Between two diasporas: the British and the Arab Elite in Singapore

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary study of the world of sociability participated by the Arab elite and the British in Singapore during the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. British perceptions of the Arab elite will hopefully come to light. The "top-notch elite" that Edwin Lee identifies in his book The British as Rulers Governing Multiracial Singapore 1867-1914, is based on their economic affluence within Singapore till the early part of the twentieth century at least. This would include the Alsagoff family, the Alkaffs, the Aljunieds, as well as the Bin Talibs. Even as the Arabs were enjoying good relations with the British in Singapore, the Arabs in the Netherlands East Indies fell under British suspicion due to the latter's fear of the spread of pan-Islamism. There was a definite lack of coherence in the British perception of Arabs in the Malay world. This is not only due to different policies and attitudes towards Arabs from Java and Singapore. Far from being monolithic, colonial policies enacted concerning a particular community were often contradictory, rarely revealing a constant running theme. Historical sources in the form of colonial bureaucratic documents shatter the façade of colonial omnipotence. Visions of rule rarely comply with the practicalities of ruling, undermining severely the enactment a specific kind of colonialism at any one time.