What were the lessons learnt from the riots?

The lessons learnt from the racial riots were that we must not be biased against different races and we must maintain equal treatment of every race in Singapore.One main lesson we have learnt is that Singapore is vulnerable, and our economy is dependent on the outside world. Nobody owes us a living, but if we are quick and wise, we can still make a very good living for ourselves.

We need to be alert and smart to survive and prosper. There is still a wealth of opportunities that we can grab and explore, provided that we have the dynamism and sense of venture. Our best chance of winning is for all of us Singaporeans to stay united, and to show strong social discipline. At the same time, while we are aware of the danger to our lives, we must have a tough mind to live our lives normal. These experiences with Indonesia and Malaysia underscore the complications and importance of maintaining sound relations with our immediate neighbours, in a changing environment, and despite awkward issues that comes up from time to time.

A key challenge is to maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries.Another important lesson is that a fundamental basis for sound relations is for us to be able to stand on our own as equals with other nations.

By Jahan