Racial Harmony
Project 2: Racial Harmony 27 April 2006
1964, July 21, something terrible happened in a small island called Singapore. The Malays and Chinese were attacking and killing each other! This racial riot was unavoidable – there were great resentment and mutual distrust between the Malay and Chinese community.
Today, 4million Singaporeans comprising 3 ethnic groups live harmoniously together - 77% of Chinese, 14% of Malays and 8% of Indians. How is this possible? It’s because each of these groups makes an effort to understand and love one another. First step to racial harmony – understand each other.
Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight, you are going to understand the 3 ethnic groups in Singapore and the important festival each of them celebrates.
Chinese – the majority 77%. The Chinese migrated from Mainland China in early 20th century and they are mostly Hokkien, Teochew or Cantonese. In early days, Chinese spoke its own dialect. The government saw the division among the Chinese and quickly nipped it in the bud - ‘Let’s speak Mandarin 大家讲华语’ campaign was introduced in the 1970s. Today, the Chinese speak mainly Mandarin and English at work and at home.
Chinese New Year is the important festival for the Chinese. Family members gather on New Year eve for reunion dinner. For 15 days, the Chinese visit family and friends, exchange New Year Greetings 恭喜发财with a pair of Mandarin Oranges and give Ang Pow (what Hongkonger calls Lai-See) to the children. The ladies will also wear Cheongsum the traditional Chinese costume.
Chinese in Singapore also celebrates other Chinese festivals such as Qing Ming, Dragon Boat Festival, Moon Cake Festival which are not public holidays in Singapore. However, the Chinese gets to enjoy a public holiday on Malay New Year.
Malay – 2nd largest group – 14% of the 4m Singaporeans. Malays are people who originally live in Malaysia and nearby islands. Malays are mostly Muslims – follower of the religion Islam. Muslims fast for 1 month before their New Year. They fast to feel and understand the suffering of mankind, to exercise self control and to submit to their God Allah. They wake up early in the morning to pray and have their breakfast. During the day, they abstain from eating and drinking. The fast is broken in the evening around 7o’clock with another prayer and some food.
The Muslims fast for one month and then celebrate for one month during the New Year. During the Malay New Year, Muslims visit their family and friends and seek forgiveness from their elders. The ladies will also put on their best sarong kebaya (the traditional Malay costume made famous by the Singapore Airlines Girl! Yes I’m referring to the uniform of the SIA girls! The Sarong Kebaya).
You’ve just heard about the Chinese and the Malay, what about Indian - the 3rd group - minority 8%? The Indian came to Singapore in early 19th century – mostly from south of India. The most important Indian festival is Festival of Lights. Festival of Lights celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Indian family hangs fresh mango leaves which are considered auspicious, on their main door. Decorative designs are drawn on the floor in front of the house. It’s Festival of Lights – so there must be lights. Oil lamps are lit and placed all around the house. The ladies will wear their best Sari – a traditional Indian costume. What is a Sari? Sari – a long strip of cloth that wrapped round the waist with one end then draped over the shoulder like a shawl. And it is worn with a low cut, short sleeve blouse that bares the midriff.
Today in Singapore, the 3 ethnic groups - Chinese, Malay and Indian live together in the same neighbourhood, attend the same school, work together in the same office. Each and everyone helps build the nation and is an integral part of the society. Therefore, racial harmony is very important. Racial harmony will ensure peace and prosperity for all.
The first step to racial harmony is to understand the culture of other ethnic group. This understanding will help build friendship and appreciation of the diversity. A Chinese who is invited to a Malay family gets to taste all the delicious Malay cakes & cookies. Look at my Chinese top, Malay batik skirt. They complement each other and are in perfect harmony!
1964, July 21, something terrible happened in a small island called Singapore. The Malays and Chinese were attacking and killing each other! This racial riot was unavoidable – there were great resentment and mutual distrust between the Malay and Chinese community.
Today, 4million Singaporeans comprising 3 ethnic groups live harmoniously together - 77% of Chinese, 14% of Malays and 8% of Indians. How is this possible? It’s because each of these groups makes an effort to understand and love one another. First step to racial harmony – understand each other.
Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight, you are going to understand the 3 ethnic groups in Singapore and the important festival each of them celebrates.
Chinese – the majority 77%. The Chinese migrated from Mainland China in early 20th century and they are mostly Hokkien, Teochew or Cantonese. In early days, Chinese spoke its own dialect. The government saw the division among the Chinese and quickly nipped it in the bud - ‘Let’s speak Mandarin 大家讲华语’ campaign was introduced in the 1970s. Today, the Chinese speak mainly Mandarin and English at work and at home.
Chinese New Year is the important festival for the Chinese. Family members gather on New Year eve for reunion dinner. For 15 days, the Chinese visit family and friends, exchange New Year Greetings 恭喜发财with a pair of Mandarin Oranges and give Ang Pow (what Hongkonger calls Lai-See) to the children. The ladies will also wear Cheongsum the traditional Chinese costume.
Chinese in Singapore also celebrates other Chinese festivals such as Qing Ming, Dragon Boat Festival, Moon Cake Festival which are not public holidays in Singapore. However, the Chinese gets to enjoy a public holiday on Malay New Year.
Malay – 2nd largest group – 14% of the 4m Singaporeans. Malays are people who originally live in Malaysia and nearby islands. Malays are mostly Muslims – follower of the religion Islam. Muslims fast for 1 month before their New Year. They fast to feel and understand the suffering of mankind, to exercise self control and to submit to their God Allah. They wake up early in the morning to pray and have their breakfast. During the day, they abstain from eating and drinking. The fast is broken in the evening around 7o’clock with another prayer and some food.
The Muslims fast for one month and then celebrate for one month during the New Year. During the Malay New Year, Muslims visit their family and friends and seek forgiveness from their elders. The ladies will also put on their best sarong kebaya (the traditional Malay costume made famous by the Singapore Airlines Girl! Yes I’m referring to the uniform of the SIA girls! The Sarong Kebaya).
You’ve just heard about the Chinese and the Malay, what about Indian - the 3rd group - minority 8%? The Indian came to Singapore in early 19th century – mostly from south of India. The most important Indian festival is Festival of Lights. Festival of Lights celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Indian family hangs fresh mango leaves which are considered auspicious, on their main door. Decorative designs are drawn on the floor in front of the house. It’s Festival of Lights – so there must be lights. Oil lamps are lit and placed all around the house. The ladies will wear their best Sari – a traditional Indian costume. What is a Sari? Sari – a long strip of cloth that wrapped round the waist with one end then draped over the shoulder like a shawl. And it is worn with a low cut, short sleeve blouse that bares the midriff.
Today in Singapore, the 3 ethnic groups - Chinese, Malay and Indian live together in the same neighbourhood, attend the same school, work together in the same office. Each and everyone helps build the nation and is an integral part of the society. Therefore, racial harmony is very important. Racial harmony will ensure peace and prosperity for all.
The first step to racial harmony is to understand the culture of other ethnic group. This understanding will help build friendship and appreciation of the diversity. A Chinese who is invited to a Malay family gets to taste all the delicious Malay cakes & cookies. Look at my Chinese top, Malay batik skirt. They complement each other and are in perfect harmony!
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