The RendelConstitution

Part 3Chapter7

The riots in the early 1950 had signaledto the British the discontentment of the local peopletowards them.

In 1953, the British decided to grant more political power to the local people to win their hearts and minds.

Sir George Rendel, a British diplomat, led a commission to recommend possible changes to the constitution –Rendel Constitution.

What are the featuresof the

Rendel Constitution?

Areas of Government underElected Local Ministers

Local representatives in Legislative Assembly controlled less important areas of government.

Nominated British MinistersBritish would control important areas of government.

Limited Self Government

British Government

(based in London)Governor

Chief Minister + 6 elected ministers

appointed from 25 elected members of

the Assembly

25 electednon-officials

3 nominated British

ministerswho are British

officials

3 British officials +

4 non-officials nominated by the

Governor

Areas under Local Ministers

Housing Healthcare Education

Areas under British Ministers

Internal Security

External Defense

Finance

This showed the unwillingnessof British to

give up their power.

However, the Rendel Constitution

was an important step

toself-government

in Singapore.

The1955

election

More political parties formed to participate in the 1955 election.

Labour Front (LF)

People’s Action Party (PAP)

Labour Front

Formed in July 1954.

Led by David Marshall, Lim Yew Hock and Francis Thomas.

It was made up of people with low income and English-educated trade union leaders.

People’s Action PartyFormed on 21 November 1954.

Founded by Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, S. Rajaratnam and K.M. Byme.

It wanted to gain support from the workers, trade unions and students in the Chinese schools.

SimilaritiesLabour Front

It wanted immediate independence.

Both parties targeted to win the support of the large majority of Chinese-speaking people in the 1955 election.

They promised the people that they could end Britishrule in Singapore.

People’s Action Party

1955 electionUnlike the election in 1948, this election garnered more

interest from the people.

25,072

158,075

1948 Election 1955 Election

Turnout

Why were the people in general more interested in the 1955 election?

1. This election promised a greater degree of self-government.

2. There were a greater no. of political parties involved.

3. The number of eligible voters increased.

The different political parties carried out intensive campaigning, focusing on the issue of anti-colonialism.

House-to-house visits.

Rallies

Newspapers and Pamphlets.

Public speeches

Who won?

Labour Front (LF) was the biggest winner as they won 10out of 25 seats. David Marshall became Singapore’s first

Chief Minister to lead the Legislative Assembly.

Reasons for LF’s win

1. Many Singaporeans were impressed by the party’s strong anti-colonial stand.

2. David Marshall had a charismatic leadership.

PAPThe People’s Action Party (PAP) which had 4 candidates contesting in the election managed to win 3 seats.

Goh Chew Chua

Lee Kuan Yew Lim Chin Siong

Surprise win by LF from British’s viewThe outcome caught British by surprise as they expected SPP to be the biggest winner of the 1955 election.

is the number of seats that SPP won.

What was the implication

of the 1955 election results?

What can you infer from the poster

with regards to the

implicationof the

1955 election results?

I can infer that …

Implicationof the 1955

election results

The majority of the working-class Chinese had expressed discontentment with the British rule.

Political parties which showed strong

anti-British rule

Political parties which were pro-British

SummaryPart 3Rendel Constitution & 1955 Election

Q1: What is the Rendel

Constitution?

Q2: What are the features of the

RendelConstitution?

Q3:What is the significance of

the RendelConstitution?

Q4: What is the implication of

the 1955 elections?

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Goh Bang Rui

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