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M’sian DPM urges PM Lee to resign after S'pore race riots
Suspicions abound as to the cause of the riots.
August 05, 2025, 07:41 PM
Over the next few days leading up to National Day, follow along as Mothership takes you back, through the events which led to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia on Aug. 9, 1965.
JUL. 29, 1964: Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein has called for the resignation of Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew, according to sources close to discussions between Singaporean leaders and the Central Government.
During a secret meeting with high-level People’s Action Party (PAP) members on Jul. 28 and 29, Abdul Razak offered to include the party in the Malaysian Cabinet — on the condition that Lee resigns as prime minister.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein touring troubled spots during the racial riots. Image from National Archives of Singapore.
He suggested that Lee take up a post at the United Nations instead and contribute to the nation from there.
This comes days after the start of racial riots in Singapore, which activists within the Malaysian government allegedly incited.
A glass bottle was hurled into a crowd of about 20,000 celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday on Jul. 21, leading to violent clashes between the Malays and Chinese.
Rioters wielded steel pipes and parangs in a bloody altercation that eventually forced the imposition of a multi-day islandwide curfew.
Since the beginning of the riots, 23 have been killed, 454 injured, and 3,568 arrested.
Stalls and shops have also been damaged or burnt down; cars and scooters smashed.
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew touring villages to address both Malays and Chinese to appeal for calm amidst communal tensions during the 1964 racial riots. Image from National Archives of Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew meeting community leaders in troubled spots during the racial riots. Image from National Archives of Singapore
Did UMNO politicians escalate the tensions?
There have been suspicions that the riots were deliberately provoked by activists from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
Before the start of the procession, leaflets with racially-charged content were distributed, and racially inflammatory speeches made at the Padang.
UMNO secretary-general Syed Ja’afar Albar, in particular, had campaigned against the PAP in the days leading up to the riots.
He accused them of depriving Malays in Singapore of the special rights given to Malays in the rest of the federation, stirring up communal sentiments.
On Jul. 12, at the New Star cinema in Pasir Panjang, he led the crowd in a provocative speech that saw them shouting “Crush Lee”, and “Kill Lee”.
An insider from the Singapore government said that the riots were a “communal campaign” in the name of “racialist blackmail”.
Bad blood
Tensions between the PAP and the ruling UMNO have persisted since the Malaysian General Elections in April.
In response to the Singapore-based party’s decision to join the elections, UMNO and the central government took on a noticeably cold stance.
Both parties have engaged in verbal spats in the media and in rallies. Alliance politicians accused the PAP of “sinister intentions”, criticised them for “stirring up hysteria”, and warned that their victory would lead to “the end of democracy” in Malaysia.
They also urged Malays not to vote for the PAP.
Top image from National Archives of Singapore
