Chapter 6: What Did the People in

Singapore Experience During the

Japanese Occupation?

What Was Daily Life Like Under the

Japanese?
Dealing with Shortages
During the Japanese Occupation in Singapore, trade was disrupted by the war, which caused a
shortage of food and essential items. Rice, salt, and sugar were strictly rationed and could only
be obtained using ration coupons. The scarcity of goods led to a rapid increase in prices, resulting
in inflation. As a result, people had to rely on the black market to obtain basic necessities. The
Japanese government printed more money, causing the value of the banana notes to decrease,
making them essentially worthless by the end of the occupation.

TWISS:
• T - Trade disrupted by war
• W - War caused shortage of food and essential items
• I - Inflation caused by rapid increase in prices
• S - Strict rationing of rice, salt, and sugar
• S - Scarcity of goods led to reliance on black market
Disease and Death
During the Japanese Occupation in Singapore, healthcare and sanitation worsened,
causing food shortages and a sharp increase in deaths. Over 130,000 deaths were
recorded from 1942 to 1945, more than double the previous three years. Prisoners of war
and civilian prisoners faced harsh conditions due to overcrowding, lack of food and
medicine, and poor hygiene. The Japanese authorities forced the POWs to work as
laborers, including on the infamous Siam-Burma Railway, where around 16,000 POWs
died. These conditions led to the spread of diseases and a decline in living standards for
the local population.
DEATHS

• Disease and sanitation worsened

• Evil Increase in deaths (over 130,000 recorded)
• An Overcrowding, lack of food and medicine for prisoners
• The Forced labor for prisoners (e.g. on the Siam-Burma Railway)
• Horrible spread of diseases and decline in living standards

Relocations
To address the food shortage in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation, the
government encouraged people to grow their own food. When this failed to increase
agricultural output, the Japanese relocated people to rural areas. These resettlement
projects were supervised by Mamoru Shinozaki, a Japanese government official. The
Chinese were moved to the Endau settlement in Johor, which was successful and had
amenities like a hospital and coffee shops. However, the Bahau settlement in Negeri
Sembilan was less successful due to poor soil and led to people resorting to eating rats
and maggots.

GROWTH
G - Government encouraged growing own food
R - Relocation of people to rural areas
O - Overseen by Mamoru Shinozaki
W – Wanted Chinese moved to successful Endau settlement in Johor
T – The Bahau settlement in Negeri Sembilan was less successful due to poor soil
H – However, people resorting to eating rats and maggots
How Did the Locals Respond to Japanese
Rule?
Collaboration
Under Japanese rule in Southeast Asia, locals were asked to support the Japanese,
especially Malays and some Chinese. The Malays were given jobs like policing and
joining neighbourhood groups. Some Chinese were used to give information to the
Kempeitai during Operation Sook Ching. Some locals cooperated, while others were
mistreated by the Japanese. Although the Japanese tried to make the local people
obedient, some still resisted.

C - Chinese information-givers to Kempeitai

O - Obedience attempted by Japanese
L - Locals mistreated by Japanese
L - Locals asked to support the Japanese
A - And Malays given jobs like policing and neighbourhood groups
B - Both Malays and Chinese asked to support the Japanese
O - Some locals cooperated with the Japanese
R – Resisted by Some
Resistance
During Japanese rule in Southeast Asia, some locals refused to accept their authority and
resisted their rule. The Malay Regiment officers who refused to fight for Japan were
executed. The Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and Force 136 were
established to fight against the Japanese and worked with the British. MPAJA carried out
sabotage attacks, distributed anti-Japanese materials, and aroused anti-Japanese
sentiments. Lim Bo Seng and Elizabeth Choy were prominent figures in the resistance
who fought against the Japanese with guerrilla tactics and secretly delivered aid to British
POWs, respectively.

R - Refused to accept Japanese authority

E - Elizabeth Choy delivered aid to British POWs
S - Sabotage attacks carried out by MPAJA
I - Lim Bo Seng was a prominent figure in the resistance
S - Sentiments aroused against the Japanese
T - Tactics used by guerrillas to fight against the Japanese
A - Anti-Japanese materials distributed by MPAJA
N - Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army established to fight against the Japanese
Chapter 7: How Did the People in
Singapore Respond to British Rule
After World War II?
How Did External Developments Influence the People's
Responses to British Rule After World War II?

Weakening of Colonial Rule

Pre-WWII, people resented European colonial rule due to the suffering it caused. Japan's
defeat of European forces and subsequent occupation further fuelled anti-colonial
feelings. After Japan surrendered, people sought to overthrow their colonial rulers and
take control of their own destiny. India gained independence in 1947, Indonesia in 1949,
and the Vietnamese overthrew their French colonial masters in 1954. These events
weakened colonial rule in Asia and inspired others seeking freedom from British rule.
Growing Influence of Communism

Many European colonies, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaya, supported

communism as it opposed colonial exploitation. Britain was worried about communist
forces taking over its colonies during their fight for independence, as it was an ally of the
United States in the Cold War. The Malayan Communist Party (MCP) heightened British
fears when they murdered three European rubber planters in Malaya in 1948. In response,
the British declared a State of Emergency and outlawed the MCP, leading to the Malayan
Emergency from 1948 to 1960, with thousands of casualties. The British authorities
supported local anti-communist political parties as potential allies.
How Did the British Attempt to Win Local Support?

Meeting Housing Challenges

The British tried to gain local support by tackling the shortage of housing in post-war
Singapore. They created the Singapore Improvement Trust to build low-cost housing.
However, the SIT's building program was insufficient for the rapidly growing population's
needs. They managed to construct only 1,742 housing and shop units annually between
1947 and 1959, far below the estimated 10,000 units needed. Consequently, many
people continued to live in crowded and unhealthy conditions, and this negatively affected
the British's image in the eyes of the locals.

H - Housing challenges in post-war Singapore

O - Overcrowded living conditions
M - Many people affected negatively
E - Estimated 10,000 units needed
S - Singapore Improvement Trust's building program insufficient
T - Tackling housing shortage, British created SIT

Addressing Food Shortages

To win local support, the British addressed the issue of food shortages caused by wartime
disruptions and a growing population. The war had disrupted shipping, affecting the flow
of food supplies into Singapore, and neighbouring rice-producing countries were also
unable to export rice. As a result, malnutrition was widespread, and food prices rose
beyond what people could afford. The British established People's Restaurants to provide
affordable meals and avoid widespread unrest. By the end of 1946, there were ten
People's Restaurants in Singapore. This was one way the British attempted to win the
support of the locals.

F - Food shortage addressed by British

O - Outbreak of malnutrition due to disrupted supply
O - Overpriced food caused by shortage
D - Disruption of shipping by war
S - Solution: People's Restaurants providing affordable meals
Managing Industrial Unrest
The British faced industrial unrest due to poor working conditions, housing and food
shortages in post-war Singapore. This led to over 300 strikes involving almost 70,000
workers in 1947 alone. Many strikers were members of trade unions who sought
immediate improvement in working conditions. The British suspected communist
involvement and passed laws to control the unions, requiring them to register with the
government and prohibiting the use of funds for strikes and protests. Despite these
measures, trade unions remained active, and industrial unrest persisted throughout the
1950s.
M - Managing industrial unrest
P - Poor working conditions
S - Shortages of housing and food
T - Trade unions demand improvement
C - Communist involvement suspected
L - Laws passed to control unions
A - Active unions continued to strike
I - Industrial unrest persisted

Rebuilding the Economy

The British wanted to improve people's lives in Singapore, so they focused on reviving
the economy. They fixed the ports, which helped Singapore become a major trading
center again. This was important because the demand for tin and rubber was growing.
With more trade, the government had more money to pay for programs that helped people.
Singapore also continued to export raw materials, like oil, tin, rubber, and timber, which
helped the economy.
R - Reviving the economy was a British priority in Singapore
E - Economy was improved by fixing the ports
T - Trade grew, as demand for tin and rubber increased
E - Economic growth helped the government fund programs that helped people
X - eXports of raw materials like oil, tin, rubber, and timber also contributed to the
economy
Allowing Local Political Participation
The British held an election in 1948 to win local support. This was the first time people in
Singapore had a say in who would represent them in the Legislative Council. However,
many recent immigrants were not allowed to vote. Only 14,000 voters actually turned up
to vote, which was a small fraction of the total population. The Singapore Progressive
Party (SPP) won three out of the six elected seats, while the remaining three were won
by independent candidates.

E - Election held by the British in 1948

F - First time people in Singapore had a say in who would represent them in the
Legislative Council
I - Immigrants were not allowed to vote
S - Small fraction of the total population voted, only 14,000
S - Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) won three out of the six elected seats
I - Independent candidates won the remaining three seats.