Chapter 5

Bonding Singapore

A pie chart showing Singapore's population composition

A pie chart showing the different religious groups in Singapore

A comment by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the importance of maintaining harmony in Singapore, 2006

We are a multi-racial society; we must respect one another’s religions. We must not deliberately insult or violate what others hold sacred…People say where is freedom of expression? We say maintaining harmony, peace – that’s the first requirement.

Challenges faced by multi-ethnic society

(Singapore)

Managing perceptions of

different RACIAL groups

Managing perceptions of

different RELIGIOUS

groups

Managing threats from EXTERNAL forces (terrorism)

EXTERNAL factorINTERNAL factorINTERNAL factor

1. Managing perceptions of different racial groups

Case study: 1964 Racial Riots Factors:

1. Different political approaches of S’pore and KL

2. Irresponsible media reporting

A photo taken from an elevated position of the racial riot that took place in Singapore on Prophet Muhammad's birthday as a result of increasing racial tension.

Causes of 1964 Race Riots

(Identify factor) Different political approaches: (Describe factor)

1964: PAP participated in Federal Elections in M’sia UMNO (representing Malays in M’sia): felt

threatened by PAP (Explanation): UMNO felt that Singapore PAP

was trying to interfere with the affairs of Malaya, resulting in feelings of distrust among the two parties

Causes of 1964 Race Riots

(Identify factor) Different political approaches: (Describe factor) PAP used:

Non-communal approach Argued for a M’sia with equal rights for everyone Not one single race should have special privileges

UMNO used: Communal approach Special privileges for Malays as they were the

native population (Explanation): Clashes inevitable

Causes of 1964 Race Riots

(Identify factor) Irresponsible media reporting: (Describe factor) Anti-PAP campaign by

UMNO highlighted: Poverty of Malays in Sg Resettlement & redevelopment projects as being

anti-Malay; ignored fact that Chinese were also affected

(Explanation): Aroused dissatisfaction among the Singapore Malays

Causes of 1964 Race Riots

(Identify factor) Irresponsible media reporting: (Describe factor) Utusan Melayu’s (a

Malaysian newspaper) biased reporting: Actually only 200 out of 2500 affected families

were Malay in resettlement proj Who were more affected actually?

(Explanation): Caused suspicion, distrust and hostility among Singaporeans

Causes of 1964 Race Riots

(Identify factor) Irresponsible media reporting: (Describe factor) UMNO’s meeting with

Malays had fiery speeches: Portrayed PAP as anti-Malay

(Explanation): Malays felt unhappy; suspicious of Chinese

Causes of 1964 Race Riots

(Identify factor) Irresponsible media reporting: (Describe factor) 1964 Prophet Mhd’s

Birthday procession Clash between Chinese policemen and a group of

Malay participants of the procession (Explanation): Consequence: Damage to

property; loss of 36 lives; curfews to restrict movements of people

Damage caused after 1964 race riots

Damage caused after 1964 race riots

2. Managing Perceptions of different RELIGIOUS grps

Case study: 1950 Maria Hertogh riots 1940s– Dutch couple imprisoned by

Japanese placed daughter under the care of a Malay lady, Aminah

Maria was raised as a Muslim Married a Malay teacher After WWII, natural parents wanted her back

2. Managing Perceptions of different RELIGIOUS grps Court trial British court decided to award custody to Hertoghs Decided to annul Maria’s marriage to Malay

teacher Maria seen in Christian convent Media coverage in various language papers

sensationalized the issue—dispute was now between two different religious communities, instead of between just two families

Consequences of British court’s decision

Muslim community felt that the British legal system disrespected Muslim religious laws

It was felt that the British was biased against the Muslims

Muslims felt unhappy Anger directed towards Eurasian and British

communities

Consequences of British court’s decision

Consequences of such sentiments: Riot broke out on the day of the verdict 24 hr curfew and Malayan troops called in to

control the situation Hostility and distrust among the population Riots resulted in destruction and loss of lives

2. Managing Perceptions of different RELIGIOUS grps

Case study: 1950 Maria Hertogh riots Court trial British court decided to award custody to

Hertoghs Decided to annul Maria’s marriage to Malay

teacher Maria seen in Christian convent Media coverage in various language papers

sensationalized the issue

Consequences of British court’s decision

It was felt that the British were biased against the Muslims

Anger towards Eurasian and British communities

Riots 24 hr curfew for 2 weeks British and Malayan troops called in Hostility and distrust

Consequences of British court’s decision

Muslim community felt that the British legal system disrespected Muslim religious laws

Muslims felt unhappy

Consequences of such sentiments: Destruction Loss of lives

A car set on fire during the Maria Hertogh riots in 1950

A comment made by Justice Brown, the judge who passed the verdict for the Maria Hertogh case, 25 years after the case

“I had to consider Maria’s welfare in terms of her general well-being in life, not merely for the present but for the future. I also had to consider not only her present wishes but also the possibility of a better life if she returned to her own parents.”

3. Managing threats from external forces

E.g. Arrest of Jemaah Islamiyah members in 2001, 2002, 2005

It is a militant grp Aims to set up an Islamic state in Asia

JI was responsible for the bombing of the J. W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta on 5 August 2003, the Bali bombings on 12 October 2002, and an attack against the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia in August 2000. The Bali attack left more than 200 dead. Attacks on Singapore and other tourist spots in the region were also part of JI’s plan.

Aftermath of the Bali Bombing, Oct 2002

Memorial monument of the 2002 Bali bombings in Kuta

3. Managing threats from external forces

Singapore was targeted. Planned to attack Singapore US embassy; MOE, etc

34 JI members arrested under ISA (Internal Security Act) for their involvement in terrorist activities from 2001-2002

In 2005, another member arrested JI activities include: Fund-raising; buying

bomb-making materials

What would be the consequences of such terrorism acts in SG?

Aim to break the social bonds of Singaporeans

After the JI arrests, there were some reports of mixed reactions and suspicion among some Singaporeans towards members of the Muslim community

Shows that arrest of JI members could cause social cohesion to break up if not handled sensitively