1867 Penang riots

They began as a result of rising tensions between two Chinese secret societies, the Gee Hin and the Toh Peh Kong, who were traditional enemies and were triggered by an incident involving the throwing of a rambutan skin at a member of the Toh Peh Kong by a Gee Hin member whilst calling him a thief, and became known as "the rambutan skin riots".

The British authorities were unable to restore order due to the ineffectiveness of its small police force and the absence of the island's garrison which had been temporarily assigned elsewhere.

The Toh Peh Kong, established in Penang in the 1840s, were associated with the Red Flag Malay faction, and were led by Khoo Thean Teik[4] at the time of the riots.

[5][3] In July 1867, the first serious disorder occurred sparked by a minor incident in which a member of the Toh Peh Kong, whilst peering into the premises of a White Flag Malay affiliated to the Gee Hin, was accused of being a thief and had a rambutan skin thrown at him.

[2][3] On 3 August, the Toh Peh Kong made a number of coordinated attacks against the Gee Hin and "the great Penang riot", as it was called by Anson, began which lasted ten days.

[1] European women and children fled their homes and took refuge in Fort Cornwallis or Light Street Convent and saw decapitated Chinese men lying in the road.

The small police force was initially overwhelmed and Lieutenant-Governor Anson lacked the experience needed to deal with the riot admitting in his account that he was nervous and hesitant, and unsure of what to do.

The Madras Sepoy Regiment had recently been sent on a mission to the Nicobar Islands with two men-of war – the Wasp and the Satellite – to rescue a widow of a ship's captain who had been imprisoned by a local chief.

[8][3] In response Anson toured the town and ordered the erection of cheval de frise and makeshift barricades manned by armed police to try to separate the factions.

On the same day his superior, Harry Ord, governor of the Straits Settlements, following an emergency meeting of the Legislative Council, arrived from Singapore with a group of sepoys from the garrison aboard the Rifleman in response to a message from Anson which had been dispatched on 11 August.