1986 in Singapore

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← 1985 1984 1983 1986 in Singapore → 1987 1988 1989
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
See also:	Other events of 1986 Timeline of Singaporean history

The following lists events that happened during 1986 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President: Wee Kim Wee
• Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew

Events

January

• January – The Ministry of Education introduces a Single Session System for schools. ^[1]
• 18 January – NETS was officially launched in Singapore, allowing people to pay electronically instead of using cash. ^[2]

March

• 15 March – Hotel New World collapses, killing 33 people and leaving 17 injured. ^[3]

June

• 17 June – The National University Hospital is officially opened. ^[4]

July

• 8 July – The first MRT train is delivered to Bishan Depot. ^[5]

September

• 1 September – The first Town Councils are established. ^[6]

October

• 3 October – Raffles City, a mixed-use development, is officially opened. During the opening, several proposals to revamp tourism attractions are announced, including upgrading Haw Par Villa, enhancing historic areas like Chinatown and Bugis, a heritage link in the city, revamp of Sentosa and Fort Canning Park, and hosting more sports and cultural events. ^[7]

November

• 13 November – Wisma Atria opens to the public.
• 18–20 November – Chaim Herzog visits Singapore. ^[8]
• 30 November – The first episode of Crimewatch is shown on SBC 5.

Births

• 5 May – Dawn Yeoh, actress.
• 5 August – Oon Shu An, actress and host.
• 19 August – Desmond Tan, actor.
• 26 September – Rebecca Lim, actress.
• 17 October – Nicole Seah, politician.

Deaths

• 15 May – Chou Sing Chu, founder of Popular Bookstore (b. 1905). ^{[9] [10]}
• 15 September – William Goode, last Governor of Singapore (b. 1907). ^[11]
• 15 October – Alex Josey, journalist and writer (b. 1910). ^[12]
• 14 December – Teh Cheang Wan, former Minister for National Development (b. 1928). ^[13]

References

1. "Introduction of Single Session System for schools". NLB. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
2. "Network for Electronic Transfers is launched". NLB. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
3. "Hotel New World Collapse". NLB. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
4. "Opening of the National University Hospital" (PDF). NAS. 17 June 1986. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
5. "Ceremony to commemorate the delivery of the first MRT trains at Bishan Depot" (PDF). NAS. 8 July 1986. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
6. "First town councils are established". NLB. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
7. "Official Opening of Raffles City" (PDF). NAS. 3 October 1986. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
8. "Israeli President Chaim Herzog visits Singapore". NLB. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
9. "世界书局创办人周星衢先生仙逝". NewspaperSG. 17 May 1986. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
10. "Chou Sing Chu". reference.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
11. "William A. C. Goode". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
12. "Writer Alex Josey dies at 75". NewspaperSG. 16 October 1986. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
13. "Teh Cheang Wan". NLB. Retrieved 22 July 2019.