Diploma in Education
(General)
ECL 201
Oral History Project
NAME : ABDUL GAFFAR BIN SHAIK YUSOF
NRIC NUMBER : S7727148A
MATRICULATION NUMBER : 020001J24
TUTOR NAME : KEVIN BLACKBURN
TUTORIAL TIME : MONDAY 1630hrs-1830hrs
ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Singapore being a multi-racial country has been enjoying peace and prosperity
for the past three decades since its independence. The Government has been
promoting racial harmony throughout the years with campaigns and activities. In
some countries where there are different races living together, there will be
disagreements over their rights and always most of these will turn to violence.
Their disharmony and intolerance have led the country being in turmoil and
disarray. Singapore, too have experienced communal riots in its early days
before independence from Malaysia.
For this Oral History project, I have the benefit to interview Mr Ramli B Saptu, my
neighbour. He was 19 years old then working as a hawker assistant when the
riots broke out. Now aged 58 and still working as a security guard at a
warehouse in Tuas, he stills remember vividly events in and leading to the 1964
communal riots from 21st July 1964 to 2nd August 1964.
Mr Ramli’s account of the riots is similar to the accounts published on the Internet
and books by acclaimed historians and ex-politicians. His account also shows life
during the riots and how some Singaporeans at that time faced problems during
the curfew. The events leading to this riots is also touched upon to show how
distrust and misunderstanding sow discord for the riots to break out.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Events leading to the 1964 communal riots
Urban Redevelopment Plan
In May 1964, the Singapore Government pushed through an urban
redevelopment plan for Crawford, Kampong Glam and Rochor. This urban
redevelopment plan affected nearly 2,500 families. Among those are 200 Malay
families who are made out by UMNO extremists to be the only ones affected. 1
Mr Ramli lived in Kampung Melayu, Geylang at that time. When asked about this
urban redevelopment by the Government, he recollected:
I read about the Plan from the newspaper. There was this
newspaper, Utusan Melayu read widely by the Malays. The
Government wanted to develop the area of Kampong Glam and
some more which I could not remember. Most of the Malays were
sad to hear that some Malay families will be relocated.
It can thus be deduced that “Utusan Melayu”, a Malay nationalistic newspaper,
influenced the Malays at that time. They fanned up the Malay sentiments by
publishing articles which are propagative. Mr Ramli seems to remember only
Kampong Glam in the Plan and forgetting about Crawford and Rochor and
“Utusan Melayu” only talk in details about Kampong Glam as most Malays lived
there rather than Crawford or Rochor. This newspaper also singled out only the
200 Malay families being victimized where in fact the Plan affected 2,500 families
and not just the Malays.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Arousal of Racial Sentiments in Singapore
On 12th July 1964, UMNO held a convention of 123 Malay organizations in
Singapore at the New Star Cinema. It was chaired by Syed Jaafar Albar,
secretary-general of UMNO in Malaysia. In his fiery speech, he blamed Lee Kuan
Yew for the oppression of Malays in Singapore.2 During that time, Mr Ramli was
not at the convention as it was reserved for Malay politicians and organization
leaders and members only. When interviewed about the convention and Syed
Jaafar Albar, he said:
I think it was the day after convention, I was having tea break at a
“warong”(Malay term for coffee shop). The topic was hot about this
Jaafar from UMNO saying that we were oppressed by PAP. Some
people at the “warong” began to criticize openly Lee Kuan Yew and
there was a heated war of words between 2 groups of men. I went
off immediately as I do not want to be involved in any fight.
From his recount about Singaporeans divided into two camps for the support of
Jaafar’s inflammatory speech is a question as on 19th July 1964, Lee Kuan Yew
met 900 Malay representatives and he pledged that the government would do its
best to help the Malays overcome the problems of education, employment and
housing.3 In that meeting, no Singapore Malays raised any serious complaints
and thus to why there is an argument as said by Mr Ramli is questionable as
perhaps the groups are just the small minority who tried to add fuel to the fire in
the situation.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Celebrations
Celebrations to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad were held on 21 st July
1964. In Singapore 212 Muslim organizations participated in the rally. On that
day, around 25,000 Muslims gathered at the Padang to hear the then Yang-Di
Pertuan Negara, Yusof Ishak making a formal address.4 Mr Ramli was in the rally
and he recalled:
The Yang-Di Pertuan Negara addressed us. The crowd listened
intently to his speech. I was with my friends then and we could not
see any trouble brewing as all were peaceful and there were
uniformed policemen everywhere. I could not hear the speech
clearly as I was quite far out.
This oral account by Mr Ramli tends to support point made by historians. After
the rally, an enormous procession or march were held. The police were informed
about the route of the march. When interviewed how the procession went by,
Mr Ramli recounted:
After the rally ends, we were supposed to march from the Padang
to Arab Street and Kallang and some other places which I cannot
remember. At the Kallang area near the Gasworks, I heard noises
at the front and there were Malay men shouting
“Kacau,Kacau!”(disturbance in Malay). Immediately I dispersed
from the group and went home.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
This account of how the riots first started coincide with what many historians or
politicians at that time said. According to Tun Razak, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime
Minister, a mischief maker flung a bottle at the procession but according to Lee
Kuan Yew, he described that a group started to attacked the police when told to
rejoin the mainstream after straggling away.5 Mr Ramli when describing these
events which lead to the riots spoke in a calm but stern manner as he keep
reemphasizing that he did not join in any riots but stayed home as he does not
believe in violence and also to protect his family.
Life During the Riots
The Curfew
The government imposed a curfew during the period of the riots. 6 During that
time, Mr Ramli did not work. He was lucky enough to stay home and look after
his family. He recounted:
Some of my neighbours who work in Johor Bahru could not go
home. I heard they said the Causeway was closed so they were
stuck. The police placed a curfew on 22nd July in the morning.
From Mr Ramli’s account, it is true that the Causeway is closed from 22 nd to 26th
July 1964. The curfew were reimposed at 11.30 am after it had been lifted at
6 am. Mr Ramli is one of those lucky ones who need not need to rush home to
beat the curfew.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Fights During the Riots
I asked Mr Ramli about him witnessing any fights in the riots and he replied that
there were policemen everywhere and he did not see any fights but he said:
My friend, a Malay was going back home that night from work. He
came face to face with a group of Chinese men armed with
weapons. Then one of them charged towards him and grabbed him
in a headlock and forced him to walk together. It was then he
realized that it was his Chinese colleague who faked a capture to
save him.
This story coincides with what many people said after the riots. Stories of other
races helping each other exist. Lee Kuan Yew’s view for the riots to stop was that
the decisive factor would be dependent upon goodwill between neighbours. 7 Lee
Kuan Yew also added that this had been proved when Malays in their kampongs
protected the Chinese and Chinese in their own areas protected the Malays.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Food and Basic Necessities Problems
During the curfew, shops were also closed and most Singaporeans had problems
in buying food and basic necessities. Mr Ramli is one of those few lucky
Singaporeans who had no problems in getting the necessities. He recounted:
I had no problems in getting food or other products as my uncle
owns a small provision shop at that time. Whenever the curfew is
lifted for a while to let people buy things, I always saw crowds of
people rushing to buy and stock up their necessities. My uncle told
me he had to raise prices up to three times. People were just
rushing to get their hand on basically anything. Luckily his shop
was not looted. I heard some looters strike a lot of shops during the
riots.
Mr Ramli’s account about the rising of price up to three times coincides with
what historians said. Prices were increased as vendors wanted to make
excessive profits. They were not even willing to bargain as for any one unwilling
customer there were at least ten customers willing to buy the fresh goods. Even
taxi drivers charged exorbitant rates for commuters rushing to get home before
the curfew hours.8
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Conclusion
By the time the island wide curfew was lifted on 2nd August 1964, 23 people had
been killed and 454 wounded.9 Mr Ramli was those lucky ones not to be
involved in the riots. Even though life returned to normal after the riots, it took
quite a while for things to simmer down. Mr Ramli had shown me that how easy
it was when a slight misunderstanding can lead to violence. Even though we are
now living in a peaceful multi-racial Singapore, all races must work together to
keep up this peacefulness and prosperity.
Endnotes
1. National Heritage Board, Singapore,Journey into Nationhood(1998), page 86
2. http://www.littlespeck.com/ThePast/CPast-64riots-640721.htm
3. National Heritage Board, Singapore,Journey into Nationhood(1998), page 89
4. http://www.littlespeck.com/ThePast/CPast-64riots-640721.htm
5. John Drysdale, Singapore, Struggle for Success (1984),page 362
6. http://www.littlespeck.com/ThePast/CPast-64riots-640721.htm
7. John Drysdale, Singapore, Struggle for Success (1984),page 363
8. http://www.littlespeck.com/ThePast/CPast-64riots-640721.htm
9. http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/independence/ref/race.html
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
References
National Heritage Board, Singapore, Journey into Nationhood(1998)
John Drysdale, Singapore, Struggle for Success(1984)
http://www.littlespeck.com/ThePast/CPast-64riots-640721.htm
http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/independence/ref/race.html
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Profile of the Interviewee
Name: Ramli B Saptu
Nationality: Singaporean
Language: Malay and some scattered English
Duration of Interview: 2 hours
Venue: Mr Ramli’s home
Transcript for Oral History Project
Q: How old were you at the time of the 1964 communal riots?
A: I was 19 years old then.
Q: How many family members do you have at that time?
A: I have 2 younger sisters aged 16 and 17 and my mother. My father died in
1962 and I am the sole breadwinner of the family.
Q: Where were you living at that time?
A: I was living in Kampung Melayu,Geylang.
Q: What were you working as at that time?
I was helping out at a hawker stall selling “Mee Rebus” and Malay food. The pay
was quite small but it was enough for me to support my family. My mother sold
“Nasi Lemak” in the morning and in a way this help to supplement our family
expenses.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Q: What do you think spark the riots?
A: I think we can say a lot of things spark the riots. In the newspaper especially
Malay ones, they are always accusing PAP of marginalizing and oppressing the
Malays. I feel unhappy but keep wondering if it is true. One thing also the
Government is planning on Urban Redevelopment Plan. I read about the Plan
from the newspaper. There was this newspaper, Utusan Melayu read widely by
the Malays. The Government wanted to develop the area of Kampong Glam and
some more which I could not remember. Most of the Malays were sad to hear
that some Malay families will be relocated. Also the Malaysian politicians also
always come here and tried to influence us to support them rather than the PAP.
You see, they lost the previous year elections so they were trying to influence
the Singaporean Malays to win their support. One incident I can recall is I think it
was the day after convention, I was having tea break at a “warong”(Malay term
for coffee shop). The topic was hot about this Jaafar from UMNO saying that we
were oppressed by PAP. Some people at the “warong” began to criticize openly
Lee Kuan Yew and there was a heated war of words between 2 groups of men. I
went off immediately as I do not want to be involved in any fight.
Q: Where were you when the riots break out?
A: I think it was during our Prophet Muhammad’s birthday procession. A lot of
Muslims were in the Padang. The Yang-Di Pertuan Negara addressed us. The
crowd listened intently to his speech. I was with my friends then and we could
not see any trouble brewing as all were peaceful and there were uniformed
policemen everywhere. I could not hear the speech clearly as I was quite far out.
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
After the rally ends, we were supposed to march from the Padang to Arab Street
and Kallang and some other places which I cannot remember. At the Kallang
area near the Gasworks, I heard noises at the front and there were Malay men
shouting “Kacau,Kacau!”(disturbance in Malay). Immediately I dispersed from
the group and went home.
Q: Were there any Chinese family living in your neighbourhood at that
time? Did you participate in the riots?
A: I was living in a Malay village at that time and around my place there is no
Chinese. I did not participate in the riots as I do not believe in violence but I hear
some stories like one of my friend, a Malay was going back home that night from
work. He came face to face with a group of Chinese men armed with weapons.
Then one of them charged towards him and grabbed him in a headlock and
forced him to walk together. It was then he realized that it was his Chinese
colleague who faked a capture to save him.
Q: How was life during the riots? Were there any curfew? Were the prices
of things increased? Is there any looting?
A: There was definitely a curfew and I had no problems in getting food or other
products as my uncle owns a small provision shop at that time. Whenever the
curfew is lifted for a while to let people buy things, I always saw crowds of people
rushing to buy and stock up their necessities. My uncle told me he had to raise
prices up to three times. People were just rushing to get their hand on basically
anything. Luckily his shop was not looted. I heard some looters strike a lot of
shops during the riots. I also heard that some of my neighbours who work in
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ECL 201 – Oral History Project
Johor Bahru could not go home. I heard they said the Causeway was closed so
they were stuck. The police placed a curfew on 22nd July in the morning.
Q: How did the riots end? What measures were taken?
A: The riots end after two weeks and life returned as normal but you can see that
Chinese and Malays still do not speak that much to one another but as time flies,
it went as usual.
End of Interview
I give permission for this work to be digitally stored and made available by NIE
for educational and research purposes.
Date: 18/10/2003
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