Year 1986

Air force relaxes eyesight rule

Tuesday, 16th December 1986

RSAF had lower the eyesight requirement to 6/24 will make more men available for pilot trainee. Flight safety will not be compromised despite the lower eyesight requirement, according to Colonel Gary Yeo, RSAF deputy commander. In fact, 12 per cent of air force pilots in Singapore now wear spectacles, with some needing as much as 300 degrees correction. RSAF projected a pool of 1,200 men would eligible for pilot training a year. Each year about 40 RSAF pilot obtain their pilot wings.


Teh Cheang Wan Committed Suicide

Sunday, 14th December 1986

Teh Cheang Wan was found dead at his home at No. 14 Bukit Tunggal Road near Chancery Lane on 14 December 1986. His suicide was due to an overdose of amytal barbiturate, compelled probably by investigations for corruption prior to his death. Teh was elected as Member of Parliament for Geylang West constituency on January 1979 and continued to head this constituency until December 1984. He was the Minister for National Development since 1979.


National Smoking Control Programme

Monday, 1st December 1986

The National Smoking Control Programme was launched by the Ministry of Health with the aim of making Singapore a nation of non-smokers. The programme includes the National Smoking Control Campaign, an on-going project, which was launched on the same day as the campaign The campaign has continued to use various approaches to educate smokers and non-smokers on the dangers of smoking, and on how to seek help to quit the habit.


Biggest disco opens

Friday, 28th November 1986

The biggest disco in Singapore as of 1986. The Warehouse was built at a tune of $1.8 million and opened its doors this evening with 1,000 people in attendance. In the process, it also introduced to Singapore a new concept in warehouse use. The 1,000 sq metres of converted warehouse space, which could accommodate 1,400 people, had four bars, a popcorn stand, a giant-sized 11.5 sq metres video screen, the largest to be used in Singapore discotheques. It was closed in 1996 because of poor business.


Israeli President Chaim Herzog visited Singapore

Friday, 21st November 1986

The official visit in November 1986 by the Israeli President, Chaim Herzog resulted in violent anti-Singapore demonstrations in Malaysia for five weeks. Malaysian government protested by temporarily withdrawing the Malaysian high commissioner in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's Politician Abdul Razak Ahmad laid on the railway track in Johor Baru in an attempt to stop a Singapore-bound train in protest against the visit of then Israeli president Chaim Herzog to Singapore.


Alex Josey Died

Wednesday, 15th October 1986

Alex Josey, age 75, died at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and his ashes were placed at Singapore Casket in Lavender Street, Singapore. Alex Josey, a journalist Singapore and public relations officer to Lee Kwan Yew (LKY), gained prominents in Singapore for writing LKY's biography between 1959 and 1978 period.


Plea in Pan-Electric Collapse Case

Tuesday, 14th October 1986

Peter Tham Wing Fai, former director of the collapsed Singapore conglomerate Pan-Electric Industries pleaded guilty to 18 charges of forging share transfer forms. In addition, 38 years old Tham was to face 36 charges relating to Pan-Electric's collapse. He was eventually sentenced to a total of 10 years in jail and Tham was released from jail early, in 1992 for good behavior. He was declared a bankrupt for owing S$ 25 million to various parties. In 2000, he was charged with hiding about S$ 1.7 million in cash, three cars and other items from the authorities as a bankrupt. Subsequently, Tham gone missing and was put on a "Wanted Man" list.


Hotel New World collapsed

Saturday, 15th March 1986

Disbelief was shared by Singaporeans when news broke out that a hotel had collapsed in Singapore. The six-storey Hotel New World at junction of Rangoon Road and Serangoon Road had collapsed. The tragedy claimed 33 lives.


RSAF Plane Crash Two Eject To Safety

Tuesday, 4th March 1986

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A-4 Skyhawk crashed into the sea south-west of Tengah Air Base during a routine exercise yesterday morning. The instructor, Captain Tai Way Ming, 29, and his student pilot, Lieutenant Goh Char Li, 22, both elected to safety.


OUB Centre Opened

Wednesday, 5th February 1986

The OUB Centre, built in 1986 by Kenzo Tange, is one of the tallest buildings in Singapore. Measuring 280 m high, the building is made up of a 64-storey tower fixed atop a 6-storey podium, the latter housing a shopping centre and a bank. A 6-storey wing opposite the podium gives a balanced appearance to the structure. Though square in structure, the building seems to cut into two triangular structure with one structure measuring 13 storeys higher than the other.


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