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.