February 15 Commemoration

Singapore History

What was significant about February 15?

Why do Singaporeans made February 15 an eventful day?
There had been debates about this day because this was when Singapore fell to the Japanese. But the question is ... Isn't it suppose to be a mourning day? That was exactly what MCP (Malayan Communist Party) tried to do before 1967. They made campaigns to mourn over the loss of Singapore to the Japanese. However, this act made the British very upset. To the British, mourning meant an attempt to embarass them because the British lost over the Japanese.

It was not until 1967, after Singapore's independence, that the real meaning of February 15 was revived. As part of the nation-building, the message spread across on February 15 were:
1. Don't rely on others for protection
>> Here is when Singapore realized that they can neither trust the British nor the Japanese. Singapore is a country of itself, and she can defend her own country by her own people. It had been a while since Singapore was under the British colonial rule. In my opinion, the Japanese Occupation made the people realized that they were actually weak as Singaporeans. So if there was a debate on whether the Japanese Occupation was actually a nightmare period for Singapore, I would say "Not really." Of course, the fact of being "occupied" was always unpleasant, especially when you were treated harshly and segragated. But, without the Japanese Occupation, Singapore would not have realized that she was always living under British shadows. Even in the Japanese Occupation itself, it was not as bad as other South-East Asian countries such as Indonesia, because the Japanese Occupation only lasted for 3 years. The Occupation actually guided Singapore to the sense of national identity. Without an identity, Singapore will not be as what it is today.

2. Racial divide is a fatal flaw in defence
>> Since Singapore had always been of diverse people (of different races), people had often feared discordance, especially the authorities. Up until now, we see how the government made campaigns to promote racial harmony in order to keep the four races united. Memorials such as the Civilian War Memorial, better known as "the four chopsticks", commemorated the sufferings that Singapore civilians (all four races) had to go through.