1961 in Singapore

none March 2020 September 2020 1961 The following lists events that happened during 1961 in Singapore. Table 1961 1962 1963 Births 59930 58977 59530 Deaths 10027 10178 10138 Source:http://www.singstat.gov.sg/statistics/visualising-data/charts/number-of-births-and-deaths Number of Births and Deaths Department of Statistics Singapore 19 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160506220731/http://www.singstat.gov.sg/statistics/visualising-data/charts/number-of-births-and-deaths 6 May 2016 dead Incumbents Yang di-Pertuan Negara – Yusof Ishak Prime Minister – Lee Kuan Yew Events February 20 February – The Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKNS) is formed as a branch of UMNO. It later split following independence.Singapore Malay National Organisation is formed http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/183c4002-a13d-4e58-9219-1a7bccd0ac41 NLB 14 August 2019 April 29 April – A by-election is held in Hong Lim after Ong Eng Guan resigned from his seat following expulsion from the People's Action Party (PAP). As two other candidates were disqualified, it is a contest between Ong and PAP's Jek Yuen Thong, which Ong regained his seat.April 1961 Legislative Assembly By-election http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/5208f9c7-9bc0-4463-8eba-45c30a5760f2 NLB 14 August 2019 May 24 May – The Women's Charter is passed, guaranteeing women's rights and equality in families. The Charter started on 15 September. 25 May – The Bukit Ho Swee Fire kills 4 people and destroys 2,200 attap houses.Bukit Ho Swee fire occurs http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/a67e0450-c429-49b2-b87c-fb1a26105f4b NLB 14 August 2019 27 May – Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya, proposes a merger between Singapore, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei (which pulled out last minute due to the Brunei Revolt).Tunku announces proposal for merger http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/42fcc50a-50aa-4ae3-a18c-823094b60be6 NLB 14 August 2019Brunei Revolt breaks out http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/521bbca2-d44c-47bc-ba06-c3e1763e5a10 NLB 14 August 2019 July 15 July – A by-election is held after assemblyman Baharuddin bin Ariff died a few months earlier. The People's Action Party lost this by-election; the second in a row, with David Marshall from the Workers' Party winning the Anson seat.July 1961 Legislative Assembly By-election http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/e912c9b0-5b34-4f71-ac8b-78874ebdcca2#1 NLB 14 August 2019 25 July – The Singapore Trade Union Congress (STUC) splits, caused by an ideological split in the People's Action Party.National Trades Union Congress http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2015-03-11_160912.html NLB 23 July 2019National Trades Union Congress is formed http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/def653e3-0756-460c-a8e7-05fcebde6634 NLB 14 August 2019 26 July – Shell opens Singapore's first oil refinery at Pulau Bukom.Shell opens Singapore's first oil refinery at Pulau Bukom http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/37c6a7dd-c7de-4378-819e-e2407839f8d5 NLB 14 August 2019 August 1 August – The Economic Development Board is formed to create opportunities for Singapore businesses.Economic Development Board http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2018-01-08_135544.html NLB 23 July 2019 12 August – The National Iron and Steel Mills (present-day NatSteel) is formed to develop Singapore's steel industry.National Iron and Steel Mills is formed http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/d0446093-fec5-4eed-84d3-6d18c62d663f NLB 14 August 2019National Iron and Steel Mills (NatSteel) http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2018-11-20_105235.html NLB 14 August 2019 13 August – Barisan Sosialis is registered as an opposition party, which dissolved and merged with the Workers' Party in 1988.Barisan Sosialis is registered http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/be7d138c-56fc-4957-a949-3143d52d6220 NLB 14 August 2019 16 August – The Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU) is formed after STUC's split earlier in July. The union is declared illegal in 1963 after conducting activities that threatened Singapore's national security.Singapore Association of Trade Unions http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1237_2008-11-30.html NLB 15 August 2019SATU—the TUC successor http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610817-1.2.127 The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) 15 August 2019 16 August 1961 September 6 September – The National Trades Union Congress is formed to represent workers.National Trades Union Congress http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2015-03-11_160912.html NLB 23 July 2019National Trades Union Congress is formed http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/def653e3-0756-460c-a8e7-05fcebde6634 NLB 14 August 2019 13 September – 9 October – Lee Kuan Yew delivered a series of 12 radio talks in English, Mandarin and Malay to campaign for a merger with Malaysia. This also includes exposing the Communists' real ideology and reason for opposing the merger.Lee Kuan Yew delivers radio talks in the battle for merger http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/f661e5e1-d5fa-4588-9360-e35fa457e98d NLB 14 August 2019 16–17 September – The first Singapore Grand Prix is held at Thomson Road.First Singapore Grand Prix is held at Thomson Road circuit http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/19610850-ad7f-48b0-8317-7a25f62b1599 NLB 14 August 2019 October 15 October – The Sang Nila Utama Secondary School is officially opened, making it Singapore's first Malay-medium secondary school. By 1968, it started to offer English-medium lessons.Official opening of Sang Nila Utama Secondary School http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/4bf07e40-41c4-48fd-964b-62404adc14b5#5 NLB 14 August 2019 November 16 November – A White Paper on the proposed merger with Malaya is published. It outlines similar citizenships, passports and rights for Singapore citizens when in Federation, at least 15 seats in the Federal House of Representatives and two in the Senate, maintaining of Singapore's free port status, how the Head of State will be appointed, among others.SINGAPORE 15 SEATS https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19611117-1.2.2 The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) 5 December 2021 17 November 1961 December 11–16 December – Singapore took part in the 2nd South East Asian Peninsular Games. It clinched the fifth place, accumulating a total of 28 medals. Date unknown The State Development Plan 1961–1964 is published. It aims to improve conditions in Singapore, during a time of high unemployment.State Development Plan 1961–1964 is issued http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/df20e505-af12-4ebb-8133-bce96c2e1e1f NLB 14 August 2019 Queenstown New Town is being built and expanded to cater for a growing population. This comes after slow progress under the previous Singapore Improvement Trust.Queenstown housing estate is built and expanded http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/a0e0e13f-c2d2-448f-be0f-a04ea458b935#16 NLB 14 August 2019 Births 23 January – Mas Selamat Kastari – Known for 2008 escape.Mas Selamat bin Kastari http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1602_2009-10-31.html NLB 29 October 2019 25 January – Vivian Balakrishnan – Minister for Foreign Affairs. 4 February – Edmund Chen – Former actor. Married with Xiang Yun, also born in 1961. 6 February – Chen Show Mao – Former politician. 12 February – Chen Jin Lang – Former singer. (d. 2006) 19 May – David Ong – Former politician. 14 July – Heng Chee How – Politician. 16 August – Lui Tuck Yew – Former politician. 15 September – Xie Shaoguang – Actor. 27 October – Xiang Yun – Actress. Married with Edmund Chen. 1 November – Heng Swee Keat – Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore. Desmond Sim – Playwright, poet, writer, painter.Desmond Sim http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1333_2009-11-30.html NLB 12 November 2019 Isabella Loh – Chairperson of Singapore Environment Council.Loh Wai Kiew, Isabella http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_353_2005-01-25.html NLB 29 October 2019 Kelly Tang – Composer.Kelly Tang http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2014-03-06_161512.html NLB 29 October 2019 Ovidia Yu – Novelist, playwright.Ovidia Yu http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_432_2005-01-14.html NLB 29 October 2019 Deaths 30 January – Goh Hood Keng, first Straits Chinese to be ordained Methodist minister (b. 1888).Goh Hood Keng http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1586_2009-11-05.html NLB 12 November 2019 20 April – Baharuddin bin Ariff, PAP legislative assemblyman for Anson Constituency (b. 1933).Assemblyman for Anson dies at 28 http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610421-1.2.79 The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) 14 August 2019 21 April 1961 26 April – Lu Baiye, writer (b. 1923).被人遗忘的马华作家 鲁白野 https://www.zaobao.com.sg/lifestyle/culture/story20210421-1140981 www.zaobao.com.sg 2026-01-31 zh-Hans 12 August – Tan Kah Kee, businessman, philanthropist and Chinese community leader (b. 1874).Tan Kah Kee http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_839_2004-12-28.html NLB 7 August 2019 See also List of years in Singapore References 1961 Singapore Category:Years in Singapore