Tinjauan Awal Terhadap Tindakan British Dalam Usaha Berkaitan Proses Berkerajaan Sendiri di Singapura, 1948-1959 (Preliminary Review of British Actions in Efforts to Related to the Self-Government Process in Singapore, 1948-1959)

Abstract

Perkembangan nasionalisme yang berlaku pasca pendudukan Jepun pada 1945 menyebabkan rakyat tempatan mula berminat untuk terlibat secara langsung dalam politik negara. Berdasarkan kepada perkembangan tersebut, desakan terhadap pembentukan kerajaan sendiri tanpa campur tangan dari penjajah semakin menebal dalam kalangan masyarakat tempatan dan keadaan ini turut berlaku di Singapura. Perkembangan kesedaran nasionalisme di Singapura menyebabkan British bertindak dan mula menyusun tindakan bagi proses berkerajaan sendiri di negara ini bermula dari 1948. Justeru itu, tempoh tersebut dianggap sebagai permulaan terhadap perubahan landskap politik di Singapura melalui pengenalan sistem pilihan raya pada 1948. Selaras dengan tindakan tersebut, Perlembagaan Singapura turut dipinda. Kedua-dua proses untuk berkerajaan sendiri berlaku di Singapura sehingga 1959. Kajian ini mengunakan sumber primer yang diperoleh dari National Archive UK seperti rekod dari Foreign Office, Foreign Commonwealth Office dan Colonial Office. Selain itu, dokumen dari National Archive Singapore seperti dokumen dari Election Department turut dijadikan sebagai sumber untuk rujukan. Dapatan kajian ini merumuskan tindakan yang dilakukan oleh British dalam usaha mempersiapkan proses berkerajaan sendiri di Singapura pada peringkat awal merangkumi dua tindakan utama iaitu pindaan perlembagaan dan perlaksanaan terhadap proses pilihan raya yang dilakukan dalam tempoh 1948-1959.

Kata kunci: Singapura; politik; kolonial; British; pilihan raya; perlembagaan

Abstract: The development of nationalism that occurred after the Japanese occupation in 1945 caused the local people to become interested in being directly involved in national politics. Based on this development, the insistence on the formation of their own government without interference from the colonialists was growing stronger among the local community and this situation also occurred in Singapore. The development of nationalist awareness in Singapore caused the British to act and begin to organize actions for the process of self-government in this country starting from 1948. This period is considered the beginning of the change in the political landscape in Singapore through the introduction of the electoral system in 1948. In accordance with this action, the Constitution of Singapore was also amended. Both processes for self-government occurred in Singapore until 1959. This study uses primary sources obtained from the UK National Archive such as records from the Foreign Office, Foreign Commonwealth Office and Colonial Office. In addition, documents from the National Archive of Singapore such as documents from the Election Department were also used as sources for reference. The findings of this study summarize the actions taken by the British in their efforts to prepare for self-government in Singapore at the initial stage, encompassing two main matters,
e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities 65
namely constitutional amendments and the implementation of the electoral process carried out during the period 1948-1959.

Keywords: Singapore; politic; colonial; British; general election; constitution

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