Racial Harmony Day

By Tan, Bonny|Pak, Peter Yew Guan written on 2000-12-28
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

Racial Harmony Day was first launched on 21 July 1997. It is part of the National Education Programme, headed by the Ministry of Education and is celebrated on the anniversary of the communal riots that occurred on 21 July 1964.

Celebrations of Prophet Mohammad's Birthday at the Padang had turned riotous that day, incited by extremist communal leaders and influenced by the inflammatory language of the vernacular press. It registered the highest number of casualties in a local riot with 22 dead and 454 injured after five days of rioting between Malay and Chinese factions.

In the first year, Racial Harmony Day was observed only in schools but three years later, in July 2000, all nine Community Development Councils (CDC) joined in the celebrations. It included multiracial festivals and fairs with festivities extended to the end of July.



Author
Bonny Tan



References 
Clutterbuck, R. L. (1948). Conflict and violence in Singapore and Malaysia 1945-1983 (pp. 319-321). Singapore: G. Brash.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 CLU)

CDCs celebrate Racial Harmony Day. (2000, July 21). The Straits Times, p. 51. 

Small spark can create big mess. (1997, July 23). The Straits Times, p. 42

Ministry of Education. (n.d.). Racial Harmony Day: 21st July. Retrieved December 31, 2004, from www1.moe.edu.sg/ne/CoreEvents/RHD.html 

Ministry of Education. (n.d.). Race riots of July 1964. Retrieved October 21, 2003, from www1.moe.edu.sg/ne/NE_Calender/NE_Calender/race_riots.htm 



The information in this article is valid as at 2000 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.



Subject
Politics and Government>>National Security
Events>>National Campaigns
Race awareness--Singapore
Ethnic attitudes--Singapore
People and communities>>Social groups and communities

Librarian Recommendations
>> Communal riots of 1964


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