GOVERNMENT & SOCIETY SINGAPORE BOOK OF RECORDS


First Local Police Commissioner


The fi rst local Commissioner of Police ap- pointed in 1963 was John Le Cain. The Eurasian was one of four Asian offi cers to be promoted to Assistant Superintendent after World War II.


First Women Police Offi cers


The fi rst female police offi cers were ten women who joined the Singapore Police Force in 1949. One of these women, Mary Quintal nee Woon was made Inspector in 1951 and promoted to be the fi rst Offi cer Commanding Women Police in 1969. She retired in 1974.


First Full-Time Female Aide To The President


In 2006, Major Poh Li San became the fi rst woman to be appointed full-time aide-de-camp to the President. Poh was the former fl ight commander of a helicopter squadron in the Air Force. An aide-de-camp aids the President in protocol and ceremonial matters, including escorting visiting heads of state.


Worst Flood


On 2 Dec 1978, Singapore had its heaviest rainfall. During the 24-hr period, the highest ever measurement of rainfall was recorded at 512.4 mm by the Singapore Meteorological Service station at Paya Lebar. It was also the time when Singapore conducted its biggest fl ood rescue and evacuation operation. The worst hit areas were Potong Pasir, Braddell Road and Paya Lebar.


Worst Building Disaster


When six-storey Lian Yak Building, which housed Hotel New World, collapsed suddenly on 15 Mar 1986, 50 people were trapped beneath the rubble. 17 were later rescued and 33 died. Built in 1971, the building was situated at the junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road.


Biggest Fire


The biggest fi re in Singapore broke out on 25 May 1961 at Bukit Ho Swee, in which 25 ha were destroyed including two oil mills, three timber yards and three motor workshops, leav- ing four people dead and 3,000 homeless. 22 fi re engines were called out to fi ght the blaze.


Biggest Fire In A Single Building


In Nov 1972, fi re broke out at the Robinsons department store at Raffl es Place. Nine people died and losses amounted to around S$21 million.


First Fire Engine


The fi rst fi re engine that arrived in Singapore in 1884 was a horse-drawn steam fi re engine, which could raise pressure quickly and produce powerful jets of water.


First Fire Chiefs


The fi rst professional fi re fi ghter in Singapore was Montague Pett from England. He is credited with modernising the Singapore Fire Brigade in the 1930s and is remembered as the Father of the Singapore Fire Brigade. Lee Yong Kwang was Singapore’s fi rst local fi re station offi cer in 1913.


Most Fire Breakouts Occurring At A Place


The Gay World Amusement Park built in 1936 as Happy World, was ravaged by fi re in 1962 (twice), 1972, 1976 and 1977. It was closed in 2000.


Longest Fire


On 25 Oct 1988, fi re broke out at the Pulau Merlimau oil refi nery, lasting for more than 113 hours. Three storage tanks went up in fl ames, causing losses of more than S$10 million.


First Fire Force


In Apr 1869, the fi rst formal Volunteer Fire Brigade in Singapore was formed. Volunteer fi re-fi ghters were notifi ed of fi res by the fi ring of the artillery guns on Fort Canning. The fi rst fi re engines were attached to horse-drawn carriages equipped with hand-operated pumps.


First Auxiliary Fire Service


The fi rst Auxiliary Fire Service was formed on 30 Mar 1939 with over 200 volunteers, includ- ing the offi cers and fi remen recruited.


First Secret Societies


The Ghee Hin and Ghee Hok were the fi rst two secret societies operating in Singapore in the 1820s. Established in Penang in 1819, the Ghee Hin was a Hokkien-dominated society, while the Ghee Hok included branches from other dialect groups.


First Strike


The fi rst major strike began on 8 Jan 1897, when rickshaw pullers objected to govern- ment attempts to regulate the rickshaw trade through the Rickshaw Ordinance. Four days later, the government instructed the rickshaw pullers to go back to work.


First Aircraft Hijacking


Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked on 26 Mar 1991, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. SAF Commandos stormed the Airbus at 6.50 am on 27 Mar. The operation was over in 30 sec and 123 passengers and crew were freed. All four Pakistani terrorists were killed by gunfi re.


First Fire Stations PAGE 122


Three fi re stations were built in 1888 at Cross Street, Hill Street and Beach Road, but they were insuffi ciently equipped to deal with major fi res. To solve this, the new Central Fire Station at Hill Street was built in 1909. Its distinctive red bricks were imported from England. It also became the headquarters of the Fire Brigade.


Worst Riots


On 21 Jul 1964, riots among the Malays and Chinese that occurred between Kallang and Geylang Serai, left 23 people dead and 450 injured. 2,500 people were arrested, including 600 secret society members. 256 people were arrested for possession of dangerous weapons. A curfew was declared to restore order, but the killings continued until the next day and was only lifted for short periods for people to buy food and completely lifted on 2 Aug, 11 days after the start of the riots. There was also signifi cant damage to properties and vehicles.


First Hijacking By Terrorists


On 31 Jan 1974, terrorists from the Japanese Red Army bombed petroleum tanks at Pulau Bukom, hijacked the ferry boat Laju and took some crew member as hostages. The terrorists demanded the release of their jailed comrades in other countries.


Worst Bombing By Terrorists


The worst bombing committed by terrorists occurred on 10 Mar 1965 at the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank building (now known as MacDonald House) along Orchard Road. A time bomb was planted by Indonesian saboteurs, which killed three people and injured at least 33. Two Indonesian Commandos, Harun Said and Osman Hj Mohd Ali, who were members of the Korps Komando Angkatan Laut (Indonesian Marineers) were later convicted and executed. The event occurred during the turbulent Konfrontasi period.


Highest Fine Charged To An Individual


Lean Cheong Keng, 36, a bookie who raked in S$4.65 million in soccer bets over one year has been fi ned S$1 million in Sep 2002. This is believed to be the highest fi ne handed out to an individual. Lean was also jailed for four years.


First Motorised Fire Engine


The fi rst steam fi re engine introduced in Singapore was the Fire King, which arrived in Singapore in May 1906. This replaced the hand-operated pumps. The Fire King was made by England’s leading fi re engine manufacturer Merryweather. In 1927, petrol-driven engines replaced steam engines.


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