Laman Webantu   KM2A1: 4564 File Size: 32.8 Kb *



TAG SP 134: Rusuhan Kaum 1964 Malaysia-Singapura
By MM

28/5/2001 2:37 am Mon

TAG 134

[Rencana ini menunjukkan rusuhan kaum 1964 Malaysia-Singapura adalah dirancang oleh pihak tertentu untuk tujuan politik mereka. Ia menunjukkan belang sebenar Umno dan MCA yang sentiasa berpura kununnya merekalah pembela bangsa yang diwakili mereka. Mereka sebenarnya mengeksploitasikan keadaan tanpa menghiraukan keselamatan rakyat yang terancam.

Apa yang menarik di sini media pro Umno telah memainkan peranan menyebar dakyah untuk merosakkan keharmonian kaum di sempadan. Fenomena seperti ini sudah berlaku sekarang walaupun ia sedikit berbeda dalam beberapa perkara namun natijahnya tetap sama. Jika gejala ini dibiarkan berterusan ia akan mencetuskan satu mala-petaka yang amat mengerikan sebagaimana yang terserlah di Kg Medan. Keadaan hidup yang tertekan akan bertukar rupa menjadi dendam yang meledak bila dipetik suis berita yang penuh kesamaran. Akhirnya nyawa terkorban....
- Editor
]


Terjemahan: SPAR-09-001


Rusuhan Kaum 1964 Malaysia-Singapura

(Malaysia-Singapore 1964 Racial Riots)


Perayaan menyambut hari kelahiran Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. telah diadakan di seluruh Malaysia. Di kebanyakan bandar, ia disambut secara besar-besaran. Berbagai-bagai unit tentera, polis, bomba dan bekas kakitangan kerajaan, contohnya, turut serta di dalam perayaan itu di Stadium Merdeka Kuala Lumpur. Di Singapura, 212 organisasi Islam menyertai perhimpunan tersebut. Sehingga pukul 1 petang pada 21hb.Julai 1964, seramai 25 ribu umat Islam berkumpul di Padang. Pada pukul 2 petang, Yang di-Pertuan Negara, ketua kerajaan negeri, memberikan ucapan rasmi. Umat Islam digesa supaya mematuhi ajaran Islam dan 'bersabar, tabah dan rajin berusaha'. Pada jam 3.30 petang, orang ramai sepatutnya berarak dari Padang ke St. Andrews Road, Beach Road, Arab Street, Victoria Street, Kallang Road, dan akhirnya ke Lorong 12, Geylang.

Semasa perarakan itu, di kawasan Kallang, seseorang telah membaling botol ke arah perarakan. Suasana bertukar menjadi tegang. Apabila seorang polis FRU meminta mereka yang berarak supaya menggunakan laluan berdekatan dengan kawasan kerja petrol Kallang sekitar jam 5 petang, ia telah diserang. Dalam sekelip mata suasana menjadi kacau-bilau. Pada pukul 6.00 petang, perbuatan jenayah membakar bangunan-bangunan berlaku di kawasan Geylang di antara Kallang dan Geylang Serai, dan kereta-kereta diterbalikkan. Pada jam 6.30 petang, pertelingkahan dilaporkan berlaku di Chinatown dan Tanjung Pagar. Pada pukul 6.45 petang, beberapa pertentangan lagi dilaporkan berlaku di Arab Street dan persimpangan North Bridge Road. 50 orang yang cedera, kebanyakannya dengan kecederaan di kepala, dirawat di Hospital Besar Singapura pada jam 8.30 malam. Keadaan kacau-bilau berlaku dengan dahsyat sekali sehingga banyak panggung wayang yang mengumumkan pembatalan tayangan filem sessi 9.30 malam. Pada hari pertama rusuhan itu, 4 orang terbunuh dan 178 lagi mengalami kecederaan.

Kekacauan itu turut merebak ke kawasan-kawasan lain di Singapura pada beberapa hari berikutnya. 2 lelaki diserang di kawasan Upper Serangoon jam 9.15 malam pada 22hb. Julai. Keluarga-keluarga Melayu yang tinggal di Queenstown meninggalkan rumah mereka kerana bimbang dengan keselamatan mereka. Perintah berkurung dari waktu senja sehingga ke waktu subuh dikenakan untuk seluruh pulau itu bagi mengawal kacau-bilau pada 23hb.Julai, dan hanya ditarik semula sepenuhnya pada 2hb.Ogos, selepas 11 hari. 45 orang yang melanggar perintah berkurung tersebut telah dipenjarakan. Dengan keadaan yang tidak stabil itu, harga-harga makanan dan bekalan keperluan naik dengan mendadak di dalam tempoh tersebut. Semua kerja terpaksa diberhentikan untuk selama 3 hari. Yang lebih penting lagi, ketakutan telah merebak. Secara keseluruhannya, 23 orang telah terbunuh dan 460 orang lagi cedera.

Sebab-sebab berlakunya rusuhan kaum :

Sentimen perkauman di Singapura dibangkitkan melalui berbagai cara. Pada 12hb.Julai 1964, UMNO mengadakan persidangan yang disertai oleh lebih kurang 150 organisasi Melayu di Singapura. Persidangan itu dipengerusikan oleh Syed Jaafar Albar, Setiausaha Agong UMNO di Malaya. Beliau telah membuat kesimpulan bahawa orang-orang Melayu di Singapura tidak mendapat layanan yang adil dari kerajaan PAP memandangkan mereka dilihat tidak berkembang maju dari segi material. Beliau telah menggesa orang-orang Melayu supaya bersatu bagi menghadapi layanan yang tidak adil ini. Utusan Melayu, akhbar Melayu di Malaya, yang dimiliki oleh ahli-ahli UMNO yang terkemuka, juga sering menyuarakan pendirian yang sama di dalam penerbitan mereka, dan ia telah menuduh PAP sebagai menghina dan cuba untuk memecahbelahkan masyarakat Melayu di Singapura.

Tidak mudah bagi Tunku Abdul Rahman untuk mengawal pertambahan elemen-elemen perkauman di dalam UMNO kerana beliau akan dilihat sebagai tidak menjaga kepentingan orang-orang Melayu. Sebelum itu saban hari terdapat tuduhan-tuduhan dari Indonesia yang mengatakan bahawa beliau telah menjual bangsa Melayu kepada saudagar-saudagar Cina dan India di Malaysia. Selepas rusuhan kaum, Tunku memberi pendapat bahawa ianya disebabkan oleh pengabaian yang terlalu lama orang-orang Melayu Singapura, dengan merujuk perkara berikut sebagai contoh : '(orang-orang melayu) telah dipaksa keluar dari rumah-rumah milik mereka untuk memberi jalan kepada pembangunan rumah-rumah pangsa baru dan lain-lain.'

MCA, parti komponen pemerintah di Malaysia turut menyumbang ke arah kebangkitan suasana perkauman. Menterinya di dalam kerajaan, Khaw KAI Boh, yang merupakan Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan perumahan, sebagai contohnya, mendakwa bahawa kemajuan Singapura adalah dikhaskan untuk orang-orang Cina, dan beliau bercakap tentang Cauvinis Cina di Singapura. Pendirian PAP adalah orang-orang Melayu perlu meningkatkan tahap pendidikan mereka bagi membaiki kedudukan ekonomi mereka. Tiada layanan istimewa, selain dari yang diperuntukkan di dalam perlembagaan Singapura, yang dibayangkan.

Terdapat alasan-alasan yang lebih berasas tentang mengapa ahli-ahli terkemuka UMNO dan MCA kelihatan begitu bersungguh-sungguh untuk membangkitkan ketegangan sosial dan kaum di Singapura, dan oleh itu melemahkan peraturan PAP dan mengurangkan ancamam politiknya. Elemen-elemen tertentu UMNO adalah bantahan terhadap pergabungan Singapura Dengan Malaya menadangkan Singapura mempunyai bilangan penduduk berbangsa Cina yang lebih besar. Nasionalis-nasionalis Melayu di dalam UMNO juga tidak senang dengan profail tinggi yang diambil oleh Lee Kuan Yew, seorang ahli politik Cina, semasa perundingan untuk pergabungan dan di dalam tempoh sebaik sahaja selepas pergabungan. Sebagai contoh, pemimpin Singapura itu mengumumkan tentang kesukaran yang dihadapinya semasa perundingan untuk pergabungan; dan di dalam satu program analisa berita TV BBC, 'Panorama', mengenai perjalanan peristiwa-peristiwa yang membawa kepada pembentukan Malaysia, hanya Lee Kuan Yew yang dijemput dan pandangan-pandangannya disiarkan. Pada bulan Jun 1964, Lee Kuan Yew mengetuai sekumpulan 12 orang ahli di dalam satu misi kunjungan ke 17 negara-negara Afrika dan India untuk menangkis propaganda Indonesia yang ditujukan kepada Malaysia, satu tindakan yang telah mendapat bantahan dari nasionalis Melayu seperti Syed Jaafar Albar. Kebimbangan UMNO semakin bertambah apabila parti bersekutunya di Singapura gagal memenangi sebarang kerusi di dalam pilihanraya yang diadakan pada 21hb.September 1963 di Singapura, walaupun di dalam kawasan yang mempunyai majoriti Melayu. Kesan dari kejayaan PAP sangat ketara buat UMNO. Dengan marahnya, Tunku mengecap orang-orang Melayu di Singapura sebagai 'pengkhianat'. Calon PAP yang diberikan undi oleh orang-orang Melayu di Singapura juga berbangsa Melayu?? maka ia tidaklah boleh dikatakan 'pembelot' bangsa seperti yang digambarkan oleh Tunku.

Ahli-ahli terkemuka UMNO juga tidak senang dengan sikap Singapura yang tidak patuh kepada kerajaan persekutuan. Sekali pun Tunku mengeluarkan kenyataan umum menyatakan sokongan kepada kepada MCA, PAP tetap bertanding melawan MCA di dalam pilihanraya persekutuan pada bulan April 1964. Lebih dari itu, PAP menunjukkan bahawa percubaan untuk muncul sebagai satu kuasa politik yang lebih besar di Malaysia, boleh membawa 'angin perubahan' di Malaysia, di mana UMNO akan terpaksa menerima ideologi politik dan cara pendekatan PAP yang tersendiri dan lebih berprinsip saksama. Tun Razak, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Menyuarakan kesangsiannya dengan keikhlasan PAP terhadap kepentingan dan kebajikan orang-orang Melayu. Penyertaan PAP di dalam pilihanraya persekutuan telah dilihat sebagai satu percubaan untuk melemahkan kedudukan dan hak-hak istimewa orang-orang Melayu di Malaya, walaupun PAP tidak bertanding melawan UMNO secara langsung.

Cauvinis-cauvinis Melayu di dalam UMNO menggambarkan PAP sebagai parti anti Melayu dan bersandarkan pada konteks inilah maka kempen kebencian terhadap kerajaan anti Melayu PAP yang dijalankan oleh Syed Jaafar Albar itu dapat difahami. Perasaan orang-orang Melayu Singapura terhadap orang-orang Cina telah terbakar. Lee Kuan Yew begitu pasti bahawa pelampau-pelampau UMNOlah yang patut dipersalahkan di dalam kejadian rusuhan kaum itu.

Kesangsian MCA terhadap Singapura yang diterajui oleh PAP itu adalah bertujuan poltik. Mereka sebenarnya bimbang kehilangan sokongan dari penyokong-penyokong Cina di Malaya kepada Lee Kuan Yew. Pemimpin-pemimpin utama MCA cuba menyimpangkan perundingan sebelum pergabungan terjadi. MCA juga cuba untuk mengurangkan pengaruh politik PAP dengan menguatkan kembali cawangannya di Singapura, dan terlibat secara langsung di dalam politik Singapura. PAP pula, enggan untuk menerima bahawa MCA memperjuangkan kepentingan semua orang Cina di Malaya. MCA dilihat sebagai sebuah 'kelab orang-orang kaya' yang kegagalannya untuk memperjuangkan kepentingan orang-orang Cina yang kurang berkemampuan, terutamanya yang tinggal di kawasan-kawasan bandar, boleh membawa kepada bertambahnya pengaruh parti-parti politik pro-komunis. Dari itu MCA amat bimbang dengan PAP yang mungkin memohon untuk menggantikan tempatnya di dalam Perikatan yang memerintah Malaysia sekiranya kekuatan politik PAP semakin meningkat, biarpun kenyataan-kenyataan umum Tunku Abdul Rahman bahawa beliau akan tetap mempertahankan MCA, rakan kongsi setianya.

Hubungan di antara MCA dan PAP diburukkan oleh kenyataan-kenyataan balas yang dikeluarkan secara berterusan, berkenaan hal-hal politik dan peribadi. Kenyataan-kenyataan tersebut bertambah hangat semasa kempen pilihanraya pada bulan April 1964 di Semenanjung Malaysia, apabila PAP tidak berjaya di kawasan-kawasan Bandar, semata-mata untuk menunjukkan bahawa PAP hanya berguna kepada UMNO dari segi pilihanraya dari MCA. Ketegangan semakin meningkat apabila Tan Siew Sin, Menteri Kewangan Pusat, enggan melaksanakan pasaran saham yang sama di Malaysia sebagaimana yang telah dipersetujui semasa perundingan sebelum pergabungan, kecuali Singapura membayar 60%, bukannya 40%, dari pendapatan negaranya kepada Kuala Lumpur. Adalah dipercayai bahawa MCA tidak mahu menambahkan kelebihan ekonomi Singapura dengan mengorbankan ahli-ahli MCA yang terlibat dengan perniagaan.

Agen-agen Indonesia mungkin juga terlibat di dalam menimbulkan kacau-bilau itu. Itu adalah tempoh masa konfrontasi. Indonesia di bawah arahan Presiden Sukarno, membangkang pembentukan Malaysia kerana ia berminat untuk menakluki Sarawak dan Sabah di dalam Malaysia Timur. Kerajaan Indonesia juga menghadapi pelbagai masalah seperti ancaman ekonomi, rasuah, pentadbiran yang salah dan aktiviti-aktiviti yang merosakkan oleh komunis. Percubaan untuk menimbulkan kekacauan dan ketidakstabilan di Malaysia akan dapat mengalih perhatian rakyat Indonesia dari masalah-masalah tersebut. Dari bulan September 1964 sehingga bulan Mei 1965, terdapat sebanyak 42 kejadian letupan bom oleh pengkhianat-pengkhianat yang menerima arahan dari Indonesia. Selepas rusuhan kaum pada 21hb.Julai 1964, Tunku Abdul Raqhman, Perdana Menteri Malysia, mengutuk Indonesia sebagai dalang di sebalik kejadian rusuhan itu. Walau bagaimanapun, pengkhianat-pengkhianat Indonesia itu tidak akan berjaya, sekiranya ketegangan kaum belum lagi tercetus sebelum itu.

Masalah-masalah perkauman yang lain di dalam sejarah Singapura:

Kejadian rusuhan kaum pada 21hb. Julai bukanlah satu-satunya insiden yang pernah berlaku. Terdapat tiga kejadian penting yang telah berlaku. Kejadian pertama berlaku di antara 21 Ogos 1945 dan 11 September 1945, di dalam tempoh sementara di antara waktu Jepun Menyerah Kalah dan kembalinya kuasa British. Kejadian kedua adalah rusuhan Maria-Hertogh dari 11 hingga 13 Disember 1950, di mana sensitiviti orang-orang Melayu Islam telah dibangkitkan berikutan keputusan mahkamah penjajah (kolonial) yang membenarkan seorang budak perempuan berbangsa Belanda yang dibesarkan sebagai seorang Islam dikembalikan kepada ibu bapa kandungnya yang beragama Kristian. Rusuhan yang tercetus itu disemarakkan lagi oleh gambar-gambar dan artikel-artikel yang tersiar di akhbar-akhbar sehingga menyebabkan 18 orang terbunuh dan 173 lagi cedera. Insiden ketiga berlaku pada 3 September 1964. Rusuhan itu telah dibangkitkan oleh agen-agen Indonesia yang mahu menjejaskan kestabilan di Singapura. Walaupun pertelingkahan itu berlaku sekali-sekala, apabila perintah berkurung ditarik balik pada 9 September 1964, seramai 13 orang telah terbunuh semasa merusuh dan 102 lagi cedera. Seramai 240 'pendesak politik' yang dianggap bertanggungjawab terhadap gangguan itu telah ditangkap.

Adakah anda tahu bahawa ????



  1. laluan tambak Johor telah ditutup dari 22 hingga 26 Julai 1964 apabila perintah berkurung dikenakan ke atas Singapura? Akibatnya, ramai rakyat Singapura yang bekerja di Johor Bahru tidak dapat pulang ke rumah masing-masing. Semua hotel dan motel di Johor Bahru penuh diduduki oleh rakyat Singapura pada masa itu.

  2. terdapat kesesakan jalanraya yang paling besar pada pagi 22 Julai 1964? Pada jam 10.00 pagi, kerajaan telah mengumumkan bahawa perintah berkurung akan dikenakan semula pada pukul 11.30 pagi, selepas ditarik balik sebelum itu pada pukul 6.00 pagi. Perintah berkurung telah dikenakan semula apabila terdapat lebih kekacauan pada pagi 22 Julai. Ramai yang terpaksa pulang ke rumah dari tempat kerja dengan tergesa-gesa dan jalan-jalanraya masih sesak sehingga pukul 12.00 tengah hari.

  3. terdapat banyak khabar-khabar angin yang disebarkan semasa keadaan kacau-bilau itu? Khabar angin yang paling meluas adalah mengenai saluran paip air yang membawa air dari Johor telah pecah. Banyak keluarga yang membawa keluar semua alat-alat penakung air mereka untuk dipenuhkan dengan air. Suasana cemas itu hanya berkurangan apabila PUB mengeluarkan satu kenyataan menafikan bahawa terdapat kerosakan pada paip air dari Johor itu. Sesiapa yang didapati bersalah menyebarkan khabar-khabar angin itu akan dipenjarakan selama 3 tahun.

  4. rakyat diminta agar mengurangkan pengunaan telefon mereka? Disebabkan perintah berkurung, telekom menghadapi kekurangan kakitangan dan hanya terdapat sedikit pekerja sahaja untuk membantu menyambungkan talian.

  5. apabila perintah berkurung dikenakan, mereka yang masih tidak mendapat sebarang pengankutan untuk pulang ke rumah, akan segera ke balai-balai polis yang berdekatan? Di balai-balai polis ini, mereka yang terkandas akan meminta bantuan polis untuk menghantar mereka pulang. Kadangkala, pihak polis melayani permintaan mereka itu.

  6. harga barang-barang makanan meningkat kepada dua hingga tiga kali ganda? Pembekal-pembekal di pasar tidak akan tawar-menawar dengan pelanggan-pelanggan. Ini kerana bagi setiap satu pelanggan yang keberatan, terdapat sekurang-kurangnya 10 pelanggan yang bersedia untuk membeli barang-barang segar itu. Satu Jawatankuasa telah dibentuk di banyak kawasan di Singapura yang menggesa agar para pembekal dan peniaga-peniaga kedai tidak mengambil keuntungan yang berlebihan. Jawatankuasa seperti itu dibentuk untuk menenangkan ketegangan kaum dan peniaga-peniaga kedai Cina juga dinasihatkan agar tidak menolak pelanggan-pelanggan Melayu.

  7. banyak majlis-majlis perkahwinan terpaksa ditangguhkan apabila perintah berkurung dikenakan? Ramai yang mendapat tahu tentang penangguhan-penangguhan tersebut yang dibuat melalui akhbar-akhbar tempatan.

  8. kereta-kereta mayat bergerak lebih cepat dari biasa? Ramai keluiarga yang berkabung terpaksa meyelesaikan hal-hal pengkebumian orang yang mereka sayangi sebelum perintah berkurung dikenakan semula. Sesiapa yang didapati melanggar peraturan ini akan didakwa dan dipenjarakan.

  9. penjualan akhbar-akhbar meningkat beberapa kali ganda? Terkandas di rumah, ramai yang membeli surat-surat khabar untuk mengetahui tentang perkembangan di Singapura. Mereka juga perlu tahu tentang waktu-waktu perintah berkurung.

  10. pemandu-pemandu teksi mengenakan tambang yang tinggi kepada pengguna-pengguna yang bergegas untuk pulang ke rumah sebelum tempoh perintah berkurung bermula?

  11. panggung-panggung wayang ditutup selama 1 minggu? Apabila dibuka semula pada 27 Julai, ia hanya mempunyai satu atau dua waktu tayangan dan tayangan tersebut perlu memberi masa yang secukupnya bagi penduduk-penduduk untuk sampai ke rumah mereka sebelum tempoh perintah berkurung bermula.

  12. agak menghairankan, pada salah satu jalan yang terpanjang di Singapura, Jalan Bukit Timah, tiada kejadian ganas yang berlaku?

  13. di kebanyakan kampung-kampung, penduduk Cina dan melayu melindungi satu sama lain dari unsur-unsur kekacauan yang datang dari luar kampung mereka?

  14. kejadian pecah kereta, menyamun penunggang-penunggang motorsikal dan pejalan-pejalan kaki yang berseorangan dan perbuatan ganas menggunakan kayu, parang dan kerusi, adalah jenis-jenis kekacauan yang sering berlaku?


Terjemahan SPAR-09-001




Rencana Asal:



http://members.tripod.co.uk/Malaysia_Muddling/ 1964_Racial_Riots.html


Malaysia-Singapore 1964 Racial Riots

Celebrations to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammad were held throughout Malaysia. In many towns, it was a grand occasion. Various units of the armed forces, police, fire brigade and ex-servicemen for instance, participated in the celebrations at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. In Singapore, 212 Muslim organisations participated in the rally. By 1 pm on 21 July 1964, 25 thousand Muslims gathered on the Padang. At 2 pm, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Singapore?s head of state, made a formal address. Muslims were urged to follow Islamic teachings and be "patient, forebearing and industrious". At 3.30 pm, the crowd was supposed to march from the Padang to St Andrews Road, Beach Road, Arab Street, Victoria Street, Kallang Road, and eventually to Lorong 12, Geylang.

During the procession, at the Kallang area, some one threw a bottle at the procession. Tempers were frayed. When a federal reserve unit policeman asked the procession-marchers to stick to the route near the Kallang gas works at around 5 pm, he was attacked. Disorder quickly spread. By 6 pm, arson affected the Geylang area between Kallang and Geylang Serai, and cars were overturned. By 6.30 pm, clashes in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar were reported. At 6.45 pm, there were further reports of clashes at Arab Street and North Bridge Road junction. 50 injured people, mostly with head injuries, were treated at the Singapore General Hospital by 8.30 pm. The disorder was so great that many cinemas announced the cancellation of their 9.30 pm film screening. In the first day of rioting, 4 were killed and 178 injured.

Disorder spread to some other areas of Singapore in the next few days. 2 men were assaulted in the Upper Serangoon area at 9.15 pm on 22 July. Malay families living in Queenstown left their homes for fear of their personal safety. A dusk to dawn curfew was imposed island-wide to control the disorder on 23 July, and was only completely lifted on 2 August, 11 days later. 45 curfew breakers were jailed. With instability, the prices of food and provisions shot up during this period. All work had to cease for three days. Most important of all, fear was widespread. In all, 23 were killed and 460 injured.

Causes of the racial riots

Racial sentiments were aroused in Singapore in various ways. On 12 July 64 UMNO held a convention of about 150 Malay organisations in Singapore. It was chaired by Syed Jaafar Albar, secretary-general of UMNO in Malaya. He concluded that Malays in Singapore had not been treated fairly by the PAP government as they had not progressed in material terms. He urged the Malays to unite to overcome this unfair treatment. The Utusan Melayu, a Malay newspaper in Malaya, owned by prominent UMNO members, also constantly adopted a communal line in their publications, and it accused the PAP of humiliating and trying to divide the Malay community in Singapore. It was not easy for Tunku Abdul Rahman to control the more racialist elements in UMNO as he would be seen to be unprotective of Malay interests. There were already daily Indonesian accusations that he had sold out the Malays to the Chinese and Indian merchants in Malaysia. After the racial riot, Tunku suggested that it was caused by the long neglect of the Singapore Malays, pointing out for instance that, " (the Malays) were being driven out of their homes which they had owned to make way for new flats and so on ..."

The Malayan Chinese Association, a component party in the Alliance which governed Malaysia also contributed to the racially-charged atmosphere. Its minister in the government, Khaw Kai Boh, who was the minister for local government and housing, for instance, alleged that Singapore?s progress was especially meant for the Chinese, and he spoke of Chinese chauvinism in Singapore. PAP?s position was that the Malays would have to raise their educational standards in order to improve their economic position. No special treatment, other than that stated in the Singapore constitution, was envisaged.

There were more fundamental reasons why some prominent members of UMNO and MCA were eager to create social and racial tension in Singapore, and thus weaken PAP rule and reduce its political threat. Certain elements of UMNO were from the outset opposed to Singapore?s merger with Malaya as Singapore had a large number of Chinese. These more extreme Malay nationalists within UMNO were also unhappy with the high profile adopted by Lee Kuan Yew, an ethnic Chinese politician, in the negotiation for Merger and the immediate period after Merger. For instance, the Singaporean leader publicised the difficulties he faced during the negotiations for Merger; and on a BBC television news analysis programme, "Panorama", on the course of events leading to the formation of Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew was the only one who was invited and whose views were aired. In January 1964, Lee Kuan Yew led a 12-member goodwill mission tour of 17 African states and India to counter Indonesian propaganda aimed at Malaysia, an act which attracted the protests of Malay nationalists like Syed Jaafar Albar. The concern of UMNO was heightened when the Alliance branch in Singapore failed to win any seat in Singapore in the elections on 21 September 1963, even in constituencies where Malays dominated. The implication of the PAP victory was obvious to UMNO. In anger, Tunku labelled the Malays who gave their support to PAP, rather than UMNO, "traitors". The PAP candidates voted in by the Malays in Singapore were however also Malay --- it was not an ethnic "betrayal" as Tunku portrayed.

Prominent UMNO members were also displeased with Singapore?s perceived indocility to the federal authority. Despite Tunku?s public statements supporting MCA, PAP contested against MCA in the April 1964 federal elections. Moreover, PAP made clear that by attempting to become a bigger political force in Malaya, it could bring about "the winds of change" in Malaysia, whereby UMNO would be forced to accept the non-communal, more egalitarian political ideology and approach of PAP. Tun Razak, deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, then expressed his doubts of PAP?s sincerity towards the interests and welfare of Malays. PAP?s participation in the federal elections was thus seen as an attempt to undermine the Malays? special and privileged position in Malaya, though PAP did not contest against UMNO directly. Malay chauvinists in UMNO portrayed PAP as an anti-Malay party and it was against this context that Syed Jaafar Albar?s campaign of hatred against the anti-Malay PAP government could be understood. Feelings of the Singapore Malays against Chinese were inflamed. Lee Kuan Yew was certain that the UMNO extremists were to be blamed for the racial riots.

The Malayan Chinese Association?s suspicions of PAP-led Singapore were political. They feared losing the support of their Chinese supporters in Malaya to Lee Kuan Yew. Key leaders of MCA tried to derail the negotiations prior to the Merger. MCA also attempted to reduce the political influence of PAP by revitalising its branch in Singapore, and involving itself in Singaporean politics. The PAP on the other hand, refused to accept that the MCA represented the interests of all Chinese in Malaya. MCA was seen as a "rich man?s club" whose failure to represent the interests of less well-off Chinese, especially in the urban areas, could lead to the growth in influence of the pro-communist parties. MCA thus harboured deep fears that PAP might seek to replace it in the Alliance which ruled Malaysia if PAP grew in political strength, despite public statements by Tunku that he would stand by the MCA, its "staunch partner". Relations between MCA and PAP were worsened by constant antagonistic public statements, of a political and personal nature. Such statements came thick and fast in the midst of the campaigning for the April 1964 elections in Peninsular Malaysia, when PAP contested unsuccessfully in the urban areas against MCA, in order to show that PAP was more useful to UMNO electorally than MCA. Tension was further raised when Tan Siew Sin, the federal Finance Minister, refused to implement the common market in Malaysia as agreed during the negotiations prior to the Merger, unless Singapore remitted 60%, instead of 40%, of her national revenue to Kuala Lumpur. It was believed that MCA did not want to increase Singapore?s economic advantages at the expense of MCA members engaged in business.

Indonesian agents could also have been involved in provoking the disorder. This was the period of Confrontation. Indonesia, under the direction of President Sukarno, were opposed to the formation of Malaysia as she was interested in capturing Sarawak and Sabah in East Malaysia. The Indonesian government was also faced with various problems, such as economic perils, corruption, maladministration and subversive activities by communists. Its attempt to create disorder and instability in Malaysia would divert the attention of Indonesians from such problems. In the period from September 1963 to May 1965, there were 42 bomb explosions by Indonesian-directed saboteurs. After the racial riot on 21 July 1964, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, condemned Indonesia as the possible agent behind the riots. However, the Indonesian saboteurs would not have been successful, if racial tension has not already been heightened.

Other racial troubles in Singapore's recent history:

The 21 July 1964 racial riots were not an isolated incident. Three other significant incidents took place as well. The first took place between 21 August 1945 and 11 September 1945, in the interim period between the Surrender of the Japanese and the return of the British forces. (See attached letter by Chan Kwee Sung) The second was the Maria Hertogh riots from 11 to 13 December 1950, during which Malay-Muslim sensitivities were aroused by a colonial court judgement that a Dutch girl who was brought up as a Muslim, was to be returned to her Christian natural parents. The ensuing riot which was fanned by inflammatory press photographs and articles left 18 dead and 173 injured. The third incident occurred on 3 September 1964. The riots were inspired by Indonesian agents who wanted to disrupt stability in Singapore. Though the clashes were sporadic, by the time the curfew were lifted on 9 September 1964, 13 persons had been killed in rioting and 102 injured. Some 240 "political agitators" who were deemed responsible for the disturbance were arrested.

Did you know that...



  1. the Causeway was closed from 22nd to 26th July 1964, when curfew was imposed on Singapore?

    As a result, many Singaporeans working in Johor Bahru could not go home. All hotels and motels in Johor Bahru were fully occupied in those days by Singaporeans.

  2. there was a massive traffic jam on the morning of 22nd July 1964?

    At 10 am, the government announced that the curfew would be re-imposed at 11.30 am, after it had earlier been lifted at 6 in the morning. The curfew was re-imposed in response to further disorder in the morning of 22nd July. Many people had to rush home from work and the streets were still not cleared by 12 noon.

  3. many rumours spread during the period of disorder?

    It was widely rumoured that the water pipe carrying water from Johor had burst. Many families brought out all their containers to top them up with water. The panic only subsided when PUB issued a statement denying that there was any damage to the water pipe from Johor. Any one convicted of rumour-mongering could be jailed for three years.

  4. people were encouraged to use their phones less frequently?

    Because of the curfew, Telecoms were understaffed and there were simply too few people to help connect the lines.

  5. when the curfew was imposed, those people who still could not get any transport home, would quickly go the nearest police station?

    Over in these police stations, such stranded people would request the police to transport them back. Sometimes, the police would accede to their requests.

  6. the price of food increased two to three times?

    The vendors in the market would not even bargain with the customers. For any one unwilling customer, there were at least 10 customers who were willing to buy the fresh goods. The Goodwill Committees established in many areas of Singapore exhorted all vendors and shopkeepers not to make excessive profits. Such committees were established to calm racial tension and Chinese shopkeepers were also advised not to turn away Malay customers.

  7. many weddings had to be postponed when the curfew was imposed?

    Many notices announcing such postponement appeared in the local press.

  8. the hearse travelled faster than usual?

    Many mourning families had to settle the funeral of their loved ones before the curfew was reimposed. Any one caught breaking the curfew would be charged and usually jailed.

  9. newspaper sales increased several folds?

    Stranded at home, many bought newspapers to find out what was happening in Singapore. They also needed to know what the curfew hours were.

  10. taxi drivers charged exorbitant rates for commuters rushing to get home before the curfew hours? cinemas were closed for 1 week?

    When they were reopened on 27 July, they only had 1 or 2 screenings and such screenings had to allow people enough time to reach home before the curfew.

  11. remarkably, on one of the longest roads in Singapore, Bukit Timah Road, no violent incident happened?

  12. in many kampongs, Chinese and Malay residents protected each other from disorderly elements from outside their kampongs?

  13. carjacking, mob attacks of cyclists and lone pedestrians, and the violent use of sticks, parangs and chairs, were the most common forms of disorderly behaviour?