Introduction to Japanese control
Civilians subject to violence + living without basic necessities for survival
Made worse as Singapore population doubled when Malays fled south to escape invading JAP
Serious shortages of food + essential consumer goods
→ Widespread malnutrition, black markets and ethnic tensions
JAP used shortages to ensure locals kept under control
What did Japanese change in Malaya and Singapore?
Before 1909, parts of N Malaya belonged to Thailand
JAP transferred areas back to Thailand in Oct 1943 - deeply resented by Malayans
JAP occupiers changed common language to Japanese
Singapore → Syonan-to
Street names + shop signs changed but locals found language hard to learn
JAP custom of bowing enforced so locals show respect for occupiers
Promoted message they were ‘saviours’ of Malaya + Singapore
Economy in Japan-occupied Malaya + Singapore
Economy collapsed under JAP:
Before war, Malaya had healthy tin + rubber export trade as part of BR Empire
Under Japanese, it disappeared
Plantations, mining industries, intl trade vital to economy before war - collapse of these sectors affected many locals
→ Increased unemployment
Singapore used by JAP as ‘naval key to Far East’
Island close to Indonesia oilfields: port’s facilities could store + ship oil
Also a key comms centre
JAP didn’t need tin + rubber from Malaya + Singapore, already had enough
Two raw materials they did take were bauxite + iron ore
Food supplies in Japan-occupied Malaya + Singapore
Ability of Japanese to control local population was through food supply:
Rationing from early
JAP campaigns to promote food production in Malaya prevented famine taking hold, but still serious food shortages + food transport problems from plantations to cities
Food prices rose + shortages worsened as occupation progressed
Hurt local Malays
Start of occupation: rice cost $5 per 60kg
By end of war: $5000 for 60kg
Hyperinflation hit people hard
JAP tried to solve problem by printing money → made it worse
Black markets flourished to fill gaps left by shortages
Authority in Japan-occupied Malaya + Singapore
Kempeitai (JAP military police) kept order
Brutal interrogation methods meant few questioned JAP rule
One witness said: ‘it was just the law of the sword, they used to chop off heads.’
Sentries beat people if they felt they didn’t bow properly as they passed by
Malays caught listening to overseas radio treated worse
Both Singapore + Malaya had large numbers of Chinese
Targeted by JAP because JAP were still fighting war vs CHN
25,000-50,000 Chinese killed in first weeks of occupation - known as Sook Ching Massacre
Indian + Malay populations treated less harshly, partly because occupiers needed help to run country