1964 race riots in Singapore

1964 race riots in Singapore
1964 race riots in Singapore
Part of the Konfrontasi and Cold War in Asia
	The Straits Times on 22 July 1964, reporting on the riots the day earlier and the imposition of a curfew
Date	21 July 1964; 2 September 1964
Location	Kallang, Geylang and various districts in Singapore, Malaysia
Caused by	Political and religious tensions between ethnic Chinese and Malay groups
Methods	Widespread rioting, looting, assault, arson, protests, property damage, murder
Resulted in	Islandwide curfew imposed from 21 July 1964 to 2 August 1964 in the aftermath of the July riots; Islandwide curfew imposed from 4 September 1964 to 11 September 1964 in the aftermath of the September riots; Temporary establishment of the Commission of Inquiry team; Indirectly led to the independence of Singapore the following year on 9 August; Establishment of Article 12 of the Singapore Constitution after its independence; Annual commemoration of Racial Harmony Day on 21 July since 1997 to mark the day of the July riots;
Parties
Lead figures
	No centralised leadership Syed Jaafar Albar; Mahathir Mohamad; Musa Hitam; Syed Esa Almenoar Yusof Ishak; Lee Kuan Yew; Tunku Abdul Rahman; Abdul Razak Hussein; Ismail Abdul Rahman; Commissioner John Le Cain, SPF; Platoon Commander Winston Choo, 1 MIR
Casualties and arrests
Deaths	23 (July riots); 13 (September riots)
Injuries	454 (July riots); 106 (September riots)
Arrested	3,568 (July riots); 1,439 (September riots)
Detained	945 (July riots); 268 (September riots)
Charged	715 (July riots); 154 (September riots)

The 1964 race riots in Singapore were a series of communal disturbances and racial conflicts between the Malay and Chinese communities in Singapore. They occurred just months after Singapore's merger with Malaysia on 16 September 1963 and were regarded as the most serious and prolonged racial violence in the nation's post-war history. Although 1964 was marked by general racial tension, the term specifically refers to two major outbreaks on 21 July and 2 September, particularly the former, which was more severe and resulted in 23 deaths and 454 injuries.

The riots had significant political consequences and raised concerns about Malaysia's racial stability following Singapore's inclusion. Around this period, secret negotiations were initiated between the Malaysian federal government and the Singaporean state government on the possibility of separation. The events were later regarded as pivotal in leading to the independence of Singapore in 1965, shaping its national policies of multiracialism and multiculturalism. It also provided continued justification for laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) to monitor and curb potential incitement of racial or religious hostility.

In 1997, Racial Harmony Day was established to encourage racial and ethnic harmony among Singaporeans, especially through schools and grassroots organisations. It is observed on 21 July, marking the anniversary of the most severe riot in 1964.