British Military Administration in Singapore
The British Military Administration, or simply BMA, was the governing authority in Singapore after Japanese surrendered (1945-1947). Immediately after the war, many issues arose, such as the lack of food, poor sanitation, and the people’s lack of money. The BMA was only ‘successful’ when it resolved or reduced many of these issues. I believe the BMA is ‘unsuccessful’.
Firstly, the people of Singapore possessed no money to purchase their needs. Immediately after the war, the Japanese currency of the Banana money was no longer legal tender. Most people only have this form of currency, and when the only legal tender currency was changed to the British Straits dollar, people have no money to purchase things to satisfy their needs, such as food, clothing, and rents. They have to borrow money from those little handful of people who kept the Straits dollars before the Japanese Occupation. To help the people, the BMA issued relief grants to them. Each men could receive $5, each women $4, and each child $2. However, the total per family could not exceed $20, and large families still could not make ends meet, as food and other prices after the war, was nearly 10 times or more than the pre-war prices due to inflation as a result of disrupted trade. People took up odd jobs or became street peddlers, selling whatever they got their hands on, in order to have higher income to survive. The BMA decided to help those who need jobs. The BMA started the Labour Exchange, where it helped by matching the unemployed people with employers, based on the unemployed people’s skills and talents to ensure that they could cope with their jobs. This helped 60000 people in the first few months. With more income, many people could lead a better life, and have more food. The employers could also have enough workers to reset up their business or rebuild their factories.
Secondly, there is a lack of food. During the war, the port is damaged. Ships that were docked that were destroyed by bombs and
Firstly, the people of Singapore possessed no money to purchase their needs. Immediately after the war, the Japanese currency of the Banana money was no longer legal tender. Most people only have this form of currency, and when the only legal tender currency was changed to the British Straits dollar, people have no money to purchase things to satisfy their needs, such as food, clothing, and rents. They have to borrow money from those little handful of people who kept the Straits dollars before the Japanese Occupation. To help the people, the BMA issued relief grants to them. Each men could receive $5, each women $4, and each child $2. However, the total per family could not exceed $20, and large families still could not make ends meet, as food and other prices after the war, was nearly 10 times or more than the pre-war prices due to inflation as a result of disrupted trade. People took up odd jobs or became street peddlers, selling whatever they got their hands on, in order to have higher income to survive. The BMA decided to help those who need jobs. The BMA started the Labour Exchange, where it helped by matching the unemployed people with employers, based on the unemployed people’s skills and talents to ensure that they could cope with their jobs. This helped 60000 people in the first few months. With more income, many people could lead a better life, and have more food. The employers could also have enough workers to reset up their business or rebuild their factories.
Secondly, there is a lack of food. During the war, the port is damaged. Ships that were docked that were destroyed by bombs and