9 - The Political Tyro

Summary

SINGAPORE POLITICS 1946–1953

Civilian government was restored in Singapore in April 1946 with the withdrawal of the British Military Administration. By this time, the Straits Settlements, of which Singapore was an important component, had been disbanded. Singapore was a separate Crown Colony with a constitution of its own. Under this new constitution, the governor retained veto and reserve powers over legislation. As with previous colonial constitutions, a distinction was made between “officials” and “unofficials”. Officials were senior government servants, such as the Colonial Secretary or the Finance Secretary, while unofficials were nominated from among members of the public, usually community leaders and prominent business personalities.

The Executive Council comprised six officials and four nominated unofficials; while the Legislative Council consisted of four ex officio members, seven officials, between two and four nominated unofficials, and nine elected members. The balance was weighted very much in favour of the government and elected members were in the minority. While this clearly epitomized the Colonial Office's desire for a gradual transition to self-government, the new Constitution was heavily criticized as failing to encourage local people to play an effective role in public affairs.

No elections were held in 1946 as Singapore's economy and infrastructure were still in shambles. The 1946 Constitution provided for a transitional period in which the governor could “make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Colony”, after consultation with the Advisory Council. The latter comprised the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Financial Secretary, and “such other persons as the Governor may … appoint”. Members of this council held their appointments “during the Governor's pleasure”. In all, seventeen persons were appointed by the governor to sit on the Advisory Council, including prominent local banker Tan Chin Tuan and lawyer C.C. Tan.

One of the government's first tasks was to work out the proper balance of nominated and elected unofficials and how the seats would be filled. Gimson convened a Reconstitution Committee comprising official and local representatives for this purpose in 1946. That same year, the committee presented its report and all but two of their recommendations were accepted. The government increased the number of nominated unofficials from two to four to safeguard minority interests.