The four questions answers:

1~We need to have a newspaper that is not biased in the reporting of events because we need to know the facts about the event and not just part of it.A biased newspaper can cause such as racial tension to happen when a newspaper writes discriminating reports against a person of a different race.That is why it is important to have a newspaper that is not biased in the reporting of events.

2~As English is a non-native language,it is fair to use it as a common language to link different ethnic groups as no one has an advantage over the other.English has been used as the main language of administration in the government and English is also helping to improve communication between Singaporeans as it is a common language spoken by everyone.

3~Common Space refers to the time and place that people come together.This common space provide opportunities for Singaporeans to interact.Through this interaction,understanding among Singaporeans of different races can be deepened.Some examples of common space in our school are the library,canteen,science labs and classrooms.

4~I can infer from both source C and D that both sources had a similar view that the regular usage of estate facilities such as the playground brings the residents into frequent contact with one another as their daily path cross

Task B part 2:

I thought that the ruling was unfair to both Maria and her adoptive parents as Maria was forced to return to her biological parents while her adoptive parents did not get any compensation. I felt that the court should have listened to Maria’s opinion and rule in the favour of her adoptive parents. I also thought that if the court ruled in favour of Maria’s adoptive parents, the riots would not have happened and people would not have to die. The Malay people were also too violent as they attacked any European they saw because they were not happy with the outcome of the ruling.

Task B Three:

Maria Bertha Hertogh known as Nadra bte Maarof (sometimes spelt Natra) was borned on 24 March 1937 at Tjimahj, Java. She was the main focus of a racial riots in December 1950, which were sparked off by controversy over her custody between by her Malay-Muslim foster mother Aminah and her Dutch-Catholic parents, the Hertoghs. Thus, she had a nickname called Putih which mean ‘’White’’.

She was the third child of seven children that Adeline Hertogh bore. In the World War 2, Maria’s father had been seen as a prisoner-of-war. Without any choice, Adeline had to give Maria to the care of a family friend, Aminah bte Mohammad on 15 Nov 1942. Soewaldi was there to witness it. Aminah was raised as a Muslim at Bandung and was given a name, Nadra bte Maarof. Aminah moved from Jakarta to Bandung where her fluency in Japanese enabled her to work as an interpreter. In 1947, fearing for Maria, Aminah and her fled to Terengganu, Malaya. She grew up at Kemaman, where Aminah was highly regarded. Maria was trained in Koran.

After the war, Maria’s parents began to search for her. They lodged a request with the Dutch officials to locate their daughter. Arthur Locke was the first to alert them of the Maria’s whereabouts. Thus, a custody battle began. Initially, custody of Maria was given to Aminah. Within 4 days, Maria was married off to Mansoor Adabi. The marriage of the juvenile 13-year old Maria was raised in court. On 2 December 1950, custody over Maria was gained by Adeline who whisked her to Amsterdam. On 11 December 1950, riots were sparked off over the custodial ruling, resulting in the death of at least 18 people. Maria married a Dutch cabinet maker, Johan (Joep) Gerardus Wolkenfeld on 20 April 1956 through. However, a 1975 television production on Maria's story stirred up Maria's unhappy memories and led her to tragic actions. Miserable over working at her husband's cafe-cum-bar, the "T Pumpke", from early morning to midnight, she plotted to murder her husband through two friends but the plans were found out and she was brought to court on 16 August 1976. However, after reviewing her tragic past, Maria was acquitted within one day of hearing.

Maria had a grandmother. Her grandmother named Louise Winterberg a.k.a. Nor Louise. A Eurasian of Indo-Dutch parentage. She had left her Scottish husband, Joseph Hunter for an Indonesian opera actor Raden Ismail. She gained fame as a Bangsawan performer and through this became friends with Aminah. Maria’s uncle named Soewaldi, son of Louise Winterberg through Hunter. Converted to Islam. Maria’s father named Adrianus Petrus Hertogh (b. 1905), army sergeant with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. He is of Dutch origins. He married Adeline Hunter on 23 December 1938. She had two sisters and 3 brothers. Her mother named was Adeline Hunter. On the other side, Aminah bt Mohammad. From a respected Malay family in Kemaman, Terengganu. She married her first husband, Abdul Rani (a.k.a Abdul Ghani) who had been the private secretary to the Sultan of Terengganu in 1919. Abdul Rani, was the cousin to Datuk Bukit Gantang who became Mentri Besar or "Chief Minister" of Perak after the war. She accompanied her husband to Tokyo where he taught Malay language for almost 11 years. They mastered Japanese and adopted a Japanese girl whom they named Kamariah.Father: Maarof bin Haji Abdul, a jeweller from Bandung, whom Aminah married in the mid-1930s after Abdul Rani had passed away.

Task B ONE:

These more extreme Malay nationalists within UMNO were also unhappy with the high profile adopted by Lee Kuan Yew, an ethnic Chinese politician, in the negotiation for Merger and the immediate period after Merger. In Singapore, 212 Muslim organisations participated in the rally. By 1 pm on 21 July 1964, 25 thousand Muslims gathered on the Padang. At 2 pm, Singapore's head of state, made a formal address. Muslims were urged to follow Islamic teachings and be "patient, forebearing and industrious". At 3.30 pm, the crowd was supposed to march from the Padang to St Andrews Road, Beach Road, Arab Street, Victoria Street, Kallang Road, and eventually to Lorong 12, Geylang. During the procession, tempers were frayed when someone threw a bottle in to the procession. A federal reserve unit policeman was attacked when he asked the marchers to stick to the route near the Kallang Gas Works. Disorder quickly spread. Numerous people were injured in clashes in Kallang, Geylang Serai, Tanjong Pagar and Chinatown. The disorder was so great that many cinemas announced the cancellation of their 9.30 pm film screening. In the first day of rioting, 4 were killed and 178 injured. Disorder spread to some other areas of Singapore in the next few days. 2 men were assaulted in the Upper Serangoon area at 9.15 pm on 22 July. Malay families living in Queenstown left their homes for fear of their personal safety. A dusk to dawn curfew was imposed island-wide to control the disorder on 23 July, and was only completely lifted on 2 August, 11 days later. 45 curfew breakers were jailed.With instability, the prices of food and provisions shot up during this period. All work had to cease for three days. Most important of all, fear was widespread. In all, 23 were killed and 460 injured. Causes of the racial riots Racial sentiments were aroused in Singapore in various ways. On 12 July 64 UMNO held a convention of about 150 Malay organisations in Singapore. It was chaired by the secretary-general of UMNO in Malaya. He concluded that Malays in Singapore had not been treated fairly by the PAP government as they had not progressed in material terms and urged the Malays to unite to overcome this unfair treatment. The Utusan Melayu, a Malay newspaper in Malay, accused the PAP of humiliating and trying to divide the Malay community in Singapore. It was not easy for Tunku Abdul Rahman to control the more racialist elements in UMNO as he would be seen to be unprotective of Malay interests. There were already daily Indonesian accusations that he had sold out the Malays to the Chinese and Indian merchants in Malaysia. After the racial riot, Tunku suggested that it was caused by the long neglect of the Singapore Malays.
The Malayan Chinese Association, a component party in the Alliance which governed Malaysia also contributed to the racially-charged atmosphere. Its minister in the government, Khaw Kai Boh, for instance, alleged that Singapore's progress was especially meant for the Chinese. PAP's position was that the Malays would have to raise their educational standards in order to improve their economic position. No special treatment, other than that stated in the Singapore constitution, was envisaged. There were more fundamental reasons why some prominent members of UMNO and MCA were eager to create social and racial tension in Singapore, and thus weaken PAP rule and reduce its political threat. Certain elements of UMNO were from the outset opposed to Singapore's merger with Malaya as Singapore had a large number of Chinese. These more extreme Malay nationalists within UMNO were also unhappy with the high profile adopted by Lee Kuan Yew.
For instance, the Singaporean leader publicised the difficulties he faced during the negotiations for Merger; and on a BBC television news analysis programme, Lee Kuan Yew was the only one who was invited and whose views were aired. In January 1964, Lee Kuan Yew led a 12-member goodwill mission tour of 17 African states and India to counter Indonesian propaganda aimed at Malaysia, an act which attracted the protests of Malay nationalists like Syed Jaafar Albar. The concern of UMNO was heightened when the Alliance branch in Singapore failed to win any seat in Singapore in the elections on 21 September 1963, even in constituencies where Malays dominated. In anger, Tunku labelled the Malays who gave their support to PAP, rather than UMNO, "traitors". The PAP candidates voted in by the Malays in Singapore were however also Malay --- it was not an ethnic "betrayal" as Tunku portrayed. Prominent UMNO members were also displeased with Singapore's perceived indocility to the federal authority. Despite Tunku's public statements supporting MCA, PAP contested against MCA in the April 1964 federal elections.Moreover, PAP made clear that by attempting to become a bigger political force in Malaya, it could bring about "the winds of change" in Malaysia, whereby UMNO would be forced to accept the non-communal, more egalitarian political ideology and approach of PAP. Tun Razak, deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, then expressed his doubts of PAP's sincerity towards the interests and welfare of Malays. PAP's participation in the federal elections was thus seen as an attempt to undermine the Malays' special and privileged position in Malaya.Malay chauvinists in UMNO portrayed PAP as an anti-Malay party and feelings of the Singapore Malays against Chinese were inflamed. Lee Kuan Yew was certain that the UMNO extremists were to be blamed for the racial riots.
The Malayan Chinese Association's suspicions of PAP-led Singapore were political. They feared losing the support of their Chinese supporters in Malaya to Lee Kuan Yew. Key leaders of MCA tried to derail the negotiations prior to the Merger. MCA also attempted to reduce the political influence of PAP by revitalising its branch in Singapore, and involving itself in Singaporean politics. The PAP on the other hand, refused to accept that the MCA represented the interests of all Chinese in Malaya. MCA was seen as a "rich man's club" whose failure to represent the interests of less well-off Chinese, could lead to the growth in influence of the pro-communist parties. MCA thus harboured deep fears that PAP might seek to replace it in the Alliance which ruled Malaysia if PAP grew in political strength, despite public statements by Tunku that he would stand by the MCA, its "staunch partner". Relations between MCA and PAP were worsened by constant antagonistic public statements, of a political and personal nature. Tension was further raised when Tan Siew Sin, the federal Finance Minister, refused to implement the common market in Malaysia as agreed during the negotiations prior to the Merger, unless Singapore remitted 60%, instead of 40%, of her national revenue to Kuala Lumpur.Indonesian agents could also have been involved in provoking the disorder. This was the period of Confrontation. Indonesia, under the direction of President Sukarno, were opposed to the formation of Malaysia as she was interested in capturing Sarawak and Sabah in East Malaysia. The Indonesian government was also faced with various domestic problems. Its attempt to create disorder and instability in Malaysia would divert the attention of Indonesians from such problems. In a period from September 1963 to May 1965, there were 42 bomb explosions by Indonesian-directed saboteurs. After the racial riot on 21 July 1964, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, condemned Indonesia as the possible agent behind the riots. However, the Indonesian saboteurs would not have been successful, if racial tension has not already been heightened.

Task A third summary:

~This written evidence was given by Selvarajah,a man who had joined the Singapore Police Force after the Maria Hertogh riots had taken place.It was written that it started as a simple custody battle between Maria's real parents and her adopted parents but it ended up in a religious and racial confrontion.
~Maria was born in Java on 24 March 1937. Her parents were Dutch and her father was a sergeant in the Army. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia her father was interned. Her mother Adeline gave her to Aminah a Malay lady without her husbands knowledge. According to Adeline, Maria was given to Aminah for temporary care whilst Aminah claimed that she was given for adaptation. When the war ended in 1945 and Adeline's husband rejoined her they reported Maria as a missing person to the Dutch Authorities but there was no indication of any effort being made to trace Aminah who was a good friend of Adeline and her mother.
~While Aminah regard Maria as her own daughter,Maria was brought up as a Muslim and in the Malay way of life.She was given a Muslim name.She spoke only Malay and was deeply attached to Aminah.
~In 1950, the Hertoghs sought to reclaim Maria through the courts in Singapore. On 22 Apr 50, the Court ruled that Maria should be returned to her biological parents and she was to be first put under the custody of the Social Welfare Department.
Aminah then appealed and on 28th July 1950, Maria was returned to Aminah. A marriage was hastily arranged and on the 1st of August 1950 Maria was married to a 22-year-old Malay teacher Mansoor Adabi.Three months later the Hertoghs revived their custody battle. The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her biological parents as her father was not consulted when Aminah took her off to Bandung. As Maria should be subjected to Dutch laws which do not permit any girl under 16 to be married, her Muslim marriage was made invalid. The court then put her in the care of the Good Shepherd Convent, pending her return to the Netherlands
~There was widespread coverage of the custody battle in the English, Malay and Tamil press. Reporters and photographers were allowed into the Convent and pictures of a Muslim girl in a Christian convent appeared in newspapers. Maria's case was presented as a religious issue between Islam and Christianity and that aroused the religious antipathy of local Muslims. Calls were even made in the Sultan Mosque to start a holy war to return Maria to Aminah if all legal avenues yielded no result.
~On 11 Dec 50, the Appeal Court sat to hear Maria’s case.But the judge had just took only 5 minutes to throw out Amniah's appeal.The very short duration and the judgment convinced the crowd that the colonial legal system was biased against Muslims. A scuffle broke out between the group and a Eurasian, H.L. Velge, a member of the Special Constabulary, who drew his revolver and fired three shots. Two Malays were wounded, one in the head. The crowd became furious and started throwing sticks, stones and bottles at the policemen. It was no longer about championing the welfare of a child but a religious and racial confrontation and mob violence.
~ Rioting was at its worst on the afternoon and night of 11th December. It continued until 13 December, A 24-hour curfew was imposed and military was deployed to assist the police before law and order was restored. A total of 18 people were killed and 173 injured and about 200 vehicles were destroyed.
After the riots there was the usual bickering. The Police were blamed for delaying the request for military assistance, the Malay policemen were blamed for being biased, the colonial authorities for being insensitive in placing a Muslim girl in a Christian Convent and the press for over sensationalizing And it ended up with a Commission of Inquiry being set up in 1951.
~Its tells us that there were no any perfect solution to avoid a riot as it can happen anytime anywhere,a little spark is just needed to light up a confrontion of riots.

Task A Video comments:

~The riot was started by the supporters of Che Aminah when they were shown pictures of Maria Hertogh was crying and was being comforted by a nun in the catholic convent.
~Che Aminah tried to appeal for the custody of Maria but the appeal was rejected by the judge and the hearing lasted only 5 minutes.
~Feeling betrayed by what they saw as the British was taking side with the Dutch,the supporters of Che Aminah started to riot

Summary of Task A article:

Prologue: Singapore went through racial or communal riots between Malays and Chinese over two five-
day periods beginning on 21 July and 2 September 1964 respectively. These riots, the worst
and most prolonged in Singapore's post-war history, erupted after Singapore merged with the
Federation of Malaysia.There were 22 deaths and 461 inured.


Events

For about two months, Chinese and Malays in Singapore clashed because the Malays resented the facts that they would not be granted special treatment in Singapore after Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaysia.

On 19 July 1964,ore than 1,000 Malay non-political leaders from 101 organisations met Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore and Encik Othman Wok, the Minister for Social Affairs to clarify the issue of the special rights for Malays.

At the meeting, Mr Lee promised that Malays will be trained to compete for top positions with non-Malays. He reiterated that all Singaporean citizens had equal rights, regardless of race.On 20 July 1964, in response to Mr Lee, the 23-man Singapore UMNO Action Committee, called on him to use his time in curbing the secret society menace instead of splitting the Malay community. The Leader of the committee is UMNO State leader, Senator Ahmad Haji Taff who claimed that the meeting was an insult to the Malays. He defended his Action Committee against accusations of communalism by the Premier, by counter-charging that Mr Lee himself was trying to break the harmony and good relations between Malays and Chinese. He emphasised that the campaign was not aimed at the chinese. Instead, it is aimed at the Singapore government and Lee Kuan Yew for not including the special rights clause in the Constitution.

On 21 July 1964, rioting broke out on the eve of the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday when a protest demonstration by Malays escalated from a verbal war of taunts and insults with Chinese bystanders. The ensuing violence which continued for five days, left 22 people dead and 454 injured. Curfew hours were imposed to restore law and order. The curfew was gradually relaxed by 2 August 1964.On2 September 1964, Racial tensions exploded once again when a Malay trishaw rider was stabbed to death at night. Rioting erupted again and continued for another five days with 12 people killed, 109 injured and over 1,200 people arrested for rioting and curfew-breaking. The curfew was lifted on 11 September when the situation returned to normal.

The racial riots were, by far, the worst and most prolonged in Singapore's post-war history. A number of factors contributed to the outbreak of violence:(1) to enforce their policy of Confrontation with the newly-formed Federation of Malaysia, a number of Indonesian activists had infiltrated into Singapore in attempts to arouse the religious fervour of the more fanatical Malays;(2) Chinese Secret Society gangs seized the opportunity to stir up violence;(3) inflammatory reporting in the vernacular press helped to fan racial emotions.

Behavior of a good team member


Leader--To lead in any discussion,to resolve disputes and to make sure that the task is completed for marking(wai foo)
Secretary--To keep the group file.Make sure that all the worksheets given are kept in the file and to collect all the research notes from all the members to be put in the file(Randy)
Time-keeper--To check the blog and remind the team about the deadlines(Dick)
IT coordinator--To help group members to pose their reflections in an interesting manner in the blog(Henry)
Blog designer--To set up the blog,get it ready for group members to post updates(Everyone)

Waifoo
Henry
Randy
Dick










August 2008
September 2008