Political History of Singapore 1965–1985
About Project
This collection aims to document the experiences in post-independence Singapore and the building of a new nation.
Key events covered include Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, the introduction of tripartism, the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967, the 1969 racial riots, and Singapore’s first post-independence recession in 1985. This period also saw the People’s Action Party (PAP) maintaining a 15-year monopoly in Parliament from 1966 to 1981.
Interviewees include R. Sinnakaruppan, a Member of Parliament for Kampong Glam GRC (Moulmein) from 1991 to 1996, Dr Maurice Baker, who was one of Singapore’s first-generation diplomats, and Lawrence Sia, who was the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and a PAP Member of Parliament for Moulmein from 1968 to 1991.
