The 1964 Race Riots were a series of riots that took place in Singapore during two separate periods in July and September between Chinese and Malay groups. The first incident occurred on 21 July during a Malay procession that marked Muhammad's birthday. In total, the violence killed 36 people and injured another 556. About 3,000 people were arrested. The riots are also known as the Prophet Muhammad Birthday Riots, 1964 Racial Riots, and 1964 Sino-Malay Riots. At that time, Singapore was a state in the Federation of Malaysia. July riots On 21 July, 1964, about 25,000 Malays gathered at Padang, Singapore to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. After the speeches, the procession went on to Geylang. Along the way, a group that was dispersed was asked to rejoin the procession by a policeman. Instead of obeying the orders, the group attacked the policeman. This incident led to a race riot after the group of Malays attacked Chinese passers-by and spectators. The riots were reported to have started at about 5:00 p.m. between Kallang and Geylang Serai. A curfew was declared at 9.30 p.m. to restore order, but in the first day of riot, four people were killed and 178 injured. Causes Different kinds of reasons have been cited for causing the riots. Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak blamed Indonesian and Communist provocateurs. September riots A second race riot occurred just a month after the first on 3 September. This time, a Malay trishaw-rider was found murdered at Geylang Serai and his attackers were believed to be a group of Chinese. The race riot ensued in the neighbourhoods of Geylang, Joo Chiat and Siglap, and another curfew was imposed. In this incident, 13 people lost their lives and 106 people were injured. Under the presence of troops and the imposing of curfews, these tensions eventually eased after a few days. 480 people were arrested. Aftermath Leaders in Malaysia and Singapore were surprised by the rapid escalation of racial violence and both sides made frequent appeals for calm. The riots exposed serious racial tension and the fear of further violence contributed to Singapore's secession from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, when both sides were unable to resolve their disputes.
1964 Race Riots
After the curfew was lifted at 6 a.m. the next morning, the conflict grew even more tense, and another curfew was imposed - only lifted for short periods for people to buy food. The curfew was completely lifted on 2 August, 11 days after the start of the riots. After the riots, goodwill committees were set up made up of community leaders from the various racial groups. The main job of these leaders was to help restore peace and harmony between the Malays and the Chinese by addressing the concerns of the residents. About 23 people lost their lives and 450 people were injured during the July riots. There was significant damage to property and vehicles. About 3,000 people were arrested, including 600 secret society members and 256 people arrested for possession of dangerous weapons. The rest were arrested for violating the curfew.
On the other hand, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and several other foreign observers attributed the riots as the result of agitation by Syed Jaafar Albar and other elements of the ultra-nationalist faction in UMNO. According to the Australian Deputy High Commissioner, W.B. Pritchett:
"...there can be no doubt that UMNO was solely responsible for the riots. Its members ran the communal campaign or allowed it to happen."[2]
The riots occurred during the period when the PAP-UMNO relations were severely strained after the People's Action Party challenged the UMNO in the March 1964 Malaysia federal election with the campaign slogan of Malaysian Malaysia.
In addition, the involvement of Chinese secret societies in the riots also increased the level of violence.
Both Malaysia and Singapore have attributed the September riots to Indonesian provocateurs. It was the Konfrontasi period and 30 Indonesian paratroopers had landed in Labis, Johor on 2 September.
During the riots, large number of arrests was made under the Internal Security Act (ISA), for those involved in subversion and rioters who were members of secret societies. This helped to contain the violence, especially during the September riots. ISA remains in force in both countries and is used to counter potential threats of communism or racial and religious violence gossip @ 5:19 PM
Thursday, August 28, 2008
How different are we? (Part 2)
In Singapore , we are all able to live in harmony with each other though we are of different races , chinese , malay , indian , eurasian or any other race that one may be .
Though we all have different culture , beliefs , ethnic clothes as well as our own type of food which each have their own unique flavour , racial harmony could still be acheived . It's a feat that all these long years not only did we suceeded in co-existing with one another but also co-existing with each other happily :)
It's inveitable that we have friends of different races from ourselves or different skin color may it be . From young , we have been exposed or it could be put in a way we live , learn or work in a community which consists of different races which provides us with the chance to interact together , work together and also to respect and understand each of our differing culture and beliefs .
When you visit a foodcourt or places which sells food , the different food of our races could be found , for sure ! How special could that be ?
In our lifetime , there is inveitably a chance or more that we would get to try food of other races
as well and maybe it could become one of your favourite food .
In primary and secondary schools , Racial Harmony is celebrated . This day is special in a way that each of the students would don their own traditional costume or traditional costumes of other races which they would usually exchange with one another . And students often look forward to this very day where they could wear their home clothes to school . We have been brought up to respect as well as appreciate the unique cultures of other races . Also to be sensitive of the beliefs of other races .
While in our society , there is also no discrimination of any particular race or whatsoever ! :D
At mrt stations , you could find our 4 different language which is tamil , malay , chinese and english as the most common one on the signboards as well as hearing it over the announcment system . That is really commendable as it really shows consideration to the older generations which do not understand english but only their mother tongue language . Most importantly it brings out a message that all the 4 differing race are of equality in Singapore . gossip @ 4:35 AM
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
If there was an Emmy for the most unique country ever, Singapore would definately be in for votes.
One, we have absolutely unique fashion sense.
Unique, meaning: Little-Miss T-shirts, short shorts, skinny jeans, and flip-flops. All the way. Even in Orchard Road, you see people walking, correction: strolling, down in shorts, flip-flops, and oh-so-cute boyfriend tees. For that- i dare say, it's PRICELESS. You can't find this anywhere. Turn to the left, Little Miss Naughty paired with black skinny jeans. Turn to the right: Flip flops! With FBTs. Look infront! HORROR! Red skinnys have taken control. You see, we have nothing unique to offer between our peers, unless you are talking about faux branded stuff. But compared to other countries, cities and towns, ha. You don't see Paris Hilton walking down NYC in Little Miss Tees, do you? Or Lindsay Lohan going clubbing ( or rehab ) in shocking-red skinnys? Point taken.
Two, we have G-R-E-A-T F-O-O-D.
Even for us, Gossip I-need-to-lose-weight Girl, finds it hard to resists temptations when we have food courts, coffee shops lurking everywhere. Sometimes, a nasi lemak is so greasy, yet annoyingly delicious, we don't even realise that we just broken our NO-0.1% OF CALORIE-MORE-THAN-A-DAY rule. Or a nicely fried Char Keuy Tiao with plenty of lap chor, so satisfying, yet, while i'm typing this, makes me feel like a glutton right now. Oh. Don't forget the-best-breakfast-ever: PRATA. Chicken rice. Satay. Mee Goreng. Oh, blisssss.
Three, we speak Singlish.
I'm ashamed of it really. However, it makes us totally cool, no? We invented the 3 Ls, and 2 H: 'LAH', 'LOR', 'LEH', 'HAR!?' 'HOR!'. Not that bad afterall. And it's even more hilarious when we have conversations with tourists.
Tourists: ( in a British accent ): Can you tell me the fastest way to get to Sentosa?
A typical Singaporean ( Beng or lian also can lah! ) HAR! Wait. I think ah, all also can lah, hor!
Our bus good, MRT also good! But taxi abit expensive leh! They'll 'EAT' your money one! * then goes on about the ERP system that cuase the fares to go up *
See?
Four, we are of course, multi-racial.
When you're 12 and you go to school, you have your Indian, Malay, Chinese friends. Then when you're 20 and you go to work, your collegues are also either Indian, Malay or Chinese. Wherever you are, no matter you are a Indian, Malay, or Chinese, you need to have, suppose to have, friends from different races. They have things that the other race do not. We've learnt to accept them in one way or another. We, Gossip Girls are really proud of that.
And of all the other points, let's just cut it short and sum it up, no?
Singapore is different. In another country, a citizen might be saying, 'Our country, XXX is the best! We provide the best XXX, and XXX, blahblahblah'. But i dare say, Singapore IS the best. Even though we are just a mere red dot, we are seen big, majorly by other countries. We have things that other countries don't, and that's what makes us so special. We've been through alot, and let me tell you, this is just the beginning. Stay tune, as we bring you back to the future, and tell you what makes us today.
You know you love me.
XOXO,
gossip girl. gossip @ 1:15 AM
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
For this Social Studies project we are going to work on project B.
Our project focus: Students to learn how other societies manage multi-ethnicity and how Singapore can learn from them.
How we are going to go about doing our project and finding for the key points.
We will have to research and elaborate on our key points and than add these points into our answers. We will have to work as a team to get as much important points about this project as possible. We might need to get our sources from internet, books, magazines, newspapers etc. We must read up different types of articles and news from other countries and learn how they manage their multi-ethnicity societies, and state how Singapore will be able to learn from them and what they should learn from them.
These questions include,
-How different people are in our country?
-What are the challenges faced by the society?
-How has their history shaped the way they manage racial and religious issues?
-What are the policies and the measures taken to menage racial and religious issues?
-How these policies and measures been successful? gossip @ 5:09 PM
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The official SS website
http://www.socstuss.blogspot.com gossip @ 9:10 PM
