hock lee bus riots

hock lee bus riots Much has been talked about the riots in Singapore’s history. In schools, we learned that these riots were race based. In particular, the Malay race was portrayed as the antagonist. I have always felt that the there was a tinge of racism, perhaps even “Malay-phobia” that is embedded as subtle message in those “historical facts” taught in schools.

As time went by, I realised that there were as many “Chinese instigated” riots, if not more, as “Malay instigated” ones. So it really isn’t an understatement that citizens have gone through brainwashing.

Why must we always perpetually be reminded of the “race riots” (read as “instigated by the Malays around us” - according to LKY and his PAPpy followers), so that we will always fear our Malay neighbours surrounding us?

Or is this just a figment of imagination in LKY's racist mind, so he could keep playing the race card on us till today?


List of Riots in Singapore -

Let's take a look at the riots that occurred in Singapore. Here they are, in chronological order.

1. 1950 - Maria Hertogh Riots
2. 1954 - National Service Riots
3. 1955 - Hock Lee Bus Riots
4. 1956 - Chinese Middle School Riots
5. 1964 - 1964 Race Riots
6. 1969 - 1969 Race Riots

I am not putting up links because there are different versions of what happened, how they happened and why they happened. As such, I do not wish to show favour for one particular version over another. I would instead put up the central dispute of the issue and the parties involved in the rioting.

1. Maria Hertogh Riots -
Dispute - The court in Singapore ruled that Maria Hertogh be returned to her Catholic biological parents, after she was raised a Muslim girl.
Parties who rioted - Muslims (mainly Malays and some Indians) against the government and the Catholic/Christian/European community.

2. 1954 - National Service Riots
Dispute - Brit govt makes it compulsory to serve NS for those aged 18 to 20. Young Singaporeans were not willing to serve a foreign govt.
Parties who rioted - Chinese school students against the British govt.

3. 1955 - Hock Lee Bus Riots
Dispute - This was a labour riot. Workers rioted against poor working conditions set by bus companies. It is also recorded by many that the Hock Lee Bus riot was politically motivated against the pro-Brit government.
Parties who rioted - Bus workers, joined by Chinese school students against bus companies.

4. 1956 - Chinese Middle School Riots -
This is actually not just one riot, but a series of riots.
Dispute - Lim Yew Hock, Chief Minister, de-registered and banned two pro-communist organisations.
Parties who rioted - Chinese students against the pro-Brit govt of Singapore. The students gathered and assembled at Chung Cheng High School and Chinese High School.

5. 1964 - 1964 Race Riots
Dispute - A breakaway group from the main (Muslim) procession was told by the police to rejoin the main party. The group attacked a policeman which sparked a free for all riot.
Parties who rioted - Malays and Chinese against each other.

6. 1969 - 1969 Race Riots
Dispute - This riot was not even started in Singapore. It was started in Malaysia and the issue was their General Elections. The tense situation had a spillover effect on Singapore.
Parties who rioted - Malays and Chinese against each other.



Let's look at the figures -

So are the riots always about race and always about how the "Malays are out to get the Chinese", as what LKY and PAPpy always try to make us believe?

Here is a tabulation based on race.
Eurasians involved - one case only (Maria Hertogh)
Malays involved - three cases (Maria Hertogh, 1964, 1969)
Chinese involved - five cases (NS riots, Chinese Mid Sch, Hock Lee, 1964, 1969).

Here is a tabulation based on issues.
On governance - four (Maria Hertogh, NS riots, Hock Lee, Chinese Mid Sch)
On labour issues - one (Hock Lee)
On race - two (1964, 1969)

hock lee bus riots