Year 1970

People

Singapore in UN

Tuesday, 21st September 1965

Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member.


Singapore separates from Malaysia

Monday, 9th August 1965

For Singapore, 9 August 1965 was no ceremonial occasion. The Malaysian Parliament votes, 2 days ago on 7 August 1965, to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia. One of the more poignant moments which many Singaporeans, this is the time Mr Lee Kuan Yew cried on Television during a meet the press session on the separation of Singapore from Malaysia. His speech included this quote: "For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories."


POSB Raised Saving Accounts Interest To 3%

Sunday, 1st August 1965

Singapore's Post Office Savings Bank raised the interest paid to depositor from 2.5% back to 3% a year.


Sunny Ang murdered Girl Friend

Tuesday, 18th May 1965

Singapore Grand Prix driver Sunny Ang was sentenced to death in the High Court for the murder at sea of bar girl Jenny Cheok Cheng Kid. The case was the first murder trial in local legal history in which a person was convicted solely on circumstantial evidence. Ang took Cheok scuba diving off Sisters Island. He told police Cheok's lifeline snapped; her body was never found. Ang had taken substantial insurance on Cheok three hours before the trip and he made his claims within 24 hours after her death.


Fourth Malaysia Grand Prix In Singapore

Monday, 12th April 1965

Only two overseas participant turned up for the race - Albert Poon and Steve Holland, both from Hong Kong. The race was won by Albert Poon in a Lotus 23 and Steve Holland came in second. Tony Goodwin took the third price in his Lola Formula Junior.


MacDonald House bombed

Wednesday, 10th March 1965

MacDonald House (formerly also known as Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building) bombing by Indonesian saboteurs killed 3 people, during the konfrontasi period (between Indonesia and Malaysia). Singapore became the target of multiple terror attack. Then Indonesian president Sukarno was openly opposed to the merging of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, and ordered armed attacks in East Malaysia, incited revolts in Brunei and carried out sabotage activities in West Malaysia and Singapore. Two HSBC Bank employees were killed and 33 injured.


September Race riot

Thursday, 3rd September 1964

A second race riot occurred just a month after the first - this time, a Malay trishaw-rider was found murdered at Geylang Serai and his attackers were believed to be a group of Chinese. The race riot ensued in the neighbourhoods of Geylang, Joo Chiat and Siglap, and another curfew was imposed. In this incident, 13 people lost their lives and 106 people were injured. Under the presence of troops and the imposing of curfews, these tensions eventually eased after a few days. 480 people were arrested. Both Malaysia and Singapore have attributed the September riots to Indonesian provocateurs. It was the Konfrontasi period and 30 Indonesian paratroopers had landed in Labis, Johor on 2 September.


Malay-Chinese Race Riot

Tuesday, 21st July 1964

Street violent left 21 persons deal and 460 injured. The day itself was suppose to be a peaceful day as was the anniversary of the prophet's birth. 25,000 Muslim had gather on the Padang to observe the day and the group began to move towards Geylang. Fighting started as the main body somewhere along Kallang Road between the Chinese and the Malays.  Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and several other foreign observers attributed the riots as the result of agitation by Syed Jaafar Albar and other elements of the ultra-nationalist faction in UMNO.


Third Malaysia Grand Prix In Singapore

Friday, 20th March 1964

The race saw the large number for foreign competitors, as it became an ideal stopover for racers between the Australian and European racing seasons. The race was held on a wet Easter Monday holiday with and extremely slippery race track. The race was cancelled after five laps when an accident that seriously injured J.W. Wright. It also wrecks his Jaguar E-Type and kill a course marshal.


HDB Announced Home Ownership Scheme

Wednesday, 12th February 1964

HDB, Housing & Development Board, announced a home ownership scheme which would allow every Singaporean to own a home in Singapore.


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