Following the publication of a controversial book on the May 13 riots here, another book on inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts is also out in the market across the Causeway.

Titled Singapore The Many-headed Monster: A Perspective of the Riots of 1950, 1964 and 1969 , the book is authored by Joe Conceico.

Conceico was a former Member of Parliament of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in Singapore.

The 83-year-old former teacher was a MP from 1968 to 1984. He also served as Singapore's ambassador to Russia and Indonesia and high commissioner to Australia.

Scores killed, injured

In the book, Conceico recalls his personal memories of the 1950 Maria Hertogh riots, 1964 Prophet Mohamed's Birthday riots and 1969 'May 13 Spillover' riots.

Conceico also reportedly consulted unpublished archival materials stored at the Singapore Internal Security Department Heritage Centre.

The book, illustrated by 14 black-and-white pictures, was launched in Singapore last Wednesday (June 6) by the republic's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.

According to the author, 18 people were killed and 173 injured in the 1950s riots while 36 perished in the 1964 clashes, which also left 550 injured. The 1969 Malay-Chinese clashes in Singapore as a result of the emotional spillover from the riots in Kuala Lumpur left four dead and 80 injured.

Singapore, was a former British colony which joined Peninsular Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. The Chinese-majority city state separated two years later.