The SID shared a similar background to its domestic counterpart , the Internal Security Department ( ISD ) . In the aftermath of 1915 Singapore Mutiny , to collect the political intelligence , espionage , and the surveillance of potential subversives , a political intelligence bureau was established in Singapore under direct command and control of Major General Dudley Howard Ridout , General-Officer-Commanding ( GOC ) Singapore , which eventually became the Criminal Intelligence Department ( Special Branch ) in 1919 . Before 1965 , Singapore 's primary intelligence agency was the Malaysian Special Branch . After Singapore gained independence in 1965 , the Ministry of Interior and Defence was directed to reorganise and consolidate all intelligence capabilities in January 1966 . The SID was subsequently established in February 1966 , with Tay Seow Huah as its first Director . In 1974 , S. R. Nathan , who was then the SID Director , led a negotiation team to help resolve the Laju hostage crisis
Laju hostage crisis
Laju incident
Security and Intelligence Division