Introduction (What was life like for the people of colonial Singapore before WW2?)

For our Historical Inquiry project, our group has decided to focus on various points of the Malays during colonial times.

Data collection: Employment and Living Conditions of Malay in Singapore during colonial times (Living Conditions)

Source A: Excerpt of a website (http://www.photius.com/countries/singapore/society/singapore_society_the_malays.html)

• [Java was much more densely populated than peninsular Malaya, and its people had a significantly lower standard of living. From the mid-nineteenth century to the period just after World War II, many Javanese migrated to Singapore, attracted both by urban wages offering a higher living standard and by freedom from the constraints of their native villages, where they often occupied the lower reaches of the economic and social order.]

From Source A, I can tell that the living conditions of Singapore during colonial times was much better than the homelands of the immigrants. This can be seen from the fact that they (Javanese, Boyanese, and others) migrated to Singapore because the they were attracted by Singapore's higher living conditions. So, the Malays came to Singapore to have better living conditions. Furthermore, the population of Malays in Singapore increased ever since, thus proving that living conditions in Singapore was better for the Malays.

Source B: Excerpt of a website
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malays_in_Singapore)

• [When Raffles came to Singapore, there were already hundreds of indigenous Malays living there. The waters of Telok Blangah, the Kallang River and other rivers had been home to the Orange Laut or Sea Nomads for a very long time. Here were also Malay settlements along the Kallang River Basin and the Singapore River.]

From Source B, I can tell that the living conditions of Singapore was great for them as they wanted to be free from the constraints of their homelands because they often occupied the lower reaches of the economic and social order. This meant that in order to be seen as people above the lower reaches of the economic and social order, the Malays had to come to Singapore rather than staying in the homelands. The fact that there was already hundreds of indigenous Malays living in Singapore proves that the living conditions of Singapore was good. Therefore, Singapore's living condition was great for the people.

Source C: A picture taken by an unknown photographer during the colonial times and 

From Source C, I can tell that the living conditions of Singapore during the colonial times was a key factor for the Malays to migrate to Singapore. This can be seen from Source C itself which shows boats upon boats along the river. There are also several buildings along the river that would probably be difficult to be built in the homelands of the immigrants. Singapore was able to build those buildings and boats because of it's great living conditions. Furthermore, the living conditions of their homelands was not that great. Thus, the higher living conditions of Singapore was a key factor that attracted many of the Malays to migrate to Singapore. 

Data collection: Employment and Living Conditions of Malay in Singapore during colonial times (Employment)

Source D: Once of the photos before WW2, picture taken by an unknown photographer in the early 1900's  

 

From Source D, I can tell that employment in Singapore during colonial times was better for the Malays because a majority of them had jobs that were much better compared to their homelands. The fact that majority of the Malays were farmers and fishermen (as shown in Source C & D) proves that it was better to work in Singapore than to work in their homelands. Furthermore, they decided to migrate here to Singapore to work because the living conditions in Singapore was much better than their homelands. Therefore, it's proves that employment in Singapore during colonial times was great for the Malays.

Source E: Excerpt of a website 

(http://www.photius.com/countries/singapore/society/singapore_society_the_malays.html) 

• [The 1931 census recorded the occupations of 18 percent of the Malays as fishermen and 12 percent as farmers; the remaining 70 percent held jobs in the urban cash economy, either in public service or as gardeners, drivers, or small-scale artisans and retailers. The British colonialists had considered the Malays as simple farmers and fishermen with strong religious faith and a "racial" tendency toward loyalty and deference; they preferentially recruited the Malays to the police, the armed forces, and unskilled positions in the public service.]

From Source E, I can tell that the employment in Singapore before World War 2 was great for the Malays as majority of them had jobs that were quite good. Their jobs were of above average quality and great. Even though they were not working as a businessman, a manager or maybe a job better than theirs, they were still happy, loyal and were strong in their faith. Furthermore, the British colonialist had considered the Malays as simple people and decided to recruit the Malays to the police, the armed forces and so on. This proves that the employment for the Malays was good. (Fishermen, Farmers, and others)

Source F: Excerpts of an article

(http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-08-12_113516.html)

• [The Bugis were originally farmers and their involvement in maritime activities only began in the 18th century. This was in response to the Dutch capture of the port of Makassar, which cut the Bugis off from trade in the surrounding areas. The Bugis were thus forced to travel by sea to other parts of the Malay Archipelago, especially the coasts of Sumatra and Malaya, in search of trading opportunities... As a result, a number of Bugis left Riau for Singapore, where they could trade more freely under the British.]

• [In February 1819, shortly after the arrival of the British, a group of 500 Bugis led by Chieftain Arong Bilawa arrived in Singapore, which then became the centre of Bugis trade in the western part of the Malay Archipelago. In 1824, a total of 90 Bugis ships were reported to have called at Singapore. The following year, the number of Bugis ships visiting the island had increased to 120.]

• [By 1824, there were some 1,851 Bugis in Singapore making up slightly more than 10 percent of the island’s population. The Bugis population in Singapore peaked at around 2,000 people in the 1830s when Bugis merchants had a virtual monopoly over trade with the eastern islands of the Malay Archipelago.]

From Source F, I can tell that the employment in Singapore during colonial times was one of the many great advantages and was important for the Malays. This is because the Dutch captured their port, which cut the traders off from trade. Furthermore, Singapore was a port where traders can trade more freely under the British. As a result, the Malays left their homelands to find jobs in Singapore. Due to Singapore's employment and it's advantages, this attracted traders such as the Bugis traders to come to Singapore. Soon, more traders visited the island. Eventually, the merchants had some sort of control over trade with islands of the Malay Archipelago. The fact that they had control over trade with other places proves that the employment in Singapore during colonial times was important for the Malays. Therefore, Singapore was a great advantage for the Malays (Employment). 

Employment and Living Conditions of Malays in Singapore during colonial times (Final Conclusion)

Conclusion: From the evidence gathered, I can conclude that Singapore's living condition played an important role within the Malay community because Singapore's living condition attracted the Malays. This is because of the high living standard of Singapore. This can be seen in Source A which tells us that the Malays were attracted by Singapore's living conditions and saw it as an important part of their upbringing. It is also seen in Source B which tells us that Singapore was where the Malays could be free from the constraints of their homelands. Singapore's living conditions was also a key factor for the Malays to migrate to Singapore. In Source D, it can be seen that employment in Singapore for the Malays was easier and better than the jobs they could get in their homelands because of the high living standard of Singapore. From Sources D, E and F, it can be seen that employment in Singapore played an important role for the Malays. The Malays came to Singapore from their homelands due to Singapore being a free port. This concludes the employment and living conditions of Malays in Singapore during colonial times.

Authors

This blog is made by the following students of class 104.

• Jeriel Peh, Group Leader, Logistics, Research I/C
• Geoff Lim, *helped the group in some ways...
• Darren, Logistics, Research I/C
• Ahmad Abdillah, Research I/C
• Ajrul Mukminin Blog, Research I/C
• Sun Yin, Logistics, Research I/C

Acknowledgements

We do not claim ownership over the pictures and source texts used in this blog. All pictures and source texts are reproduced for educational purpose only. We thank the organisations and websites listed below for providing us with the pictures and source texts. We acknowledge that all inferences and conclusions made are our own and the organisations and websites are not responsible for them.

Our sincere appreciation to:

• http://www.photius.com/countries/singapore/society/singapore_society_the_malays.html
• Wikipedia and it's images
• Images and information from Malay Heritage Centre 
• Mr. Zhuang
• http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-08-12_113516.html