Sang Nila Utama Secondary School is officially opened, making it Singapore's first Malay-medium secondary school. By 1968, it started to offer English-medium lessons. November 16 November – A White Paper on the proposed merger with Malaya is published. It outlines similar citizenships, passports and rights for Singapore citizens when in Federation, at least 15 seats in the Federal House of Representatives and two in the Senate, maintaining of Singapore's free port status, how the Head of State will be appointed, among others. December 11–16 December – Singapore took part in the 2nd South East Asian Peninsular Games. It clinched the fifth place, accumulating a total of 28 medals. Date unknown The State Development Plan 1961–1964 is published. It aims to improve conditions in Singapore, during a time of high unemployment. Queenstown New Town is being built and expanded to cater for a growing population. This comes after slow progress under the previous Singapore Improvement Trust. Births 23 January – Mas Selamat Kastari – Known for 2008 escape. 25 January – Vivian Balakrishnan – Minister for Foreign Affairs. 4 February – Edmund Chen – Former actor. Married with Xiang Yun, also born in 1961. 6 February – Chen Show Mao – Former politician. 12 February – Chen Jin Lang – Former singer. (d. 2006) 19 May – David Ong – Former politician. 14 July – Heng Chee How – Politician. 16 August – Lui Tuck Yew – Former politician. 15 September – Xie Shaoguang – Actor. 27 October – Xiang Yun – Actress. Married with Edmund Chen. 1 November – Heng Swee Keat – Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore. Desmond Sim – Playwright, poet, writer, painter. Isabella Loh – Chairperson of Singapore Environment Council. Kelly Tang – Composer. Ovidia Yu – Novelist, playwright. Deaths 30 January – Goh Hood Keng – First Straits Chinese to be ordained Methodist minister (b. 1888). 21 April – Baharuddin bin Ariff, MP (b. 1933). 12 August – Tan Kah Kee, businessman, philanthropist (b. 1874). See also List of years in Singapore References Singapore Years in Singapore