Opening Ceremony of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Though the Chinese immigrants were in Nanyang, their homeland was in their hearts and minds. When China was invaded by Japan during World War II, the overseas Chinese embarked on an anti-Japanese movement and raised funds for their compatriots to resist the Japanese. In 1938, the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia formed the South Seas Relief Fund Union. The local Chinese merchants made great financial contributions to China's war against Japan.

In 1941, when the Japanese headed south towards Nanyang, the Malayan region in Southeast Asia emerged from the background as China's fund-raising force to directly confront the Japanese threat. In the dark hours of difficulty, the Chinese merchant force gave full support to the government, encouraged the people and appealed to business leaders to continue their business operations at reduced prices, and helped to maintain order in the community.

The political landscape and social structure in Singapore changed in the years after the war. Colonies across the world experienced a sense of awakening. From 1951 – 1957, the merchant associations and Chinese populace rose up against the government to fight for civil rights.