Challenges: Managing perceptions of different racial and religious group

When we learn History in Secondary Two, we will be learning a lot of riots happened in Singapore during the 1960s. Why is this so? Basically, it was due to the lack of racial harmony.


The lack of understanding amongst the racial groups can create suspicion and unhappiness amongst the people. This may lead to outbreaks of violence amongst racial groups. This is a challenge for Singapore. As seen from the 1964 racial riots. Here, we’ll be showing you two examples of riots based on racial and religion in Singapore.

July riots

In July 1964, during the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, a clash between a Chinese policeman and a group of Malay participants of the procession, turned into full-blown race riots over the next few days. These race riots caused damage to property as well as loss of lives.

Efforts were made to call for calm. Goodwill Committees were also formed to help foster stronger bonds amongst the people from the different races and religions. Committee members went from house to house to spread the message of living peaceful with one another.

Maria Hertogh riots

The Maria Hertogh riots or Nadrah riots began on 11 December 1950 in Singapore after a court decided that a child who had been raised by Muslims should be returned to her biological Christian parents. A protest by outraged Muslims escalated into a riot when images were published showing 13-year-old Maria Hertogh (or Bertha Hertogh) kneeling before a statue of the Virgin Mary. Rioting in Singapore lasted till noon on 13 December, 1950. In total 18 people were killed and 173 injured. Many properties were also damaged.

There are actually more than two riots that happened. However, those two above are the ones that most people know and remember. Some of them have witnessed the riots too! Can you imagine yourself when you actually were a witness in one of these riots? How would you feel? Actually, all these should not happen. However, hatred arose amongst Muslims and Christian and Chinese and Malays. Because of hatred, do you think it is nice and fair to fight with other races? You’ll end up with nothing death and injuries, are all you can see along the streets. A multi-racial country should not be like this.

The riots showed that if religious issues are not handled carefully, hostility and distrust could occur amongst the people, thus affecting the relationships amongst the different religious groups.12 And this is also why unity is important in Singapore.