Year 1981

Singapore To Lose Half An Hour

Thursday, 31st December 1981

All over the island, people are preparing to move their clock at 11:30pm half an hour forward to 12am. The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) had a special segment on television and radio at 11:30 pm to help viewers to adjust their watches and clock.


J.B. Jeyaretnam Won Anson By-Election

Saturday, 31st October 1981

Three candidates stood in the by-election: Pang Kim Hin of the Peoples' Action Party (PAP), J.B. Jeyaretnam of the Worker's Party (WP) and Harbans Singh of the United People's Front (UPF). The by-election was won (51.9%) by the leader of the WP, J.B. Jeyaretnam, defeated (47.1%) the candidate of the governing PAP Pang Kim Hin. UPF had on 1% of the votes. The by-election marked the first occasion since Singapore's independence in which a PAP candidate was defeated in an election for a seat in Parliament.


President Devan Nair

Friday, 23rd October 1981

C V Devan Nair became the President of Singapore. Devan Nair was elected by Parliament as the Republic of Singapore’s Third President.


The Inaugural Asian Aerospace

Wednesday, 23rd September 1981

The inaugural Asian Aerospace '81 (AA) Exhibition was held from 23 September to 27 September 1981. The fist Asian Aerospace Exhibition and Conference was held at Paya Lebar International Airport. The show formed part of Singapore Government's plans for priority development of aircraft-related industries during the 1980's plus the recent phenomenal growth in air traffic all over Asia Pacific region.


RSAF 150 Squadron Moved To Paya Lebar

Wednesday, 1st July 1981

RSAF Training Squadron moved from Changi to Paya Lebar. The fleet of SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 trainers and SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jet trainers were relocated.


Changi International Airport began operation

Wednesday, 1st July 1981

This day has a place in Singapore's history as the day Changi International Airport began operation as the island's principal airport. The towering 80-metre high Control Tower is iconic of the airport’s longstanding reputation as one of the best in the world. The Changi Airport replaces the old Paya Lebar Airport as the new Singapore International Airport (SIN).


President Sheares Died

Tuesday, 12th May 1981

The late President Sheares, GCB (1907 ~ 1981), was the second President of Singapore. Sheares was also the first Chancellor of the National University of Singapore. Sheares was given a State Funeral and buried at Kranji State Cemetery.


Vanda Miss Joaquim declared as national flower

Wednesday, 15th April 1981

Vanda Miss Joaquim was declared Singapore's national flower by then Minister for Culture, Mr S Dhanabalan.


Nanyang Technological Institute Established

Saturday, 28th March 1981

Nanyang Technological Institute or NTI was established on the same Nantah (Nanyang University) campus with government funding to educate practice-oriented engineers for the burgeoning Singapore economy.