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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/

In early August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia in a move that was swift, tense, and largely negotiated behind closed doors.

Singapore had joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, hoping for stability and economic growth. But rising political and racial tensions — including the 1964 race riots — strained the merger. By mid-1965, relations had deteriorated to the point where leaders on both sides sought an urgent resolution.

On 7 August 1965, Malaysian and Singaporean leaders signed the Independence (Separation) Agreement. Two days later, on 9 August, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew proclaimed Singapore an independent and sovereign state. His televised announcement — where he became visibly emotional — remains one of the most iconic moments in Singapore’s modern history.

Newly independent Singapore faced formidable challenges: limited resources, a population of under two million, and uncertain regional security. Yet this turning point marked the beginning of a determined nation-building journey that would shape the Singapore known today.

DID YOU KNOW? Singapore’s independence was forged in secrecy. The “Albatross File” reveals midnight negotiations over drinks, with Malaysia’s leaders at the table and Britain only informed the night before.

Source:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/separation-declassified-documents-singapore-malaysia-agreement-signing-british-secrets-5312751

Before modern Singapore rose, many residents lived in kampungs — close-knit villages where neighbours of different backgrounds cooked, played, and celebrated together. These communities were rich in trust and shared culture, but most homes lacked piped water, proper sanitation, and fire safety. The risks were stark: in 1961, the Bukit Ho Swee fire destroyed thousands of wooden homes and displaced more than 16,000 people, underscoring the urgent need for safer housing

To confront chronic overcrowding and unsafe living conditions, the government formed the Housing & Development Board (HDB) in 1960. Over the next two decades, kampung residents were resettled into new, modern public-housing towns. Toa Payoh, begun in the mid-1960s, became the first fully planned HDB town, offering sturdier concrete flats, running water, and improved amenities.

As Singapore urbanised, HDB estates also introduced a balanced racial mix through housing policies designed to ensure that neighbours of different ethnic groups lived side by side. This mirrored — and formalised — the multicultural spirit once found in kampungs, shaping new towns into everyday spaces of shared life.

By 1980, about two-thirds of Singapore’s population lived in HDB flats. The shift from rural villages to high-rise heartlands transformed Singapore’s landscape, but the kampung values of community, cooperation, and neighbourliness continue to live on in these modern homes.

DID YOU KNOW? The iconic “void deck” concept was introduced as a deliberate design innovation to replace the open spaces of kampongs, providing areas for social gatherings, celebrations, and community events, maintaining social interaction reminiscent of kampong streets

Source:
https://www.sg101.gov.sg/resources/archives/bukithosweefire
https://www.gov.sg/explainers/hdb-s-ethnic-integration-policy--why-it-still-matters
https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/government_records/record-details/97a17a52-1159-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

On 15 March 1986, Singapore was shaken by the sudden collapse of the six-storey Lian Yak Building (better known as Hotel New World) at the corner of Serangoon Road and Owen Road. The disaster claimed 33 lives and injured 17 people. Rescue efforts involved more than 500 personnel — including firemen, police, and civil defence — and volunteers worked around the clock to dig through the rubble by hand and with equipment.

An official inquiry later found structural faults, poor design, and substandard construction: crucial load calculations had omitted the “dead load” (the building’s own weight), and additional heavy installations were added over time. In the aftermath, the government overhauled building safety laws. Stricter construction regulations, mandatory inspections, and more rigorous checks for structural plans were introduced to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.

The Hotel New World collapse remains a defining moment in Singapore’s history — highlighting both the fragility of built spaces and the strength of community in crisis.

DID YOU KNOW? The entire city was mobilised. Doctors were trying to communicate with the voices beneath the rubble switch from from one to another of Singapore's four languages -Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English. Japanese, French and British engineers who have been building a subway system in the city rushed to offer their expertise and equipment. There was even a volunteer who brought a construction crane and called his friend to bring his crane, too, to help.

Source:
https://www.nhb.gov.sg/~/media/nhb/files/resources/publications/ebooks/nhb-ebook-hotel-new-world.pdf
https://www.sg101.gov.sg/resources/archives/onthisday-collapse-of-hotel-new-world/
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19860317-1.2.2.1.1
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/17/world/after-36-hours-2-are-rescued-from-the-ruins-in-singapore.html

For centuries, the Singapore River was the island’s lifeline, bustling with coolies, Samsui women, and other labourers who loaded goods, cleaned warehouses, and supported trade. These workers formed the backbone of early Singapore, shaping its economy and communities.

By the 1960s and 1970s, rapid urban growth left the river heavily polluted. In 1977, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched a bold clean-up and redevelopment plan. Squatters, hawkers, and small riverside industries were relocated; the river was dredged; and new infrastructure installed.

By 1987, the Singapore River had transformed into a clean, vibrant waterfront, blending heritage and modernity. The restored river celebrates the labour of generations and Singapore’s long-term vision for urban renewal.

DID YOU KNOW? At the mouth of Singapore River was once Pulau Saigon, a small industrial island, that housed slaughterhouses, potteries, and repair yards, supporting the city’s river trade and providing livelihoods for early workers. By the 1980s, it was reclaimed and merged with the mainland during the Singapore River clean-up. Today, the area forms part of the Raffles Place–Marina Bay precinct.

Source:
https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/Jingle-Jungle
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3472009/
https://www.nhb.gov.sg/acm/-/media/acm/document/press-releases/181117-annexes--singapore-river-gallery.pdf