the aftermath of the maria hertogh riots in colonial singapore

308 Pages·2017·14.77 MB·English

THE AFTERMATH OF THE MARIA
HERTOGH RIOTS IN COLONIAL
SINGAPORE (1950-1953;
SYED MUHD KHAIRUDIN ALJUNIED
(M.A., National University of Singapore)
A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE
OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD)
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES (SOAS)
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
2008
ProQuest Number: 10673117
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ABSTRACT
This thesis examines the genesis, outbreak and far-reaching effects of the first
among a series of incidents of mass violence which determined the course of British
colonial rule in post World War Two Singapore. I argue that the Maria Hertogh riots
stemmed from British failure to address four crucial factors which shaped the Singapore
Muslim community’s attitudes towards the colonial regime: the influence of radical ideas,
the effects of socio-economic marginalisation, press sensationalisation of the legal
controversy, and the ineffectiveness of the police force. The outbreak of the riots had a
negative effect on the image and role of the British colonial administration in Singapore,
which jeopardised diplomatic ties between the British Empire, The Netherlands and the
Muslim World. In response, the British utilised a symbiotic combination of proscription,
surveillance, self-criticism, reconciliation and reform. Through these strategies, they
sought to redeem their tarnished image, mitigate the negative effects of the riots, and
anticipate similar outbreaks arising from racial and religious dissent. The politics,
resistance, collaboration and ramifications upon minorities in Singapore arising from
each of these five strategies will be brought to the fore.
This thesis contributes to the wider history of colonial Southeast Asia by initiating
a shift beyond the study of the causes of riots towards an examination of the wide-
ranging effects and crises faced in the aftermath. Secondly, it will illuminate the linkages
between the British colonial administration in Singapore and policymakers and officials
in the Home Government and other outlying colonies. Thirdly, a more nuanced
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understanding of British management of mass violence in Southeast Asia will be
provided. Fourthly, it proposes new ways of analysing forms of resistance that were
employed by Southeast Asian communities in confronting colonial rule. Last of all, this
study extends and refines the corpus of literature pertaining to religious minorities in
colonial Southeast Asia.
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CONTENTS
Abstract 2
Contents 4
Acknowledgements 6
Abbreviations and Glossary 7
Dramatis Personae 10
List of Maps and Photographs 13
Chapter One Introduction 15
Historiography 16
Objectives and perimeters of this study 20
Sources 28
Chapters 34
Chapter Two The Colonial Setting and Outbreak of Riots 39
Muslims in Singapore 42
The Maria Hertogh legal controversy 51
The Riots 59
Chapter Three Proscription 66
Instilling fear 66
Ideologues and perpetrators of violence 15
The use and abuse of law 84
To err is human, to forgive divine 91
Conclusion - Annus Hombilis 107
Chapter Four Surveillance 110
Moments of anxiety 113
A year of high drama 123
Mansoor Adabi and the Appeal Court case 130
Residues of Muslim resistance 142
Conclusion — new threats and old enemies 147
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Chapter Five Self-Criticism 151
A winter of discontent 152
The politics of enquiry 159
The battle of words and wits 171
Villains and scapegoats 178
Conclusion — Shifting fates, shattered lives 190
Chapter Six Reconciliation 197
Restoring public confidence 199
Pacifying the Muslims 210
Three key challenges in reconciliation 218
The Martyr and the Prophet of Islam 226
Conclusion — The return to normality 234
Chapter Seven Reform 236
The Police Force 237
Education 254
Marriage policies 262
Child adoption 272
Conclusion — in retrospect 276
Conclusion 278
Appendixes 285
Bibliography 288
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This thesis is a product of a collective work, of which, would not have been completed
without the generous support of institutions and individuals. I am most indebted to
Professor William Clarence-Smith who has supervised this research with much patience,
wisdom and enthusiasm. His cheerful disposition and intellectual rigour remains as a
source of inspiration.
My own family has helped me in countless ways, more so, on living a Life. Parents and
siblings gave endless encouragement during tough times. Had it not been for Marlina
who remained supportive of my endeavour, I would have given up hope. I do hope that
Inshirah, Fatihah, Yusuf and Muhammad will derive some benefit from a work that has
been written at various intervals when I was actually asked to read, play and sing.
Funding for this research has been generously endowed by the National University of
Singapore and the Tan Kali Kee Postgraduate Scholarship. I thank Tan Tai Yong (Dean
of Arts and Social Sciences), Shaharuddin Maaruf (former Head of Department of Malay
Studies) and the Scholarship committees for their assistance in this regard.
Over the years, the staff members of various libraries and archives in Singapore,
Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Australia and United States of America have
been most helpful in my search for sources. I would like to thank Maurizio Peleggi,
Kamaludeen Mohd Nasir, Derek Heng, Syed Nazir, Loh Kah Seng, Sophiandy Sopali,
Chng Nai Rui, Jan van der Putten and Omar Moad for reading initial drafts of the thesis
and sharpening many of its arguments. Professor Anthony Stockwell, Joey Long, Carool
Kersten and Azharudin Mohd Dali helped to obtain many important sources relevant to
this research. Pak Jamal Tukimin devoted much of his precious time in helping me to
regain my ‘rusty JawV.
The families of Professor Mashudi Kader, Umar Ebrahimsa, Najib Yasin and Nazimdin
Nasir were kind enough to have me stay at their homes with little notice. Daud Ali,
Sujuandy Supaat, Faizal Razak, Rudie Asmara, Romyaldy, Harris Senin, Suryakenchana
Omar, Taris Ahmad, Fuad Ali, Isaac Saney, Saqib Barburi, Salih An-Nahdi, Maureen De
Silva, Chiara Formichi and Wan Faizah were the best of friends throughout the difficult
months of writing and field research.
Needless to say, I am responsible for any errors in this work.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND
GLOSSARY
A Australia (Archival Record Code)
Advisory Committee Established during the Malayan Emergency, the committee’s role
was to consider the appeals of those who had been arrested by
colonial administration and pass decisions on the validity of the
appeals.
API Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (Group of Awakened Youths)
CAB Records of the British Cabinet Office
CID Criminal Investigation Department
CO Colonial Office
CT Communist Terrorist
Fatwa An Arabic word for ‘legal judgement’ or an explanation given by a
Muslim scholar on matters pertaining to the understanding and
practise of Islam.
FO Foreign Office
Imam An Arabic word for ‘leader’. It was used by the Malays to describe
the leader of a prayer congregation or commander of a Muslim
army.
IRO Inter-Religious Organisation
ISEAS Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore
Jamiyah All-Malaya Muslim Missionary Society
JMBRAS Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Kampong A Malay word for ‘village’ or ‘a cluster of settlements’ that was
smaller than a town.
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Kathi Also spelled as Qadi which means a Muslim judge. In Malaya, the
kathis were entrusted with the registration of marriages and also
arbitration of marital disputes.
Legislative Council Consisted of twenty-two persons whose main function was to
assist the Governor in the passing of laws of Singapore. The
Governor however had veto powers over the Council. A majority
of the Council’s members were nominated by the British. In 1948,
there were only six elected members. The number of elected
members was increased to nine in 1951.
Lex Domicili The law of the place of a person’s domicile
Locus standi Recognised position or acknowledged right to a given issue. In the
realm of law, it refers to a plaintiff who has reasons to be a party to
a legal case.
Madrasah Islamic school
Maulana An Arabic word for ‘our lord’ or ‘our master’. It was commonly
used in South and Southeast Asia as a title for a respected Muslim
scholar.
MCP Malayan Communist Party
MNP Malayan Nationalist Party (also known as the Pergerakan
Kebangsaan Malaya Merdeka [PKMM, or the Malayan National
Independence Movement])
MRLA Malayan Races Liberation Army
Mufti A Muslim scholar who interprets Islamic laws.
NACPM National Archives, College Park, Maryland at the United States of
America
NAS National Archives of Singapore
Nikah Gantung A truncated marriage or a marriage that was deemed by Malays in
the post-war period as valid from the perspective of Islam but
incomplete for the reason that the customary rites had not been
performed.
Parang A large knife that was used by Malays to cut through thick
vegetation and also for self-defence as well as violent crimes.
PERAM Pemuda Radikal Melayu (Radical Malay Youths)
PKM Panitia Kemerdekaan Malaya (or the Committee for Malayan
Independence)
PREM Records of the British Prime Minister’s Office.
RAF Royal Air Force
RG Records Group. These are files that are deposited in the
Washington Archives in the United States of America.
Special Branch A unit within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the
Singapore Police Force. Its main function was to acquire
information to protect the public and the colonial state from
subversive and extremist activities.
Syariah Islamic Law (Malay spelling)
Ulama Muslim scholars
UMNO United Malays National Organisation
Whitehall A road in London where the Colonial and Foreign Offices were
located; shorthand for the British government
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