‘LIVING BUDDHA’

Abstract

This article uses Chinese-language newspapers and other sources to create a comprehensive view of how the Chinese-speaking community in Singapore perceived David Marshall and his government. It draws a contrast with how he was regarded by the English-language press and by the British. It argues that Marshall was an effective and highly regarded Chief Minister who succeeded in passing many reforms that were important to the Chinese community. While Marshall was limited by his own lack of political skill and by a divided minority government, he was able to exploit British fears of a radical Chinese electorate to enable his success. As a result, Marshall was far more successful than anyone predicted, and tremendously popular among the Chinese throughout his term in office. The David Marshall government thus demonstrates how effective Singapore's representative government could be, even in its limited form. This article also illustrates the importance of vernacular sources and multiple perspectives to developing a more complete historical analysis.