In 1964, Singapore was shaken by two outbreaks of communal violence between Malay and Chinese communities.
The first riot erupted on 21 July 1964 during a Muslim procession celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. The second followed on 2 September 1964, triggered by the killing of a Malay trishaw rider.
Across both incidents, the toll was severe, with 36 killed, over 560 injured and thousands detained or questioned, with many placed under preventive detention.
Curfews were imposed across the island, businesses shuttered, and daily life came to a standstill. The unrest exposed the fragile state of race relations and the political tensions between Singapore’s PAP leadership and factions aligned with UMNO.
Amid the uncertainty, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew delivered his “Never Fear” speech in September 1965, reminding Singaporeans that no matter the crisis—whether communal conflict or political upheaval—the way forward was unity, discipline, and trust in one another. His message underscored that Singapore’s survival depended on rejecting communalism and building a society based on equal rights for every race.
The legacy of 1964 reshaped the nation’s trajectory. It led to firm policies safeguarding racial harmony, and today, Racial Harmony Day on 21 July serves as a reminder of the fragility of peace—and the enduring call to “never fear” when Singaporeans stand together as one people.
DID YOU KNOW? A bottle that flew into the 21 July 1964 Hari Raya procession sparked the first outbreak of violence—but exactly who threw it and why, remains unknown.
Source:
https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=3cb72867-1eec-4caa-96b2-365e1301cbb1#:~:text=Aftermath,were%20placed%20under%20preventive%20detention.
https://petir.sg/1965/09/12/lky-never-fear-speech/
