Simon Soon
The Indian Legislative Council introduced the new Police and Conservancy Acts. This gave the police new comprehensive powers to regulate processions and remove the obstruction of traffic on the streets, as well as the power to grant licenses for playing music in the public. Having heard the news, the Chinese leaders (known as the 'principal Chinese') petitioned the governor against such enforcement. They argued that precedence in Penang shows that past government did not interfere with the customary practice of allowing other communities to hold public processions.
The governor responded unfavourably, noting: 'This being a British settlement, under English Law, it cannot be allowed in justice to other inhabitants of different creeds and habits that the streets of the town should be rendered dangerous to passengers in carriages or on horseback by the firing of crackers and by processions accompanied by the beating of gongs, or that the peace, quiet and good order of the town should be nightly disturbed by wayangs (theatrical performances) in various parts of it.'
The passing of the new act coincided with the leaving of Police Superintendent Jonas Daniel Vaughan, who was an amateur sinologist well liked by the Chinese community. Bruce Robertson was appointed Vaughan's replacement. He didn't care to show tact, often causing offence by allowing Tamil and Malay police officers under his charge, to enter the private homes of respectable community leaders without a proper warrant. Robertson sought to enforce the act in 1857 leading to a number of confrontations. This included an outbreak of violence during the Muharram celebrations on 5 Feb 1857, when celebrants refused to comply with police orders and barricaded themselves at the main mosque, blocking the main road. Attempts to remove the obstruction led to an exchange of blows, resulting in the police retreating to their station and hiring at the mob, killing one man, mortally wounding a second, and hurting others.
NOTES
Straits Times, 11 Nov 1856.
Constance M. Turnbull. 1958. 'Communal Disturbances in the Straits Settlements in 1857' Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society May 31:1, 94-144.
Jean DeBernardi. 2009. Penang: Rites of Belonging in a Malaysian Chinese Community. Singapore: NUS Press, 44-5..
