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MacDonald House

Commercial buildings completed in 1949Commons link is defined as the pagenameEngvarB from June 2017HSBC buildings and structuresMuseum Planning Area
National monuments of SingaporeOrchard Road
MacDonald House, Jan 06
MacDonald House, Jan 06

The MacDonald House is a historic building and monument in Singapore, located at Orchard Road in the Museum Planning Area, within the Central Area. It was the first building to be fully air-conditioned in Southeast Asia. Located a short distance from the Istana, it was the last remaining office building in facing brick in the central area. Initially built for a bank, it continues to function as a banking hall (albeit for a different bank) today, although it is better known as the site of a bombing attack in 1965 at the height of Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article MacDonald House (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

MacDonald House
Orchard Road, Singapore Museum

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Wikipedia: MacDonald HouseContinue reading on Wikipedia

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N 1.2992 ° E 103.8461 °
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MacDonald House

Orchard Road 40A
238838 Singapore, Museum
Singapore
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MacDonald House, Jan 06
MacDonald House, Jan 06
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MacDonald House bombing
MacDonald House bombing

The MacDonald House bombing was a terrorist attack on the MacDonald House building in Orchard Road, Singapore. Occurring just a few months before Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia, the nitroglycerin bomb was planted by Indonesian saboteurs during the period of heightened Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, also known as the Konfrontasi. The explosion killed three people and injured at least 33 others. At the time, the building was used by HSBC.During this period, Indonesia openly opposed the formation of Malaysia, perceiving in its view that it was merely a neo-colonial state, especially for the British. Indonesian saboteurs mounted a campaign of terror in Singapore, then a major state and city within Malaysia. There were a total of 37 bombings from 1963 to 1966. They were trained to attack military installations and public utilities. However, when the saboteurs failed in their attempts to attack these installations that were heavily guarded, they set off bombs indiscriminately to create panic and disrupt life in Singapore as well as in Malaysia. By 1964, bomb explosions became frequent. To help the police and army defend Singapore from these attacks, a volunteer force was set up. More than 10,000 people signed up as volunteers. Community Centers served as bases for the volunteers to patrol their neighbourhoods. In schools, students underwent bomb drills. The government also warned Singaporeans not to handle any suspicious-looking parcels in the buildings or along streets. Despite the efforts of the British, small groups of saboteurs managed to infiltrate the island and plant bombs. By March 1965, a total of 29 bombs had been set off in Singapore.