The document discusses local responses to British rule in the aftermath of World War II, focusing on the Maria Hertogh case and the anti-national service riots. The Hertogh case sparked riots due to perceived bias from the British towards Dutch interests, resulting in significant violence and casualties. Additionally, the introduction of national service led to protests from Chinese students, highlighting growing political awareness and dissatisfaction with colonial governance.

1. How did the Local People
respond to British Rule
after World War II?
Chapter 7
Part 2

2. Overview of Chapter 7
Part 1
Living
Conditions
after the war
Part 2
Maria
Hertogh and
Anti-NS riots
Part 3
Rendel
Constitution
& 1955
Election

3. Maria
Hertogh
Riots
11th – 13th December
1950

4. Adeline Hertogh Petrus HertoghChe Aminah

5. Who were
involved?
Maria
Hertogh
(Dutch Catholic
parents)
Che
Aminah
(Maria’s
foster
mother)
Adeline
Hertogh
(Maria’s
natural
mother)
The
Malay
Commu
nity

6. Born in Java in 1937 to Dutch Catholic parents.
Parents were
imprisoned during the
Japanese Occupation

7. Under the care of Che Aminah, Maria was raised
as a Muslim.
Her name was
changed to
Nadra.

8. When Adeline
Hertogh was
released, she wanted
her daughter back
but Che Aminah
refused.
The case was
brought to the High
Court in Singapore.
Maria Hertogh was
placed in the Social
Welfare
Department.

9. The court
ruled that
Maria be
returned to
her natural
parents.
May
1950
Che Aminah
filed an
appeal and
the courts
decided that
custody of
Maria
Hertogh be
returned to
Che Aminah
July
1950
Custody Battle

10. Under Che Aminah’s care, Maria was
married to a Malay teacher, Mansoor
Adabi.
She was only 13 years old.
She thought that the marriage would
prevent further attempts by the
Hertoghs to get back their daughter.
August 1950

11. November
1950
The battle for custody
continued.
The court ruled that Maria
should be returned to her
natural parents.
The Dutch law did
not recognize Maria’s
marriage as she was
under-aged.
Her natural father
did not give
consent to the
marriage.
2 Reasons

12. This upset the Malay
community as they felt that
Muslim law was not
respected.
Meanwhile, the court placed
Maria in a Catholic
convent in Thomson Road.

13. A
Huge
Mistake!

14. Press was not banned from the
grounds
Published controversial pictures
of Maria Hertogh in the
newspapers showing Maria
surrounded by symbols of the
Christian faith.
Deeply offended the Muslim
community.

15. 11th December
1950
Che Aminah appealed again for the
custody of Maria Hertogh.
The court rejected the appeal within 5
minutes.
The large crowd that gathered to hear the
verdict at Padang started to riot.

16. Why did the
riots take
place?
Felt betrayed as they
thought the British
were taking sides
with the Dutch
Felt that the British
were insensitive to
the feelings of the
Malay community
Felt discriminated
against and
frustrated

17. Riot!

18. Any European
or Eurasian in
sight was
attacked.
During
the riot,
Cars were overturned and burnt.

19. days
Troops were
called in to help
maintain law and
order.
The situation was
under control by
the 3rd day.
A curfew was
imposed for two
weeks.
The riots continued.

20. Racial tension rose when
different ethnic groups
failed to understand each
other’s culture and customs.
18people killed.
173people injured.
The riots affected businesses and
the economy in the country.

21. Maria Hertogh dies at 72 from leukaemia.

22. Anti-National
Service Riots
13th May 1954

23. Anti-National
Service Riots
Who was involved?
Chinese-educated students
(mostly from Chung Cheng
High School and Chinese
High School)

24. What happened?
British colonial government
introduced National Service.
(All males aged 18-20 had to
register by May 1954).
National Service

25. Students gathered in front of the Government House to protest
peacefully against National Service.

26. It became a riot when
the police were called in
to separate the crowd.

27. It interrupted
their education.
(Students were
mostly 20 years
old or above due to
WWII)
The students are
unwilling to
defend the colonial
government
Malayan
Communist Party
encouraged the
students to boycott
National Service.
Why? Secondary school students from Chinese schools were
unhappy about National Service.

28. Consequences
48students were
arrested.
Chinese students
also became more
politically aware.
26people injured.

29. Summary
Part 2 – Maria Hertogh
and Anti-NS riots
Riots clearly expressed anti-
British feelings
• Locals felt that the British were
not sensitive enough to their
needs and feelings.
MariaHertogh–
Muslims law
ignored;
betrayed by
the British
NationlServiceRiots–
Education of
Chinese
interrupted;
not willing to
defend the
colonial
government

30. Created by
Goh Bang Rui
Follow me
on
@slideshare.
@gohbangrui