Reflection

1) How different are we?



-We are different in terms of our race, culture and religious backgrounds. Even though we are differents in those terms, we as Singaporeans are able to live in peace and harmony.







2) What are the challenges of multi-ethnicity in Singapore.



-In a multi-ethnic society like singapore, issues such as race and religion can be used to cause conflict among the different groups. How these issues are handled is crucial in ensuring that harmony is maintained.



The lack of understanding among the racial groups can create suspicion and unhappiness among the people. This may lead to outbreaks of violence among racial groups. In 1964, Singapore experienced race riots which resulted in 36 people dead and 560 others injured. Differences in racial beliefs and practices are also issues that can be used to create tension among the people in Singapore. This was illustrated by the Maria Hertogh riots in 1950. The outbreak of violence left behind destruction and loss of lives.





Transnational terrorism can also test the social bonds of the people in Singapore. Singapore need to handle these threats carefully as it can divide the people. In multi-ethnic societies like Singapore, race and religions may be used to craete ill feelings among the different ethnic groups. This can, in turn, threaten racial and religious harmony in the country. In 2001, Singapore experienced the threat of transnational terrorism. This can be illustrated by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) arrests in Singapore since 2001. JI was responsible for the bombingof the J. W. Mariott Hotel in Jakarta on 5 August 2003, the Bali bombigns on 12 October 2002, and an attack against the Philipene Ambassador to Indonesia in August 2000. The Bali attack left more than 200 dead. Attacks on Singapore and other tourists spots in the region were also part of the JI's plan.









3) What were the measures taken to foster social cohesion (unity among the people) in multi-ethnic Singapore?





The policy of multi-racialism promotes equality among the races, with no special rights granted to any particular racial or religious group. Everyone has equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background. Favouring a certain group of people because of their race or religion is prohibited by the Constitution. Since everyone is seen as a valued member of the Singapore society, a sense of national identity of Singaporeans is created.





Common practices are actions that Singaporeans carry out together. Singing the national anthem, taking the pledge and attending the flag raising ceremony are examples of the common pratices carried out in schools. These common practices help to foster national identity. Inculcating loyalty and national pride towards Singapore is one way to get Singaporeans to see themselves as one people.









4) Why is it important to foster social coheison?





If people can live together in peace, this will bring about a better life for everyone. Harmony is Singapore has made progress possible. One of the benefits of living harmoniously in a multi-ethnic is the security and peace that all Singaporeans enjoy. People feel safe in Singapore. With peace and stability comes economic progress. Foreign investors invest and set up their companies in Singapore because their invesments would be protected.

5)Explore other ways to foster social cohesion in Singapore.

-Safeguarding the interests of the minority groups. The policy of minority representation gives minority groups a say in governance. It is also a way to safeguard the interests of the minority groups. The Presedential Council of Minority Rights (PCMR) and the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) are two examples of hoe representation of the minority groups is achieved. Another way is by self-help groups. CDAC, SINDA, Mendake and the Eurasian Asoociation play an important role in helping members of their community who are less fortunate to get aid in their studies and training for jobs. Self-help group also give moral support to members of their own community. This helps Singaporeans to cope and compete with one anotehr on an equal footing. By doing so, people from the minority groups will be ale to improve im their social and economic positions in the society.

-Developing common space. Common space refers to teh time and place people come together. This common space provides opportunities for Singaporeans to interact. Through this interaction, understanding amon Singaporeans from the different races can be deepened. Grassroots organisation sucha s People's Association (PA) create common space through their wide range of programmes and activities developed to cater to the needs and interests of every Singaporean.

Task B:Maria Hertogh Riots

Maria hertogh born in dutch.Her parents were caught to be pows during the japanese occupation and she was adopted by a muslim couple for 13 years.Then in 1949,maria mother wanted to claim her back and it was been brought to the court.Riots occured between races and religious when maria was forced to return to her parents but she had no choice.Thus, this brings unhappiness between people with different races and religious and riots occur.I think this is unfair to the muslim couple because they had take care of maria for 13 years but they earn nothing but instead was given fines.Maria parents should be appreciate because the muslim couple had taken care of maria.If maria were not taken care by the muslims couple, maybe Maria could have been dead and if Maria parents had not make the case to the court, riots would not occur and people would not be dead or injured because of the riots and there would not be misunderstanding between races n religious.

Task A:Maria Hertogh Riots

This riot broke out about a simple custody between Maria's real parents and her adopted parents but ended up as a religion and racial confrontation.Maria was 13-year old when her parents were imprisoned during japanese occupation.Maria came under the care of a malay woman,Che Aminah and her husband.Maria was born in java 1937 to Dutch-Catholics.Che Aminah brought Maria up as a muslims;named her Nadra.In 1949,Maria mother;Adeline Hertogh claimed her back.This matter was brought up to the High Court an Maria was placed under Social Welfare Department.In 1950,Maria returned to her real parents.Che Aminah opposed and sent an appeal.Two months later,the court returned Maria to Che Aminah.Under Che Aminah care.Nadra married a Malay teacher.As Maria should be subjected to Dutch laws which do not permit any girl under 16 to be married, her Muslim marriage was made invalid. The court then put her in the care of the Good Shepherd Convent, pending her return to the Netherlands.Maria's case was presented as a religious issue between Islam and Christianity and that aroused the religious antipathy of local Muslims. Calls were even made in the Sultan Mosque to start a holy war to return Maria to Amina To everyone's surprise the judge only took five minutes to threw out Aminah’s appeal. legal avenues yielded no result.On 11 Dec 50, the Appeal Court sat to hear Maria’s case.To everyone's surprise the judge only took five minutes to threw out Aminah’s appeal. The very short duration and the judgment convinced the crowd that the colonial legal system was biased against Muslims.The riots began.Any sight of Eurasian,would be attacked.Malay policemen were blamed for being biased, the colonial authorities for being insensitive in placing a Muslim girl in a Christian Convent and the press for over sensationalizing And it ended up with a Commission of Inquiry being set up in 1951.What is important to realize in a multi racial and religious society is that Governments irrespective of whether it is colonial or otherwise are occasionally bound to come up with decisions that would not satisfy all sections of the society.

Task A:Communal riots of 1964

Singapore went through racial or communal riots between Malays and Chinese over two five-day periods beginning on 21 July and 2 September 1964 respectively.the worst and most prolonged in Singapore's post-war history, erupted after Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaysia.In 19 July 1964 more than 1,000 Malay non-political leaders from 101 organisations met Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore and Encik Othman Wok, the Minister for Social Affairs to clarify the issue of the special rights for Malays.The Straits Times of 21 July 1964 reported that more than 25,000 Muslims in Singapore would participate in a giant rally at the Padang on the following day to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Celebrations would also be held in Kuala Lumpur and in towns throughout Malaysia.In 21 July 1964 rioting broke out on the eve of the planned massive celebrations for Prophet Muhammad's birthday when a protest demonstration by Malays escalated from a verbal war of taunts and insults with Chinese bystanders. The ensuing violence which continued for five days, left 22 people dead and 454 injured. Curfew hours were imposed to restore law and order. The curfew was gradually relaxed by 2 August 1964.In 2 September 1964 ,racial tensions exploded once again when a Malay trishaw rider was stabbed to death at night. Rioting erupted again and continued for another five days with 12 people killed, 109 injured and over 1,200 people arrested for rioting and curfew-breaking. The curfew was lifted on 11 September when the situation returned to normal.

Task B:Singapore: July 21, 1964 Racial Riots

Certain elements of UMNO were from the outset opposed to Singapore's merger with Malaya as Singapore had a large number of Chinese.
Celebrations to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammad were held throughout Malaysia. In many towns, it was a grand occasion. Various units of the armed forces, police, fire brigade and ex-servicemen for instance, participated in the celebrations at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.In Singapore, 212 Muslim organisations participated in the rally. By 1 pm on 21 July 1964, 25 thousand Muslims gathered on the Padang. At 2 pm, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Singapore's head of state, made a formal address. Muslims were urged to follow Islamic teachings and be "patient, forebearing and industrious". At 3.30 pm, the crowd was supposed to march from the Padang to St Andrews Road, Beach Road, Arab Street, Victoria Street, Kallang Road, and eventually to Lorong 12, Geylang. Different races start to fight among each other causing loss of lives and injuries.From this point,we need to communicate and work together as one to prevent this from happening again.

Our introduction

Leader:SHAHRIZAN
-To lead to any discussion.to resolve disputes and to make sure that the task is completed for marking.

Secretary:A.BAHRI
-To record any verbal discussion in the blog

Time keeper:BING HUI
-To check the blog and remind the team about the deadlines

IT-Coordinate:JONAS TAN
-To help group members to pose their reflections in an interesting manner in the blog

Blog designer:HIZRAN
-To set-up the blog,get it ready for group members to pose their reflections and discussions and to see the overall presentation of the blog