Our heritage & history
Follow SID's story, from its founding days to the organisation it is today.
Last updated 13 August 2026
SID was founded when Singapore was only a year old. In a region still finding its footing, a small nation needed to understand the world around it — clearly, quietly and swiftly. Six decades on, that founding purpose remains unchanged.
1966
The unit was named the Security and Intelligence Division, born from the recognition that a newly independent Singapore needed its own eyes on the world.
1970
As Singapore created separate ministries for home and defence matters, SID moved under the new Ministry of Defence. Its mandate sharpened: external threats, exclusively.
1974
SID's early years were tested quickly. Then-Director S R Nathan played a key role in the Singapore government's successful rescue operations during the Laju incident, in which terrorists hijacked the ferryboat Laju and took its civilian crew hostage.
1980s
SID grew by doing. Without established systems or precedent, its pioneer officers built the organisation through instinct, rigour, and mission-first resolve.
The thing about being a pioneer was that you had no roadmap. You figured things out yourself and made decisions as best as you could. What we lacked in systems was made up for with a strong gung-ho spirit."— Personal reflections of SID officers
We had to be fiercely independent, creative and resolute in our work. Many of the initial ideas and concepts were expanded on, and like a domino effect, led to new breakthroughs as we brought in more talent. It was especially rewarding as the outcomes brought value to SID and more importantly, to Singapore."— Personal reflections of SID officers
It was more than a career. It was a mission. Throughout my 21 years in SID, I never lost sight of the fact that my colleagues and I had a vital contribution to make to Singapore's security and strategic interests."— Personal reflections of SID officers
2000s
The threat landscape shifted sharply after 9/11. SID stepped up, working alongside Singapore's security agencies to arrest Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists who had fled Singapore in the early 2000s, and helping to establish the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2004.
2010s
As threats grew more sophisticated, so did SID.
Officers operated across a wider intelligence landscape — working faster, covering more ground, and building the cross-agency and international partnerships that modern security demands.
In 2016, SID supported efforts to disrupt a terror group's plot to launch an attack on the Marina Bay Sands building, one of many operations that never made the news, but kept Singapore safe.
As pioneer threat analysts, we were empowered to be agents of change. We were moving faster and covering more ground to be many steps ahead. My bosses went the extra mile to support us and I learned the value of approaching an issue from multiple perspectives."— Personal reflections of SID officers
I felt a deep sense of satisfaction in achieving mission success — providing early warning on threats so that they could be countered. Working with Singapore agencies and foreign partners provided me diverse opportunities and exposure for professional growth."— Personal reflections of SID officers
Present
The threats have changed. The tools have evolved. The mission remains unchanged.
As long as there is Singapore, there will always be the need for an external intelligence organisation such as SID. It retains the fundamental role of being the first line of defence for Singapore's security."— Mr Eddie Teo, former Director, SID
