1968 in Singapore explained

The following lists events that happened during 1968 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President

Yusof Ishak

• Prime Minister

Lee Kuan Yew

Events

January

• 17 January – Britain announces its intention to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore by 1971.^[1]
• 30 January – The Ellenborough Market is destroyed in a fire, causing S$253,000 in damages and affecting about 1000 hawkers and stall-holders. The market is demolished a few years later.^[2]

April

• 13 April – The PAP wins the 1968 General Election.

May

• 1 May – The Hindu Endowments Board is formed.^[3]
• 23 May – Singapore Pools is formed as a state-owned lottery firm to combat triads and illegal syndicates.^[4]

June

• 1 June – Jurong Town Corporation is formed to develop Singapore's industries, taking over this role from the Economic Development Board.^[5]
• 7 June – Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) is established as a think-tank to research on trends and politics in Southeast Asia and beyond.

July

• 1 July – The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (known as MUIS) is established.^[6]

September

• 1 September -
  • The Development Bank of Singapore (now DBS) commences operations.^[7]
  • Keppel Shipyard is established to take over PSA's ship-repair and shipbuilding services.^[8]
  • The Singapore Air Defence Command is formed.
• 17 September – The first A&W store opens at MSA Building, making it Singapore's first fast food restaurant. This went on until 2003, when A&W decided to leave Singapore.^[9] It made a return in 2019 to Jewel Changi Airport.

October

• 1 October – The Keep Singapore Clean campaign is launched.^[10]
• 17 October – The two marines were hanged for their roles in the MacDonald House bombing.

November

• 5 November – Intraco Ltd is formed to promote Singapore goods overseas.^[11]

December

• 17 December – Sembawang Shipyard was handed back to Singapore.^[12]
• 30 December – Neptune Orient Lines is formed as Singapore's national shipping line.^[13]

Births

• 10 January – Zoe Tay, actress.
• 8 July – Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information.
• 8 August – Ng Chee Meng, Former Minister in Prime Minister's Office.
• 10 August – Kumar, comedian.^[14]
• 16 October – Mark Lee, comedian.
• Lau Siew Mei, writer.^[15]

Deaths

• 27 October – Sir George Oehlers, 1st Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore from 1955 to 1963 (b. 1908).

Unknown date

• A. J. Braga, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament of Katong (b. 1900).

Notes and References

1. Web site: All out by 1971. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 2019-08-23.
2. Web site: Ellenborough Market . NLB . 23 August 2019.
3. Web site: Hindu Endowments Board lends a helping hand. Tabla!. 24 July 2019. 24 April 2015.
4. Web site: Awards & Milestones. Singapore Pools. 22 July 2019.
5. Web site: Jurong Town Corporation is established. NLB. 22 July 2019.
6. Web site: Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura. NLB. 24 July 2019.
7. Web site: Establishment of the Development Bank of Singapore. NLB. 22 July 2019.
8. Web site: Keppel Shipyard is incorporated. NLB. 22 July 2019.
9. Web site: Online project highlights key days of our lives . The New Paper . 7 August 2019 . 24 December 2015.
10. Web site: Keep Singapore Clean campaign. NLB. 22 July 2019.
11. Web site: Intraco Ltd. is incorporated. NLB. 13 August 2019.
12. Web site: Ceremony for Transfer of HM Dockyard Singapore to Singapore Government. NAS. 22 July 2019.
13. Web site: Neptune Orient Lines is incorporated. NLB. 13 August 2019.
14. Web site: Kumar . NLB . 29 October 2019.
15. Web site: Lau Siew Mei . NLB . 29 October 2019.