Pic: MyPaper
A bomb exploded in the MacDonald House building situated along Orchard Road on 10 March 1965 at 3.07 pm.
The explosion claimed the lives of three people and injured at least 33 others. The bombing had been carried out as part of Indonesian’s Confrontation (also known as Konfrontasi) with Malaysia (which at the time included Singapore).
The explosion claimed the lives of three people and injured at least 33 others. The bombing had been carried out as part of Indonesian’s Confrontation (also known as Konfrontasi) with Malaysia (which at the time included Singapore).
Their executions led to a souring of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Indonesia as the two men were regarded as war heroes by their countrymen. Singapore’s then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew sought to bring closure to the issue during his official trip to Jakarta in May 1973 when he sprinkled flowers on the graves of the two men.
The bomb blast
Indonesian marine commandos Osman bin Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun bin Said arrived in Singapore on 10 March 1965 at about 11.00 am.
Disguised as civilians, they proceeded to the MacDonald House building and each planted a bundle of explosives on the steps of the mezzanine floor near the lift area. After lighting up the fuse, they left the building at around 3.00 pm and boarded a bus.
An eyewitness testified that he saw a Malayan Airways canvas travelling bag on the mezzanine floor that was producing a hissing noise with smoke coming out of it.
The bomb exploded at 3.07 pm, ripping off a lift door while the inner walls of the mezzanine floor took the full force of the blast. Windows within a hundred yards were shattered and the explosion damaged almost every car parked outside the building. The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank housed within the building had closed for business only seven minutes earlier and 150 employees were closing their accounts when the explosion occurred.
The bomb exploded at 3.07 pm, ripping off a lift door while the inner walls of the mezzanine floor took the full force of the blast. Windows within a hundred yards were shattered and the explosion damaged almost every car parked outside the building. The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank housed within the building had closed for business only seven minutes earlier and 150 employees were closing their accounts when the explosion occurred.
Witnesses recounted a sudden flash followed by a bang. The explosion was powerful enough to destroy the pillars of the building and exposed the steel reinforcements within them. Later examination of the building showed that 20 to 25 lb (9 to 11 kg) of nitroglycerine explosives were used for the bomb.
Casualties, damages and aftermath
Two bank employees were killed immediately by the explosion: 36-year-old private secretary Elizabeth (Suzie) Choo and 23-year-old assistant secretary Juliet Goh. A third victim, 45-year-old Mohammed Yasin bin Kesit, a driver for the Malaya Borneo Building society, died a few days later after being in a coma following the explosion. Around 33 other people were injured in the blast with some warded at the General Hospital while others were given outpatient treatment.
Besides the surrounding mezzanine floor area, the explosion also caused damage to the offices of the Australian High Commission located within the building. The blast also created widespread damage to the car showrooms located in the surrounding area owned by car dealers Cycle and Carriage and Wearne Brothers.
At 3.30 pm, the reserve unit arrived and traffic police diverted traffic along Penang Road and Tank Road. Soon after, the British Army's bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene. Staff from the health department also arrived to clear the shattered glass pieces from the road.
Casualties, damages and aftermath
Two bank employees were killed immediately by the explosion: 36-year-old private secretary Elizabeth (Suzie) Choo and 23-year-old assistant secretary Juliet Goh. A third victim, 45-year-old Mohammed Yasin bin Kesit, a driver for the Malaya Borneo Building society, died a few days later after being in a coma following the explosion. Around 33 other people were injured in the blast with some warded at the General Hospital while others were given outpatient treatment.
Besides the surrounding mezzanine floor area, the explosion also caused damage to the offices of the Australian High Commission located within the building. The blast also created widespread damage to the car showrooms located in the surrounding area owned by car dealers Cycle and Carriage and Wearne Brothers.
At 3.30 pm, the reserve unit arrived and traffic police diverted traffic along Penang Road and Tank Road. Soon after, the British Army's bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene. Staff from the health department also arrived to clear the shattered glass pieces from the road.
At 6.15 pm, then Minister for Health Yong Nyuk Lin visited the warded casualties at the hospital. Later that evening, then Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye condemned the attack as a "senseless act of cruelty".
Konfrontasi Memorial located appropriately near MacDonald House
Pic by Min. Ng Eng Hen, Facebook
Arrest and execution of the two saboteurs
Three days after the explosion, the two Indonesian marine commandos responsible for the MacDonald House bombing were caught while trying to escape from Singapore by sea.
Three days after the explosion, the two Indonesian marine commandos responsible for the MacDonald House bombing were caught while trying to escape from Singapore by sea.
They were rescued at sea by a bumboat man who saw them clinging to a plank. At that time, they were not wearing military uniforms and had no identification papers.
They were later taken on board a marine police boat and subsequently interrogated by the police before being charged with murder for their role in the MacDonald House bombing.
On 20 October 1965, Harun bin Said and Osman bin Haji Mohamed Ali were convicted by the High Court of Singapore for the murder of three civilians resulting from the MacDonald House bombing and sentenced to death.
On 20 October 1965, Harun bin Said and Osman bin Haji Mohamed Ali were convicted by the High Court of Singapore for the murder of three civilians resulting from the MacDonald House bombing and sentenced to death.
Their appeals to the Federal Court of Malaysia were dismissed on 5 October 1966.17 Both men were hanged on 17 October 1968.
Reactions in Indonesia
In Jakarta, the execution of the two Indonesian marine commandos caused a lot of public anger. A band of 400 students sacked the Singapore embassy in Indonesia and the residences of Singapore diplomats. They were upset as they felt that the two men were only carrying out the orders of the government of former President Sukarno.
Reactions in Indonesia
In Jakarta, the execution of the two Indonesian marine commandos caused a lot of public anger. A band of 400 students sacked the Singapore embassy in Indonesia and the residences of Singapore diplomats. They were upset as they felt that the two men were only carrying out the orders of the government of former President Sukarno.
The students were reported to have used bamboo staves and smashed furniture and windows. They also ripped down Singapore national flags and national emblems. The attackers took less than an hour and they later went to the security headquarters building in Jakarta where the bodies of the two men were lying in state. Hundreds of thousands of Indonesians subsequently lined the streets for the funeral process of the two men, who were buried with full honours at the National Heroes cemetery.
Controversy over naming of ship
In February 2014, the Singapore Government expressed its deep concern over Indonesia’s announcement that a navy frigate would be named in honour of Osman and Harun for their role in the MacDonald House bombing.
Controversy over naming of ship
In February 2014, the Singapore Government expressed its deep concern over Indonesia’s announcement that a navy frigate would be named in honour of Osman and Harun for their role in the MacDonald House bombing.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa later stressed that Indonesia had meant “no ill intent or malice” when it decided to name the frigate after the two marines. Indonesia, however, went ahead with its naming of the frigate after the two bombers.
Singapore Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen responded by announcing in parliament that the frigate would not be allowed to call at its ports and naval bases nor sail alongside or take part in training exercises with ships from the Singapore Armed Forces.
Indonesia’s General Moeldoko subsequently apologised for the naming decision. Ng welcomed the move and said that the Singapore Armed Forces would reciprocate by resuming bilateral ties with the Indonesian Armed Forces.
This post is an extract from the National Library Board Singapore article. For the full article and associated references, please see here.
Indonesia’s General Moeldoko subsequently apologised for the naming decision. Ng welcomed the move and said that the Singapore Armed Forces would reciprocate by resuming bilateral ties with the Indonesian Armed Forces.
This post is an extract from the National Library Board Singapore article. For the full article and associated references, please see here.
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