← 1964 1963 1962 1965 in Singapore → 1966 1967 1968
Decades:	1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
See also:	Other events of 1965 Timeline of Singaporean history

The following lists events that happened during 1965 in Singapore.

• Singapore was a part of the Federation of Malaysia until 9 August 1965.

Incumbents

• President: Yusof Ishak (starting 9 August)
• Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew (starting 9 August)

Events

January

• 6 January – The Orchard Theatre (present-day Cathay Cineleisure Orchard) was opened.^[1]

March

• 10 March – Indonesian saboteurs carry out the MacDonald House bombing, killing 3 people.^[2]

May

• 9 May – Lee Kuan Yew begins campaigning for a Malaysian Malaysia. It began with the formation of the Malaysian Solidarity Convention.^[3][4]

July

• 10 July – A by-election was held in Hong Lim after Ong Eng Guan of the United People's Party resigned. After the vote, Lee Khoon Choy from the People's Action Party was elected into Hong Lim constituency, defeating Ong Chang Sam of the Barisan Sosialis.^[5]

August

• 9 August –
  • The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia.^[6]
  • On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established, as well as the Ministry of Interior and Defence.^[7]
  • TV Singapura merges with Radio Singapura to form Radio and Television Singapore (RTS).^[8]

September

• 21 September – Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member.^[9]

October

• 15 October –
  • Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the Commonwealth.^[10]
  • The Singapore Conference Hall is officially opened.^[11]

November

• 27 November – Singapore's first underground carpark is officially opened in Raffles Place, with a public garden built on top.^[12]

December

• 8 December – The first sitting of Parliament commenced. However, MPs from Barisan Sosialis boycotted the first session.^[13][14]
• 14–21 December – Singapore took part in the 3rd South East Asian Peninsular Games. It clinched the third place, accumulating a total of 76 medals.
• 22 December – Constitutional Amendment Act is passed and Yusof bin Ishak becomes the first President of Singapore.^[15]
• 23 December – The Singapore Army Act is passed, leading to the formation of the Singapore Army.^[16]
• 30 December – The People's Defence Force Act was passed, leading to the formation of the People's Defence Force. This was done to build up the Singapore Army before the introduction of National Service.^[17]

Births

• 12 January – Rayson Tan – Actor.
• 24 March –
  • Gurmit Singh – Actor.
  • Yee Jenn Jong – Politician.
• 27 March – Eric Khoo – Filmmaker.^[18]
• 28 March – Sylvia Lim – Politician.
• 19 July – Maliki Osman – Politician.
• 22 August – Chen Liping – Actress.
• 10 October – Chen Xiuhuan – Actress.
• 22 October – Ang Hin Kee – Former politician.
• Boey Kim Cheng – Poet.^[19]
• Elim Chew – Founder of 77th Street.^[20]
• Felix Cheong – Poet.^[21]
• Lily Kong - Academic.^[22]
• Haresh Sharma – Resident playwright of The Necessary Stage.^[23]
• Joash Moo – Novelist, poet, illustrator.^[24]
• Yang Libing – Actress.