What we have learnt from Maria Hertogh riots

     The riots emphasized the insensitive way the media handled religous and racial issues in Singapore. The British colonial government also failed to stop the situation when emotional reports of a custody battle including photos of a Muslim girl in a Catholic convent.

     Although most of the rioters were Malays, some foreigner Indian, Pakistani, and Indonesian Muslims joined as well.

     For three days, mobs of Malay and Indian Muslm rioters attacked any European or Eurasian in sight. They set up barricades on major roads, set houses and cars on fire. The riot only ended when two troops of Internal Security Battalion were called in. However, there were still scattered attacks. The government imposed a 24-hour curfew for two weeks to curb the riots.

     All in all, 18 people died and 173 were injured. Nine were killed by the police while the others were killed by the rioters. Aside from two policemen that were killed, the rest had nothing to do with Maria Hertogh's case, they were motivated to join in because of racial hatred and government insensitivity.

     As a result of this historic event, when Singapore gained its independence the government intstituted a law against racial discrimination. It was made to diminish the racial and religous hatred in Singapore. The local media also practiced more discipline and censorship on coverage of sensitive issues.