1966 in Singapore

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← 1965 1964 1963 1966 in Singapore → 1967 1968 1969
Decades:	1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
See also:	Other events of 1966 Timeline of Singaporean history

The following lists events that happened during 1966 in Singapore.

• The First National Day parade was held on 9 August 1966 at The Padang

Incumbents

• President: Yusof Ishak
• Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew

Events

January

• 18 January – The Bukit Merah by-election was held. PAP candidate Lim Guan Hoo won by 82.94% of the vote. ^{[1] [2]}

February

• 17 February – The Internal Security Department and Security and Intelligence Division are formed to maintain national security.

March

• 1 March – By-elections were held in three constituencies, namely Choa Chu Kang Constituency, Crawford Constituency and Paya Lebar Constituency. ^[3]

April

• 16 April – Two top Barisan Sosialis leaders and MPs, Chia Thye Poh and Koo Young were arrested on sedition charge. ^[4]

May

• 5 May – The National Registration Act comes into effect. ^[5]
• 9 May – Registration starts for the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC), which comes in laminated plastic. ^[6]

June

• 20 June – The first passports are issued.
• 28 June – The "Aid Vietnam Committee" of the Parti Rakyat Singapura and Barisan Sosialis announced that they will be planning a rally on 4 July to protest against the American involvement in the Vietnam War. ^[7]

August

• August – The Constitutional Commission Report is issued. Most of the recommendations were not followed except a Council to make sure policies do not discriminate against any racial or religious communities. ^[8]
• 3 August – Singapore joins the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. This will enable Singapore to borrow loans for development and share best practices in monetary management. ^[6]
• 9 August – The first National Day Parade is held to commemorate Singapore's independence. ^[9]
• 12 August – Confrontation ends, after a peace treaty is signed. ^[10]
• 22 August – Singapore founds the Asian Development Bank as part of 31 nations. It aims to provide another source of funds for development works. ^[11]
• 23 August – The sea curfew is lifted after the end of Confrontation, a decision widely applauded by villagers. ^[12]
• 24 August – The National Pledge is recited for the first time, which is written by S. Rajaratnam. ^[13]
• 26 August – A new TV studio is officially opened for Radio and Television Singapore in Caldecott Hill. ^[14]

October

• 8 October – Barisan Sosialis announced the resignation of all of its MPs. Party chairman Lee Siew Choh indicated that the party's new strategy is to struggle outside parliament. ^[15]
• 29 October – Chia Thye Poh, former Barisan Sosialis MP for Jurong Constituency and other leftists were detained in a security swoop. ^[16]

November

• 2 November – The third wave of by-elections were held in three constituencies, namely Bukit Timah Constituency, Jurong Constituency and Joo Chiat Constituency. ^[17]
• 4 November – A strike which turned into a riot occurred at the City Hall by Ngee Ann College students to protest against the Thong Saw Pak Report. Eight policeman and three civilians were injured in the protest. ^[18]

December

• 6 December – Five members from Barisan Sosialis have resigned as Members of Parliament, sparking the 1967 by-elections. They are Tan Cheng Tong (Jalan Kayu), Poh Ber Liak (Tampines), Ong Lian Teng (Bukit Panjang), Loh Miaw Gong (Havelock) and Koo Young (Thomson). ^[19]

Births

• 8 January – Adrian Pang, Malaysian-born Singaporean actor.
• 4 February – Harpreet Singh Nehal, lawyer and opposition politician.
• 16 March – Fatimah Lateef, former politician.
• 31 March – Adrian Tan, lawyer and author (d. 2023).
• 28 May – Jessica Tan, Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
• 16 June – Hri Kumar Nair, lawyer and former politician.
• 18 October – Aileen Tan, actress.

Deaths

• 25 January – Khoo Kay Hian, broker and founder of UOB-Kay Hian (b. 1886). ^[20]
• 31 January – Arthur E. Percival, known for surrendering to the Japanese on 15 February 1942 during World War II (b. 1887). ^[21]
• 9 April – Ko Teck Kin, first High Commissioner to Malaysia (b. 1911). ^{[22] [23]}
• 2 June – Richard Olaf Winstedt, colonial administrator (b. 1878). ^[24]
• 5 June – Lee Choon Seng, Singaporean Chinese businessman and philanthropist (b. 1888). ^[25]
• 15 November – Roland St John Braddell, lawyer (b. 1880). ^[26]

References

1. "Singapore Parliamentary By-Election January 1966". sg-elections.com. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
2. "ELD | 1966 Parliamentary By-election Result". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
3. "March 1966 Parliamentary By-election". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
4. "Two Barisan leaders arrested on sedition charge". NLB. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
5. "All is set for registration for new S'pore cards". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 May 1966. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
6. "National registration for Singapore identity cards begins". NLB. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
7. "Rally planned against U S in Vietnam". NLB. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
8. "Constitutional Commission Report is issued". NLB. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
9. "Singapore's first national day". NLB. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
10. "Konfrontasi (Confrontation) ends". NLB. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
11. "Singapore joins the Asian Development Bank". NLB. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
12. "Mid-sea joy as the curfew is lifted". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 24 August 1966. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
13. "The National Pledge is taken". NLB. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
14. "New home for TV..." The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 August 1966. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
15. "25 YEARS AGO". NLB. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
16. "25 YEARS AGO". NLB. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
17. "November 1966 Parliamentary By-election". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
18. Singapore, National Library Board. "Riot by students of Ngee Ann College at steps of City Hall, 4 November 1966". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
19. "Five more Barisan MPs quit seats". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 6 December 1966. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
20. Boland, Geoffrey (26 January 1966). "Leading Singapore share broker dies, 81". The Straits Budget . p. 14. Retrieved 10 June 2025– via NewspaperSG.
21. "Arthur E. Percival". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
22. "ENVOY KO TECK KIN DIES IN HONG KONG HOSPITAL". NLB. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
23. "福建侨报数字报刊平台-高德根 为抗日历史立碑 替蒙难民众伸冤". www.xepaper.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
24. "Richard Olaf Winstedt". NLB. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
25. "Leading S'ore banker Lee dies at 82". NLB. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
26. "Roland St John Braddell". NLB. Retrieved 7 August 2019.