settlement, Singapore would not have existed if not for him who discovered the island.

I think Tan Tock Seng would be more deserved to be erected in front of the entrance. He did alot more for the people in Singapore. He spent large sums of money giving strangers proper burials, they were people that he didn't know. Most of us would not have been bothered with such matters. We would most probably just walk away as if it was none of our business. But Tan Tock Seng gave money to give them proper burials and I think it is very compassionate and thoughtful of him to give people a decent burial especially those who might not have families with them.

Although Stamford Raffles was the one who founded Singapore, i think he didn't really do much. All he did was to go through the agreement between the British and the Dutch and the paper war. After signing all the treaties which were supposed to be signed, he went off, back to British and left all the work to William Farqhuar. In conclusion, i dont think his statue should be the one being erected in front of the museum.

From all these examples and evidences, i think i would make Tan Tock Seng the statue, standing in front of the museum.

Have you ever wondered who is the real founder of Singapore? In my opinion, Sir Stamford Raffles is the real founder of Singapura, which is used to be called Temasek. Raffles holds a popularly regarded and honoured reputation. We can find many of Raffles' statue at many corners of the present Singapore. Many evidence prove that Raffles is the one who founded Sinagpore, although William Farqhuar and John Crawfurd played a part in it too. Some might even think it is Sang Nila Utama, where there is only evidence from Sejarah Melayu. There is no existing corroboration at all. Raffles was concerned about the Dutch spreading their monopoly of trade and extending their authority over the Archipelago. This prompted the British to search for a new British trading settlement south of Dutch Melaka. So, Raffles began his search for an ideal place for the British to start a new trading settlement. And so, Raffles found Singapore and believed that Singapore was suitable as a port with its natural advantages such as an excellent harbour and good supply of drinking water.

However, later Raffles found out that the island was ruled by Sultan Abdul Rahman of the Johor-Riau Sultanate, who was under the control of the Dutch. So, singapura was indirectly under the Dutch who did not allow the British to occupy Singapore. After listening to the story of how Tengku Abdul Rahman had became the Sultan instead of his elder brother, Tengku Hussein, Raffles decided to recognise Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan and then obtain his permission to start the settlement. When Tengku Hussen met Raffles, he agreed to be recognised by British as Sultan. However, later on, the Dutch found out about it and was strongly against this matter but due to the determination of Raffles, Singapore finally became under the control of the British.

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