Topic 6

How far do you agree that the need to set up a common market was the most important reason for merger between Singapore and Malaya?


To MY opinion, i agree to an extent that the need to set up a common market was the most important reason for merger between Singapore and Malaya but i think freedom was also one of the reason.

My reason is that after Singapore has finally had the power to govern itself ,the PAP leaders, believed that Singapore's future lay with Malaya. For Singapore, the merger to benefit the economy by creating a common free market, eliminating trade tariffs, and solving unemployment woes.

Although at first, Tunku totally disagreed to merge with Singapore in fear of having communism conquering it when it had finally wiped them away. But, in the end, Mr Tunku finally changed his mind about merging with Singapore. The reason was that he was worried that Singapore would soon be governed by communism and it would use Singapore as a base to spread communism.

Therefore, my conclusion is that the need to set up a Common Market was still the most important reason for merger between Singapore and Malaya.

Reflection Topic 5

Singapore's struggle to acheive internal self-government in the period of 1945 -1959 had its costs.
Was it worth it?
Give at least two reasons to support your stand.

To my opinion, I think that it is worth it. If there is no struggle to acheive internal self-government in the period of 1945- 1959, we would still be under the British rule.

Under the British rule, another Anti-National Service Riot and Maria Hertough Riot might happen in Singapore again.The British were very biased about the chinese students.

During the Anti-National Service Riots, the British were not sensitive to the people of Singapore. After the end of world war two, the British wanted all the males aged between 18-20 to join the National Service. As the War disrupted most chinese students' studies, most chinese students have to repeat their studies. Therefore when they were forced to join the National Service, they decided to protest against the British.

Meanwhile, the reason why Maria Hertough Riot happned were because that the British were insensitive and undecisive on whether to put Maria Hertough to her natural parents or foster parents. They did not even care to observe and try to learn to be more sensitive to citizens of Singapore and their religious culture.

Therefore, my conclusion about whether Singapore's struggle to achieve internal self-government in the period 1945-1959 was worth it as Singapore could finally gain freedom from the British rule and to govern itself with more sincerity and observation.

Topic 4

In your opinion, what could have prevented the Maria Hertogh riots in 1950?

Give at least two suggestions.


In my opinion, i think that the court should judge and decide carefully on the Maria Hertogh's case.

Firstly, the court should made up their mind and decide how to judge the Maria Hertogh's case as quickly as possible so as not to show the public how undecisive they are about the case.They should also must not anyhow ruled that Maria Hertogh should be 'returned' to her real parents and then to verdict her to her foster parents after an appeal. This makes the public seems that Maria Hertogh is a toy being pulled each side by both foster parents and natural parents.


Secondly, I think that the British government should be more sensitive to religious beliefs. If they had been, the Muslims would not be offended and angered, that there will be no history of a nasty and horrible riot in Singapore in the 1930's and that no one would be killed in the riot in the 1930's .

Topic 3

Did the Industrial Revolution affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better or worse?
(Explain your answer by providing examples)
___________________________________________________________

Industrial Revolution is the invention of new machines and the discovery of new sources of power to drive these machines brought about changes that led to the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850). These changes transformed the way people lived and worked.

To my opinion, i believed that the Industrial Revolution affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better.

During that time, many machines yet unknown to them were slowly invented for the welfare of the people. An example is that before the Industrial Revolution happened , making cloth by hand was a slow process in Britain during the 18th century and workers could only produce enough cloth for themselves. Later, new machines like the spinning machine were invented. These machines greatly changed the ways goods were produced and also shortened the productiion time.

Also, during the Industrial Revolution , railway trains and steamships were invented following the discovery of the steam-engine. People could travel longer distances in a shorter period of time to look for markets and more raw materials.

Of course , there are also disadvantages during the Industrial Revolution. Many workers lost their jobs as there are more and more machines that requires lesser workers.

But in the end, my conclusion about the main topic above is that the Industrial Revolution affect the way people lived and worked in the 19th century for the better

Reflection 2

Question: The National Museum had decided to erect a statue in front of its entrance. They have to choose between Stamford Raffles and Tan Tock Seng. If you were working for the museum, who would you choose and why?



To my opinion, I would choose erect Tan Tock Seng’s statue instead of Stamford Raffles. Museum in dictionary means that it is typically a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education ,enjoyment , the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment."

Even though I knew that without Stamford Raffles, Singapore would still be a quiet, desolated little fishing village but my opinion still stays. The reason for my opinion is because that Tan Tock Seng really contribute us a lot which I will mention below…

Tan Tock Seng was born in Melaka and he came to Singapore at the age of 21 in 1819.He worked for a few hard years by selling vegetables and poultry in the streets and he finally amassed wealth. Tan Tock Seng was rich, but unlike most millionaires, he did not ignore the poor instead he did his best in helping them. In 1843, Tan Tock Seng offered funds for the construction of a pauper hospital located at Pearl’s Hill where most poor immigrants can be cured there with little or no medical cost.

Although during his time he is one of the wealthiest millionaires in Singapore, he donated generously to the charity frequently. As he was a Taoist, he believed that the dead should have been conducted a decent funeral and he paid for the funerals for many immigrant families who have not enough money to do that, and he also paid the funerals for the unknown dead bodies. As everyone knows many people were grateful to him and so they named the pauper hospital that he founded with a lot of his wealth, Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Who really 'founded' Singapore?

In my opinion, I think that Major William Farquhar is then the real 'Founder' of Singapore because even though Sir Stamford Raffles was the one who brought Major William Farquhar to Singapore , signed the treaty of building a settlement in the southern part of Singapore , fought hard to keep Singapore to be a trading post against the Dutch , the E.I.C directors and the government in British and paid an allowance of $5 000 000 000 to Tengku Hussein and an allowance of $3 000 to Temenggong a year , he left immediately , did not even bothered to govern the people of Singapore…. Leaving only Major William Farquhar to solve a lot of problems which happen all by himself. Major William Farquhar met a lot of problems after Sir Stamford Raffles left. He have to make sure that alot of people will come to trade and live in Singapore in order to make Singapore prosper, enough food to keep new settlers in Singapore, to maintain discipline so that there will be fewer cases on riots, murder, violence and disorder especially when the new settlers came and to get rid of pest to make the lives of the people in Singapore safe and comfortable…..So my opinion to this topic is that Major William Farquhar is then the real ‘founder’ of Singapore.

Thank You for reading! ^^

Reflections 1

Topic : Bloggers should be given the freedom to say whatever they want. Do u agree?

My answers are abit weird..... That means I agree.....and disagree . The reason I agree is because : This is the place for bloggers to type whatever they want because for some bloggers , this meant as a daily diary to them.

Secondly, the reasons that I disagree with the topic above is because that many bloggers use a lot of vulgarities online and even type it on the blogs and publish it for everyone to see. As u see, many bloggers thought that this is a blog where only people knew their names and not their real person,and this will make them think that it was alright to put or type vulgarities at the blogs. When some bloggers pass by and saw some of the posts on the blogs, they might get offended and put rude remarks or comments on that particular blog. When the owner of the blog saw the particular rude remarks on his or her blog.... the person might get extremely angry, and decided to 'revenge' , this is when the fatal and horrible quarrel will happen.....