1968 in Singapore
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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]