SG50
50 Years of Singapore Pride
EVENTS IN 1965-1974
1965
Singapore acheives INDEPENDENCE
1966
End of Konfrontasi
In 1965, Indonesia was rocked by a revolution which brought about a change of government. The new government, led by General Suharto, stopped all plans to infiltrate Malaysia and Singapore and peace negotiations began in 1966. The MacDonald House bombing in March 1965 which killed 2 and injured 33 in Singapore was part of Konfrontasi.
1967
National Service Bill passed
In 1967, then-Defence Minster Goh Keng Swee suggested a bill which would introduce compulsory conscription for all Singaporean males aged 18 for two years in light of the British withdrawal starting the following year. The British had tried to introduce NS in the 1950s, but they were met with violent protests by Chinese youths.
1968
British Army withdraws its
troops from Singapore
Due to the financial crisis in Britian, the British government decided in 1967 that they would withdraw troops from Singapore. Thanks to intense lobbying by the Singapore government, the withdrawal deadline was pushed back to 1971. The first withdrawals began in 1968.
1969
Race riots after 13 May Incident in Malaysia
In 1969, race riots erupted after rumours were spreading about mass murder of Chinese by Malays in Malaysia. Race riots erupted in Singapore, killing 36 and injuring 500 people. Life returned to normal after a few weeks, in contrast to the state of emergency that Malaysia declared.
1970
Opening of the campus of Singapore's first JC, NJC
1971
Dr. Benjamin Sheares becomes the second President of Singapore
In 1965, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced that a new "super secondary boarding school" would be established. In 1969, the pioneer batch of students, including current PM Lee Hsien Loong, was admitted into NJC. The campus was officially opened in 1970 along Linden Drive.
After the death of Singapore's first President Yusof bin Ishak in 1970, gynaecologist Dr. Benjamin Sheares became President of Singapore. He once worked at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital. It is also reported that he donated his entire salary as President to charity. The Benjamin Sheares Bridge is named after him.
1972
Government bans firecrackers
The Government first started regulating firework usage in 1968 when they were first deemed as a public safety hazard. On 1 August 1972, a bill was passed in Parliament to completely ban fireworks. A new law with stricter punishments was passed on 25 February 1988.
1973
National Stadium completed
to host 7th SEAP Games
Singapore had originally been chosen to host the 1971 SEAP Games, but the application was turned down as Singapore did not have a proper stadium. Singapore was then chosen to host the 1973 SEAP Games instead. The torch was lit by local sprinter C. Kunalan.
1974
Hijacking of the Laju
On 31 January 1974, four armed men attacked the oil refineries at Pulau Bukom, looking to disrupt the refineries there. When their plans to blow up the refineries failed, they hijacked the Laju. In the end, the hijackers managed to negotiate safe passage to the Middle East with the government.