Saturday, March 21, 2009 9:34
Declassified documents and a revision of our history?
In Main Stories, Top Story • 1,792 views • 27 Comments
The following is taken from The Kent Ridge Common and is written by Kelvin Teo with the original title of, “Singapore’s history: Availability of declassified documents and a possible revision of our history syllabus?”
SINGAPORE - I grew up believing that history is a purely factual subject. Every single page of a typical history book to me was facts, facts and more facts. Motivations driving the actions of various historical personalities according to my textbooks are always fixed, and alternative explanations are always incorrect or so, as I naively thought. It was only very much later when I left Junior College before I came to the realization that history is more than just mere facts and specific timelines. There is an additional involvement of human perspectives within the subject too.
During my younger days, I have always treated our first generation leaders’ defeat of “communist rebels” as gospel truth. Even the late Dr Albert Winsemius made a remark about communism being a bogeyman to the further economic development of Singapore. Fast forward a few years down the road, I began to realize that the “facts” I was fed through my textbooks and history lessons were merely human perspectives after all.
The so-called communist threat came at a time when Singapore was under the British rule. The PAP-led government of Singapore considered the perpetrators a threat to their rule. During that period, communism was synonymous with anti-colonialism. Communist movements in our neighbors have been heavily involved in subverting colonial rule. This made it all the more easy to stick the communist tag on any anti-colonialist. Prior to the arrest of the “communists”, there were communications going on behind the scenes involving Singapore’s government officials and the British. These series of communications were to be recorded down, declassified in the intervening years and opened to the public at the Public Records Office of London.
These declassified documents are essential historical records because they provide a context behind the landmarks events that have taken place. And these documents were anti-theses to the “established” facts regarding the “communism” of the perpetrators especially Mr Lim Chin Siong, when there has been no established evidence to link the latter to communism to begin with. Even the records have indicated that Chin Siong wasn’t responsible for the 1956 riots which have led to the latter’s arrest.
The availability of these declassified documents has triggered a rethink of Singapore’s history at least in the academic circles. And alternative explanations for the events has emerged. Thus, the question that arises is – will the emergence of these documents trigger a rethink of our history syllabus, which hopefully see students studying their contents, thereby giving them an alternative view of Singapore’s history?
Our GCE “O” level history syllabus has a section on Singapore’s history, with a sub-section devoted to expounding on her path to independence (SEAB). Students have to study the pre-1963 events such as the riots and political conflicts, which have taken place. Thus, studying the declassified documents may provide a useful context behind these events.
Understandably, our education ministry is responsible for determining the examination syllabus. There is no reason to abstain from including facts highlighted in the declassified documents because they contain records of our past after all! Wouldn’t it be weird if students are exposed to the conventional perspectives, and the examination script markers in United Kingdom may think otherwise because they can easily access these documents at the London office? All the more our students should learn about them even at a young age!
And why not? Whilst any historian or history-maker for that matter has His-story to tell, a documentation on our country’s past is the quintessential essence of our history!
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27 Comments
nhyone
ZL
Many years ago, there was a documentary from CNA that there is a 400-yr old Muslim cemetery in Sg which each of the tomb is tighten with a yellow ribbon.
Yet, our history always focus on an ang moh arrived in 1819.
CelluloidReality
Recorded observations of activity on our little island date back to 13th century, and possibly earlier.
This island has seen many rulers and many empires spanning her waters. She will not fall so easily or become obsolete.
Our location is geostrategic, and it will always be a trump card.
mrthinkbeforeyoutalk
#1 , after keeping that in mind, what then? that it is written by the winner doesn’t mean one should condone it!
Huh? What declassified docs?
David
If our leaders fail to admit that they are drawing the highest salary in the world, I believe they can hide everything that is not in their favour. Anyway, I fail my history in school.
Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
#3,
“Our location is geostrategic, and it will always be a trump card.” – until the ice caps melt away and the ships discover it’s cheaper to bypass Singapore altogether.
#5
The declassified documents in the British archives that revealed a very different account of what happened in the 1950s. Read Chee Soon Juan’s A Nation Cheated selling at Kino for more insights.
Anonymous
Not directly related, but also possibly something about revision of history.
Years ago, someone told me that when LKY 1st thought of writing a memoir, he commissioned some media people to do preliminary research related to pre-independence Singapore. Apparently, he was surprised (or shocked) to see the wealth of contents from the preliminary research. He asked the researchers for their sources. The researchers replied that the sources were mostly old documents tucked away in the (old red-brick) National Library. Well, the old red-brick National Library no longer exists. One wonders about the fate of those old documents.
Anonymous
Addendum to comment #8 by Anonymous on March 21st, 2009 1.37 pm.
I am not saying that the above is true, just that someone told me the piece of coffeshop talk. If only the people involved (including LKY’s secretary) could stand-up to provide insight to clarify the matters. We could do with more transparency.
asbaa54
Young Singaporeans must be exposed to various information, be it history or current events, especially pertaining to Our beloved Island Country, Singapore, at earliest sensible age. TOC has make effort to this, by providing alternatives source of information – keep it up, Guys!
Glad ex-Student.
I used to fail History in school and felt very lousy about it.
Now, that the truth is being revealed, I am so glad I failed my History.
Beg to differ
History of Singapore is writtened by winners for now.
Rest assured that it will be rewritten in no time.
Geostrategic advantage will go the way of the dodo too not too far from now.
Isthmus of Kra maybe the next biggest project to come.
Bapak Indonesia(Suharto) telah jadi Bapak Korup dalam Sejarah Indonesia.
(Once the Father of Indonesia, the Late Suharto had been found to be corrupted)
So, don’t have to fret too much about history of SIN.
‘Fengshui lun liu zuan’ meaning history will twist and turn(rewritten from time to time).
MayRulersBeRighteous
I applaud Kelvin Teo for his article in the kent Ridge Common. He is very correct to say that “history books” are written by the winners, especially in a politcal system where there is no freedom of expression in a one-party rule.
Younger generations of Singaporeans need to be provided with facts, not perspective of one man who claims he knows all what is right for Singapore.
It wuld be very sad if the younger generations are deprived the truth of the most important phrase of Singapore’s history, the struggle against British Colonialism and the eraly stage of nation building. Lim Chin Siong and many others who were truly “men-in-white” (as they were founders of the PAP) are unsung heroes of Singapore who unfortunately were dmolished by the politically shreweness of the other “men-in-white”, who have now completely betrayed the founding spirit of the then PAP to build a more just and equal society.
Empire Strike Back
Finally, England had decided to declare the truth about LKY truth face. I think what makes them to hold back in the past was because it cast a bad light on them too. I believe it would shock alot of Singapore when the truth unfold itself.
wow.. this is really interesting.. where can we get more details to more about it???
very interesting.. whr to read this??
theonlinecitizen
currypaper,
Have a look : http://www.skthew.com/2007/05/20/may-13-declassified-documents-on-the-malaysian-riots-of-1969/
Daniel
There is a lot of talk going on about the declassified document.
Since the document is now public, how can we request for a copy to be put online for us to see… that might explain the origin of kangarooness of the government.
CelluloidReality
12,
If you think the Isthmus of Kra will ever be built, you are mistaken.
Cheers.
CelluloidReality
Addendum: Incredulous tons of money will be needed, and the political will required is not something that any one single nation can summon..
Beg to differ
Just my hunch that the Chinese(China) may just come in to do it.
I do hope Thailand and Malaysia will agree to the development as the channel, if built, will have better controls of their borders and much economic developments can be augmented.
Rurehe
Can I fly to London and see the documents in the Public Record Office.
Can any Singaporean just go and take a look at it.
Why not just photocopy them and sell them in the streets in Singapore.
The truth is for all of us.
Unbiased wanz
Given the PAP led gov rule this land since about 40 years ago,
I am sure such transparent and fair gov have ensured that education materials for history is very well written , if you know what i mean. ;)
Chin Chong Lian
Kindergarten level 101 education on F.A.C.T.s.
1. There are facts and there are more facts. The Whole Truth is known only when all Facts pertaining to 1 thing is revealed.
eg. Today’s weather is Nice as it is raining. This can be a fact, to Tom who likes cool weather.
Today’s weather is not Nice as it is raining. This can be a fact, to Jill who wants to go shopping.
Whether the weather is nice or not is subjective.
eg 2 :
A Gun is a great invention as it Saves lives. This is a Fact.
But also there is another fact about Guns :
A Gun is dangerous and many innocent lives have been lost. This is also a Fact.
BOTH facts must be made known or described or else that is not the whole Truth. This means that there must never be 1sided reporting. The people must ensure no 1 sided reporting. Of course, we don’t have such a problem right?? ;)
that is all for today’s kindergarten lesson number 1 on the word : FACTs.
Annuity Package
Recently I read in the Today papers that our MM was a business translator during in the 40s. To be fair, it did not mention whether is was during the Japanese occupation or after their surrender. But nevertheless is got me thinking. Guess he was working for the Japanese MNC here.
Yeah, it comes as no surprise.
In the US, writers would glorify and exaggerate the “White Superiority” supremacy.
So you can read all about only the whites building the Yukon highway, but not the contributions by the blacks.
And when disasters struck in some areas,, some evangelists would not hesitate to immediately blast them, as …..
On the other hand, when it was vice versa, there were no rhetoric.
It was the same tactic used in the Asian tsunamis.
That was why, some not brainwashed or indoctrinated realised we are living in a “make believe world”.
So some stories are just “stories”, but because the “sellers” managed to suck some “buyers”, the stories were accepted blindly.
Some are just legends perpetuated by myths and fictions.
And we still have intellectual “suckers” too to this today.
Some are still so “blind”!
About Reporting facts
If a news report says that company ABC business is booming in this recession, naive people may mistake that businesses are doing well or recession not that bad UNLESS there is also report about businesses that bankrupted or made heavy losses at the same time.
Reporting 1 fact is not lying.
Reporting with 2 sides of the story (which exists in almost all cases) is balanced reporting.
of course, in sg, where the news is so bombastic, there is no such problem right? ;) ;) ;)
Always keep in mind that history is written by the winner.