Part 2/6:
The formal declaration of Singapore’s separation was met with mixed emotions. For some Singaporeans, especially the Chinese community, it was a moment of relief. Celebratory firecrackers and expressions of joy characterized their reaction, highlighting a sense of liberation from a union that had been burdened with unresolved tensions. Conversely, others viewed the split with apprehension, fearing a resurgence of violence reminiscent of the racial riots that erupted in July 1964. This undercurrent of fear underscored the fragile social fabric of the newly independent city-state.