After the shock of two oil crises, the government begins a programme of economic restructuring: modifying education policies, expanding technology and computer education, offering financial incetives to industrial enterprises and launching a productivity campaign.
Singapore becomes the world's second busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage.
Launch of the Speak Mandarin Campaign.
Singapore Refining Company, the first joint processing refinery in Southeast Asia, is founded.
Oral history centre founded.
The four-digit postal code system is introduced, dividing Singapore into 81 postal districts. The previous two-digit postal code system, which divided Singapore into 28 postal districts, had been in place since 1950; six-digit postal codes would be introduced only in 1995.
“Ulysses by the Merlion” written by Edwin Thumboo.
Bengawan Solo founded.
Singa the Courtesy Campaign lion is created.
Singapore arts scene gets a boost with the formation of a professional orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra’s first piece at their inaugural concert was the National Anthem, led by then-resident conductor Choo Hoey.
March: Cultural Medallion is instituted.
October: McDonald's comes to Singapore, with opening at Liat Towers.
Swensen's comes to Singapore.
November 1979: the first Mandarin dubbed Hong Kong serial "Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre" is aired to great popular annoyance.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
1980
Singapore Democratic Party is founded by Chiam See Tong.
Moral Education is announced to be taught at an upper secondary level with Religious Knowledge, including Confucian studies as an option.
RTS is transformed into the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) through an Act of Parliament to provide it with greater autonomy and flexibility in personnel, financial and production matters. As the nation’s broadcaster, SBC introduces new TV formats and other breakthroughs, such as Chinese dramas, current affairs programmes and variety shows.
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) Schools launched, converting 9 Chinese secondary schools into bilingual institutions with special governmnet funding.
Catherine Lim publishes “Or Else, the Lightning God and Other Stories” (second short story collection).
Jessie Wee publishes the Mooty series.
URA and other government agencies prepare a comprehensive long-term plan for the Central Area. Chief among its proposals are the development of Marina City on 690 hectares of reclaimed land south of Singapore into an integrated hotel, shopping, office, residential and recreational development.
Fandi Ahmad scores the winning goal in the finals for the Malaysia Cup, where Singapore beats arch rivals Selangor 2-1.
“Saint Jack” is banned. It is eventually given a single late-night screening at the Singapore Film Festival, on grounds of its historical value, in 1997. The ban is lifted in 2006.
Kuo Pao Kun released from detention (incarcerated 1976)
Singapore’s most established university – it has its beginnings in 1823 when Sir Stamford Raffles proposed a research and education facility – is formed as National University of Singapore (NUS) from a merger between University of Singapore and Nanyang University. Then-president Benjamin Sheares was its first chancellor.
A Mandarin dubbing unit for dialect programmes is set up in Singapore, with the SBC flying in the Hong Kong husband-and-wife team Mao Wei and Wang Mei to dub serials and oversee the production of new programmes.
July: "The God of the Sabre", the first locally dubbed Hong Kong serial, is aired.
Moral Education is announced to be taught at an upper secondary level with Religious Knowledge, including Confucian studies as an option.
RTS is transformed into the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) through an Act of Parliament to provide it with greater autonomy and flexibility in personnel, financial and production matters. As the nation’s broadcaster, SBC introduces new TV formats and other breakthroughs, such as Chinese dramas, current affairs programmes and variety shows.
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) Schools launched, converting 9 Chinese secondary schools into bilingual institutions with special governmnet funding.
Catherine Lim publishes “Or Else, the Lightning God and Other Stories” (second short story collection).
Jessie Wee publishes the Mooty series.
URA and other government agencies prepare a comprehensive long-term plan for the Central Area. Chief among its proposals are the development of Marina City on 690 hectares of reclaimed land south of Singapore into an integrated hotel, shopping, office, residential and recreational development.
Fandi Ahmad scores the winning goal in the finals for the Malaysia Cup, where Singapore beats arch rivals Selangor 2-1.
“Saint Jack” is banned. It is eventually given a single late-night screening at the Singapore Film Festival, on grounds of its historical value, in 1997. The ban is lifted in 2006.
Kuo Pao Kun released from detention (incarcerated 1976)
Singapore’s most established university – it has its beginnings in 1823 when Sir Stamford Raffles proposed a research and education facility – is formed as National University of Singapore (NUS) from a merger between University of Singapore and Nanyang University. Then-president Benjamin Sheares was its first chancellor.
A Mandarin dubbing unit for dialect programmes is set up in Singapore, with the SBC flying in the Hong Kong husband-and-wife team Mao Wei and Wang Mei to dub serials and oversee the production of new programmes.
July: "The God of the Sabre", the first locally dubbed Hong Kong serial, is aired.
1981
Joshua B Jeyaratnam of the Workers Party wins the first opposition seat in government since 1966.
All dialect programmes are phased out on National Television.
The Vanda Miss Joaquim is selected as our National Flower.
Pizza Hut comes to Singapore (Jelita branch).
Singapore is out of the Malaysia Cup for the first time since 1921.
Dr Mahathir Mohamed takes power in Malaysia.
February 7: Adrian Lim arrested with his two wives. He is executed on Nov 25 1988.
May 12: Benjamin Sheares dies in office. (took office in 1972)
July: Creative Technology is founded by Sim Wong Hoo.
July 1: Changi Airport starts operations.
July 31: Henry Scully, a former national cricketer and a notorious conman who forged promissory notes to banks in the name of Lee Kuan Yew, is found dead of suicide from gas inhalation in his home with his wife and two sons.
October 24: Devan Nair becomes the 4th President.
The end of 1981 came half an hour earlier at 11.30pm, 31 December 1981, thanks to time-zone adjustments. When our neighbour decided that West Malaysia would change its time zone to match East Malaysia’s, which is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, Singapore followed suit in view of our close trade links.
All dialect programmes are phased out on National Television.
The Vanda Miss Joaquim is selected as our National Flower.
Pizza Hut comes to Singapore (Jelita branch).
Singapore is out of the Malaysia Cup for the first time since 1921.
Dr Mahathir Mohamed takes power in Malaysia.
February 7: Adrian Lim arrested with his two wives. He is executed on Nov 25 1988.
May 12: Benjamin Sheares dies in office. (took office in 1972)
July: Creative Technology is founded by Sim Wong Hoo.
July 1: Changi Airport starts operations.
July 31: Henry Scully, a former national cricketer and a notorious conman who forged promissory notes to banks in the name of Lee Kuan Yew, is found dead of suicide from gas inhalation in his home with his wife and two sons.
October 24: Devan Nair becomes the 4th President.
The end of 1981 came half an hour earlier at 11.30pm, 31 December 1981, thanks to time-zone adjustments. When our neighbour decided that West Malaysia would change its time zone to match East Malaysia’s, which is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, Singapore followed suit in view of our close trade links.
1982
8 Confucian scholars are invited to visit to assist in drawing up a conceptual framework for the syllabus of Confucian Ethics under Moral Education.
MEP is introduced.
SBC’s first locally produced drama, “Seletar Robbery”, a 50-minute police thriller, is telecast.
Ang Peng Siong breaks the world record for the 50 metre freestyle.
The UOB Painting of the Year competition is launched.
Courtesy campaign and Civil Defence Programme are launched.
Sentosa Monorail system built. Musical Fountain opens.
The Merlion Cup is held, Singapore's first international soccer event.
Catherine Lim's first novel, “The Serpent's Tooth” is published.
Paik Choo's "Eh, Goondu!" is published. It is the first text to display Singlish in a written form.
Tommy Koh contributes to the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Cosmopolitan magazine is banned for "promoting sexual permissiveness". (In 2004, the ban is lifted by the MDA, with the stipulation that the magazine must not contain exploitative sex or nudity, and must be shrink-wrapped with a label on its cover reading "unsuitable for children".)
Foreshadowing the ban of chewing gum in a decade’s time was a stern word from then foreign and culture minister, Mr S Dhanabalan. He said that HDB spent $75, 000 a year removing chewing gum wads from walls and floors in housing estates – presumably a preposterous sum for its purposes. That year, television commercials for chewing gums were banned.
January 1: Time changes to GMT+8
January 2: The metric system is officially introduced.
28 October: Malaysian-born doctor Wong Ming Yang, first wife of Lee Hsien Loong, dies of a heart attack three weeks after giving birth to their son, a mildly autistic albino. Rumours persist that this was a suicide.
MEP is introduced.
SBC’s first locally produced drama, “Seletar Robbery”, a 50-minute police thriller, is telecast.
Ang Peng Siong breaks the world record for the 50 metre freestyle.
The UOB Painting of the Year competition is launched.
Courtesy campaign and Civil Defence Programme are launched.
Sentosa Monorail system built. Musical Fountain opens.
The Merlion Cup is held, Singapore's first international soccer event.
Catherine Lim's first novel, “The Serpent's Tooth” is published.
Paik Choo's "Eh, Goondu!" is published. It is the first text to display Singlish in a written form.
Tommy Koh contributes to the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Cosmopolitan magazine is banned for "promoting sexual permissiveness". (In 2004, the ban is lifted by the MDA, with the stipulation that the magazine must not contain exploitative sex or nudity, and must be shrink-wrapped with a label on its cover reading "unsuitable for children".)
Foreshadowing the ban of chewing gum in a decade’s time was a stern word from then foreign and culture minister, Mr S Dhanabalan. He said that HDB spent $75, 000 a year removing chewing gum wads from walls and floors in housing estates – presumably a preposterous sum for its purposes. That year, television commercials for chewing gums were banned.
January 1: Time changes to GMT+8
January 2: The metric system is officially introduced.
28 October: Malaysian-born doctor Wong Ming Yang, first wife of Lee Hsien Loong, dies of a heart attack three weeks after giving birth to their son, a mildly autistic albino. Rumours persist that this was a suicide.
1983
1 January: Radio stations banned from using dialect.
29 January: The Singapore Cable Car disaster. A Pamnamian-registered oil rig strikes the cables between Sentosa and Jardine Steps, causing two cable cars two plunge into the sea, killing seven people. 13 people are left stranded for 3 1/2 hours as a joint SCDF/SAF operation, led by Col Lee Hsien Loong, rushes to save them.
The discriminatory policies encouraging childbirth in graduate women and discouraging childbirth in non-graduate women are introduced. These will be dropped following the 1984 elections.
Centrepoint Shopping Centre opens.
Dr Albert Winsemius retires. The Dutch industrialist and former leader of the UN technical assistance team to Singapore was instrumental in setting up JTC and SDB (Singapore Development Bank), offering incentives to attract potential investors.
“Niche”, an early gay bar catering to a younger crowd, opens.
The URA completes an urban design plan for the Central Area, resulting in an orderly transformation of the city skyline and the creation of an impressive environment interwoven with the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the older parts of the city.
Shootout at 4 Andrew Road: two robbers, the Singaporean Sek Kim Wah and the Malaysian Nyu Kok Meng, capture, rob and murder the businessman Robert Tay, his wife and his Filipina maid. Among their weapons is a rifle Sek has stolen from SAFTI, where he is posted as an NSF. Against his accomplice's orders, Nyu releases the family's daughter and Chinese tutor and voluntarily turns himself in. Sek is executed on December 9, 1988.
Fandi Ahmad moves to the Netherlands, where he plays for FC Groningen from 1983 to 1985 in the Dutch football league (Eredivisie). (He had qualified for Ajax Amsterdam in 1982, but decided to play for Niac Mitra in Indonesia, citing language and cultural differences.) Prior to his arrival, Groningen has qualified for European football for the first time, and Fandi helps them in a dramatic European debut season by scoring in a shock 2-0 second round, first-leg win over Italian giants Inter Milan. During the 1983-84 season, Fandi scores 10 times in 29 games. While in his second season at the club, Fandi makes 15 appearances, scoring 2 goals. Although he is offered a place again at Ajax Amsterdam, he chooses to return to Asia in 1986. (He has since said that he regretted not further plying his trade in Europe. Nottingham Forest made an informal enquiry about his availability in the late-1990s, but decided he was too old.)
Asia’s first successful in-vitro fertilisation baby, Samuel Lee, is born in Kedang Kerbau Hospital, five years after the world’s first test-tube baby was delivered in Manchester, England.
29 January: The Singapore Cable Car disaster. A Pamnamian-registered oil rig strikes the cables between Sentosa and Jardine Steps, causing two cable cars two plunge into the sea, killing seven people. 13 people are left stranded for 3 1/2 hours as a joint SCDF/SAF operation, led by Col Lee Hsien Loong, rushes to save them.
The discriminatory policies encouraging childbirth in graduate women and discouraging childbirth in non-graduate women are introduced. These will be dropped following the 1984 elections.
Centrepoint Shopping Centre opens.
Dr Albert Winsemius retires. The Dutch industrialist and former leader of the UN technical assistance team to Singapore was instrumental in setting up JTC and SDB (Singapore Development Bank), offering incentives to attract potential investors.
“Niche”, an early gay bar catering to a younger crowd, opens.
The URA completes an urban design plan for the Central Area, resulting in an orderly transformation of the city skyline and the creation of an impressive environment interwoven with the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the older parts of the city.
Shootout at 4 Andrew Road: two robbers, the Singaporean Sek Kim Wah and the Malaysian Nyu Kok Meng, capture, rob and murder the businessman Robert Tay, his wife and his Filipina maid. Among their weapons is a rifle Sek has stolen from SAFTI, where he is posted as an NSF. Against his accomplice's orders, Nyu releases the family's daughter and Chinese tutor and voluntarily turns himself in. Sek is executed on December 9, 1988.
Fandi Ahmad moves to the Netherlands, where he plays for FC Groningen from 1983 to 1985 in the Dutch football league (Eredivisie). (He had qualified for Ajax Amsterdam in 1982, but decided to play for Niac Mitra in Indonesia, citing language and cultural differences.) Prior to his arrival, Groningen has qualified for European football for the first time, and Fandi helps them in a dramatic European debut season by scoring in a shock 2-0 second round, first-leg win over Italian giants Inter Milan. During the 1983-84 season, Fandi scores 10 times in 29 games. While in his second season at the club, Fandi makes 15 appearances, scoring 2 goals. Although he is offered a place again at Ajax Amsterdam, he chooses to return to Asia in 1986. (He has since said that he regretted not further plying his trade in Europe. Nottingham Forest made an informal enquiry about his availability in the late-1990s, but decided he was too old.)
Asia’s first successful in-vitro fertilisation baby, Samuel Lee, is born in Kedang Kerbau Hospital, five years after the world’s first test-tube baby was delivered in Manchester, England.
1984
Anti-Spitting Campaign begins.
Sharity Elephant appears as a Community Chest mascot to promote charity drives among children.
JBJ is accused by the government of misusing Workers Party funds. JBJ is acquitted on three counts and fined $1,000 on a fourth. Seven months later, the judge is transferred out of the courts and the government appeals the case. See 1986.
“Stand up for Singapore”, the first National Day song is created to celebrate 25 years of self-governance in Singapore. Written by Canadian composer-producer Hugh Harrison, the song is such a hit with Singaporeans that more of such patriotic tunes are written, such as “Count on me Singapore” in 1986 and “We are Singapore” in 1987.
AEP is introduced.
Lift cameras are installed to deter urinating.
SBC launches its first local blockbuster drama, “Awakening”, bringing fame to early television idols like Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun. It also launches another channel, Channel 12, to supply documentaries and arts programmes at prime time, marking the inception of niche programming.
Gifted Education Programme implemented.
New age music star Kitaro is scheduled to play at a concert, but is refused entry at the airport unless he cuts his long hair. He refuses to do so and the concert is cancelled.
15 January: The National Theatre, opened in 1963, stages its last performance.
9 August: JBJ and Chiam See Tong win seats in the elections.
22 September: LKY says, “Singapore will not be emotionally accepted as our Mother Tongue”.
1-16 December: Singapore hosts the Asian Cup for the first time. Saudi Arabia wins 2-0 against China.
Sharity Elephant appears as a Community Chest mascot to promote charity drives among children.
JBJ is accused by the government of misusing Workers Party funds. JBJ is acquitted on three counts and fined $1,000 on a fourth. Seven months later, the judge is transferred out of the courts and the government appeals the case. See 1986.
“Stand up for Singapore”, the first National Day song is created to celebrate 25 years of self-governance in Singapore. Written by Canadian composer-producer Hugh Harrison, the song is such a hit with Singaporeans that more of such patriotic tunes are written, such as “Count on me Singapore” in 1986 and “We are Singapore” in 1987.
AEP is introduced.
Lift cameras are installed to deter urinating.
SBC launches its first local blockbuster drama, “Awakening”, bringing fame to early television idols like Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun. It also launches another channel, Channel 12, to supply documentaries and arts programmes at prime time, marking the inception of niche programming.
Gifted Education Programme implemented.
New age music star Kitaro is scheduled to play at a concert, but is refused entry at the airport unless he cuts his long hair. He refuses to do so and the concert is cancelled.
15 January: The National Theatre, opened in 1963, stages its last performance.
9 August: JBJ and Chiam See Tong win seats in the elections.
22 September: LKY says, “Singapore will not be emotionally accepted as our Mother Tongue”.
1-16 December: Singapore hosts the Asian Cup for the first time. Saudi Arabia wins 2-0 against China.
1985
A recession hits Singapore. The government cuts employer contributions to CPF by 60%.
Theatreworks is founded.
The government objects to articles in two magazines of Dow Jones & Co: The Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. This begins a vendetta of several years in which LKY engages in accusations of libel and criminal contempt.
Car park coupons introduced.
Merlion Week is introduced by the Tourist Promotion Board: week of celebrations, including dance and carnival events.
Lee Hsien Loong marries Ho Ching.
DPM Ong Ten Cheong in first begins to discuss the economic incentives to learn Mandarin in the Speak Mandarin Campaign.
Siah Heng Meng, former Rediffusion Teochew-language newscaster, manages to host his first Mandarin programme after two years learning the language. He eventually returns to reading the news in Teochew in the late 90s when the government relaxes its policy on dialect on radio.
The government finally gives an explanation for arresting Chia Thye Poh (former Barisan Socialis MP, 1963-66) after his involvement in a 1966 Vietnam War protest. The Minister of Home Affairs accuses Chia of having infiltrated the Barisan Socialis to destablilise the government through "Communist united-front activities".
Kuo Pao Kun submits proposal for the Substation arts space.
Tiger Balm Gardens is converted into the amusement park Haw Par Villa.
First local HIV infection reported.
“Fried Rice Paradise” album released.
NETS is introduced as the first mode of cashless payment by DBS, Keppel Bank, OCBC, OUB, POSB, Tat Lee Bank and UOB.
Peter Lim Keng Beng aka Ah Huat murders two people, including one police officer in the March “Chicken Eater” shooting and in December. His elusiveness and use of disguise breed rumours that he is a deadly master of muay thai and an arms dealer to Malaysia. He is also a fan of crime novels. He seeks refuge in a leper colony in 1986, and moves from location to location before finally being shot by the police before breakfast on May 3, 1988.
28 March: Devan Nair resigns under unclear circumstances: “Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated in Parliament that Nair resigned to get treatment for alcoholism, a charge Nair hotly denied. According to Nair's counterclaim, he resigned under pressure when their political views came into conflict and Lee threatened to seek a motion in parliament to oust him as president. Nair also alleged that he was fed drugs to make him appear disoriented, and rumours were spread about his personal life in an attempt to discredit him.”
30 August: Wee Kim Wee becomes President.
2 December: The Pan Electric Crisis. Pan Electric Industries fails to meet a $7.3 million loan repayment instalment, triggering panic among the financial community. When the market reopens on 5 December, the market index drops 82 points; the record single-day drop of the time. The majority shareholder Tan Koon Swan aka Tan Chin Koon is arrested some months later and arrested for criminal breach of trust, fined $500,000 and jailed for two years.
Theatreworks is founded.
The government objects to articles in two magazines of Dow Jones & Co: The Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. This begins a vendetta of several years in which LKY engages in accusations of libel and criminal contempt.
Car park coupons introduced.
Merlion Week is introduced by the Tourist Promotion Board: week of celebrations, including dance and carnival events.
Lee Hsien Loong marries Ho Ching.
DPM Ong Ten Cheong in first begins to discuss the economic incentives to learn Mandarin in the Speak Mandarin Campaign.
Siah Heng Meng, former Rediffusion Teochew-language newscaster, manages to host his first Mandarin programme after two years learning the language. He eventually returns to reading the news in Teochew in the late 90s when the government relaxes its policy on dialect on radio.
The government finally gives an explanation for arresting Chia Thye Poh (former Barisan Socialis MP, 1963-66) after his involvement in a 1966 Vietnam War protest. The Minister of Home Affairs accuses Chia of having infiltrated the Barisan Socialis to destablilise the government through "Communist united-front activities".
Kuo Pao Kun submits proposal for the Substation arts space.
Tiger Balm Gardens is converted into the amusement park Haw Par Villa.
First local HIV infection reported.
“Fried Rice Paradise” album released.
NETS is introduced as the first mode of cashless payment by DBS, Keppel Bank, OCBC, OUB, POSB, Tat Lee Bank and UOB.
Peter Lim Keng Beng aka Ah Huat murders two people, including one police officer in the March “Chicken Eater” shooting and in December. His elusiveness and use of disguise breed rumours that he is a deadly master of muay thai and an arms dealer to Malaysia. He is also a fan of crime novels. He seeks refuge in a leper colony in 1986, and moves from location to location before finally being shot by the police before breakfast on May 3, 1988.
28 March: Devan Nair resigns under unclear circumstances: “Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated in Parliament that Nair resigned to get treatment for alcoholism, a charge Nair hotly denied. According to Nair's counterclaim, he resigned under pressure when their political views came into conflict and Lee threatened to seek a motion in parliament to oust him as president. Nair also alleged that he was fed drugs to make him appear disoriented, and rumours were spread about his personal life in an attempt to discredit him.”
30 August: Wee Kim Wee becomes President.
2 December: The Pan Electric Crisis. Pan Electric Industries fails to meet a $7.3 million loan repayment instalment, triggering panic among the financial community. When the market reopens on 5 December, the market index drops 82 points; the record single-day drop of the time. The majority shareholder Tan Koon Swan aka Tan Chin Koon is arrested some months later and arrested for criminal breach of trust, fined $500,000 and jailed for two years.
1986
Singapore last strike occurs when an American-owned company rejects a recommendation by the Ministry of Labour.
The appeals court fines JBJ $2,000 (thus forcing him to leave Parliament), disbars him, and sentences him to a month in jail. JBJ appeals the disbarment.
Pizza Hut is first restaurant here to introduce home delivery.
For the 1986 Singapore Arts Festival, female ballerinas from the Ballet National du Senegal are given the green light on the afternoon of their performance to dance topless. The allowance of nudity on stage is a first for conservative Singapore.
Mandarin songwriter Liang Wern Fook begins the period of his composition of xinyao (新谣. ), a genre of Singapore Mandarin folk songs. His first album, "Door", is the first Mandarin musical album completely written and composed by a Singaporean. His song "Love's Refuge" (恋之憩) spends 29 weeks this year at the top of the Singapore charts, a still unbroken record for local pop songs. He stops writing xinyao in 1992, when he marries.
Westin Stamford opens as the tallest hotel in the world.
15 March: Hotel New World collapses, killing 33 people
14 December: Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan kills himself with poison 12 days after interrogation by two senior Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officers regarding complaints of corruption made against him by a building contractor.
I have been feeling very sad and depressed for the last two weeks. I feel responsible for the occurrence of this nfortunate incident and I feel I should accept full responsibility. As an honourable oriental gentleman I feel it is only right that I should pay the highest penalty for my mistake. - Teh Chean Wan's suicide note.
The appeals court fines JBJ $2,000 (thus forcing him to leave Parliament), disbars him, and sentences him to a month in jail. JBJ appeals the disbarment.
Pizza Hut is first restaurant here to introduce home delivery.
For the 1986 Singapore Arts Festival, female ballerinas from the Ballet National du Senegal are given the green light on the afternoon of their performance to dance topless. The allowance of nudity on stage is a first for conservative Singapore.
Mandarin songwriter Liang Wern Fook begins the period of his composition of xinyao (新谣. ), a genre of Singapore Mandarin folk songs. His first album, "Door", is the first Mandarin musical album completely written and composed by a Singaporean. His song "Love's Refuge" (恋之憩) spends 29 weeks this year at the top of the Singapore charts, a still unbroken record for local pop songs. He stops writing xinyao in 1992, when he marries.
Westin Stamford opens as the tallest hotel in the world.
15 March: Hotel New World collapses, killing 33 people
14 December: Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan kills himself with poison 12 days after interrogation by two senior Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officers regarding complaints of corruption made against him by a building contractor.
I have been feeling very sad and depressed for the last two weeks. I feel responsible for the occurrence of this nfortunate incident and I feel I should accept full responsibility. As an honourable oriental gentleman I feel it is only right that I should pay the highest penalty for my mistake. - Teh Chean Wan's suicide note.
1987
The first leg of the MRT line is established.
National Streaming created.
The Necessary Stage is formed.
Omnimax Theatre opens.
Operation Spectrum.
Singapore River cleanup, begun in 1977, is completed. The “Clean Rivers Commemoration” event is held.
Singapore became the first Asian country to adopt presumed consent legislation under the Human Transplant Organ Act (HOTA) passed in 1987. It meant that kidneys of victims in fatal accidents would be considered donated, unless there was a registered objection.
New World amusement park closes. City Developments buys the 42,252.1 sq m site from Shaw Organisation for S$35 million to develop a City Square Residences condominium.
OPAC comes into use at the National Library.
14 January: The Marina Mandarin opens.
21 May and 20 June: Operation Spectrum arrests of 22 young Roman Catholic church and social activists and professionals. They are held without trial under the Internal Security laws and accused of being members of a dangerous Marxist conspiracy bent on suberting the PAP-ruled government by force and replacing it with a Marxist state. Vincent Cheng is forced to make a confession of his guilt on SBC.
26 May: March: The Miss Universe pageant is held at the Singapore World Trade Centre. For the first (and so far only) time, Miss Singapore makes it into the semifinals. The winner, Miss Chile, Cecilia Carolina Bolocco Fonc, is now a successful entertainer and is married to a former President of Argentina.
7 November: first line of MRT, from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh, is opened.
National Streaming created.
The Necessary Stage is formed.
Omnimax Theatre opens.
Operation Spectrum.
Singapore River cleanup, begun in 1977, is completed. The “Clean Rivers Commemoration” event is held.
Singapore became the first Asian country to adopt presumed consent legislation under the Human Transplant Organ Act (HOTA) passed in 1987. It meant that kidneys of victims in fatal accidents would be considered donated, unless there was a registered objection.
New World amusement park closes. City Developments buys the 42,252.1 sq m site from Shaw Organisation for S$35 million to develop a City Square Residences condominium.
OPAC comes into use at the National Library.
14 January: The Marina Mandarin opens.
21 May and 20 June: Operation Spectrum arrests of 22 young Roman Catholic church and social activists and professionals. They are held without trial under the Internal Security laws and accused of being members of a dangerous Marxist conspiracy bent on suberting the PAP-ruled government by force and replacing it with a Marxist state. Vincent Cheng is forced to make a confession of his guilt on SBC.
26 May: March: The Miss Universe pageant is held at the Singapore World Trade Centre. For the first (and so far only) time, Miss Singapore makes it into the semifinals. The winner, Miss Chile, Cecilia Carolina Bolocco Fonc, is now a successful entertainer and is married to a former President of Argentina.
7 November: first line of MRT, from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh, is opened.
1988
Parliamentary Elections: PAP wins 63% of votes in contested districts.
The Ministry of Education enforces the use of the right clenched fist over the heart during recital of the pledge.
The Privy Council restores JBJ to the practice of law and claims that he and a co-defendant from WP "have suffered a grievous injustice".
A law requiring the flushing of toilets and urinals is enacted, with fines of up to $1,000. Ministry of Environment inspectors are employed to look out for offenders. The Straits Times publishes "Toilets of Shame" articles when alerted to dirty toilets by its readers calling a hotline number. Amar Mohamed, a guilty non-flusher, has his face printed in the papers in June 1989.
The first independent schools begin functioning: Chinese High, Anglo-Chinese School and St Joseph's Institution.
SBC organises its first “Star Search”, a high-profile competition in search of local talents. A new star, Zoe Tay, is born.
The Artists Village is formed in a kampung on the outskirts of Singapore.
Action For Aids is formed.
Arthur Yap publishes “Man Snake Apple”, his most sophisticated collection of poetry.
Russell Heng's “Lest the Demons Get to Me” is banned. A staged reading is given in 1992.
(Two other gay plays also banned)
Catherine Lim's “O Singapore!: Stories in Celebration” published.
Adrian Tan publishes “The Teenage Textbook”
Dick Lee's “Beauty World” is performed.
GRCs are introduced with the 1988 elections.
The introduction of the first analogue mobile phone system under Singapore Telecom sees 6000 subscribers ringing in that year. Today, there are about 5 million mobile subscriptions in Singapore.
Teo Kim Seng, aka “The Terror of Bedok” is at large, raping four women from Jan-March 14, whereupon he is arrested in an ambush. He is sentenced to 25 years of prison on Feb 13 1989 and commits suicide by hanging himself in his Changi Prison cell on Feb 16 1990.
April: 9 of the original detainees of Operation Spectrum release a public statement describing their mistreatment in prison and declaring that they had been advocating not Communism but more democracy and freedom. 8 of them are arrested the same day, the 9th is out of the country and remains in self-exile.
May: Francis Seow, who has plans to run for Parliament as an opposition candidate, appears in court to represent Teo Suh Lung, the lawyer for the Operation Spectrum detainees. Hours after his court appearance, he is arrested and charged with being in close contact with an American embassy diplomat E. Mason Hendrickson (Seow claims he was meeting actually to arrange a cocktail party for visiting American judges). The government releases Seow after 72 days, in time for him to run for Parliament but not to organise a broad opposition movement.Hendrickson is expelled by the government alleging that he has been meeting with antigovernment lawyers to "manipulate and instigate Singaporeans in order to bring about a particular political outcome". When the American media reports on this expulsion, the Singapore government releases a torrent of abuse at the US, resulting in a bizarre diplomatic clash between close trade partners.
10 August: Kuo Pao Kun's "Mama Looking for Her Cat" is performed. It is Singapore's first multilingual play.
September: In parliamentary elections, the PAP wins all seats except for one, taken by Chiam See Tong. Francis Seow takes a non-constituency seat.
December: A Singapore appellate court rules against the government, ordering the release of 4 prisoners under the Internal Security Act. The following month, Parliament amends the constitution to eliminate judicial review of ISA detentions. The amendment is made retroactive to 1971.
December: The government hires private detectives to follow Seow for seven weeks.
The Ministry of Education enforces the use of the right clenched fist over the heart during recital of the pledge.
The Privy Council restores JBJ to the practice of law and claims that he and a co-defendant from WP "have suffered a grievous injustice".
A law requiring the flushing of toilets and urinals is enacted, with fines of up to $1,000. Ministry of Environment inspectors are employed to look out for offenders. The Straits Times publishes "Toilets of Shame" articles when alerted to dirty toilets by its readers calling a hotline number. Amar Mohamed, a guilty non-flusher, has his face printed in the papers in June 1989.
The first independent schools begin functioning: Chinese High, Anglo-Chinese School and St Joseph's Institution.
SBC organises its first “Star Search”, a high-profile competition in search of local talents. A new star, Zoe Tay, is born.
The Artists Village is formed in a kampung on the outskirts of Singapore.
Action For Aids is formed.
Arthur Yap publishes “Man Snake Apple”, his most sophisticated collection of poetry.
Russell Heng's “Lest the Demons Get to Me” is banned. A staged reading is given in 1992.
(Two other gay plays also banned)
Catherine Lim's “O Singapore!: Stories in Celebration” published.
Adrian Tan publishes “The Teenage Textbook”
Dick Lee's “Beauty World” is performed.
GRCs are introduced with the 1988 elections.
The introduction of the first analogue mobile phone system under Singapore Telecom sees 6000 subscribers ringing in that year. Today, there are about 5 million mobile subscriptions in Singapore.
Teo Kim Seng, aka “The Terror of Bedok” is at large, raping four women from Jan-March 14, whereupon he is arrested in an ambush. He is sentenced to 25 years of prison on Feb 13 1989 and commits suicide by hanging himself in his Changi Prison cell on Feb 16 1990.
April: 9 of the original detainees of Operation Spectrum release a public statement describing their mistreatment in prison and declaring that they had been advocating not Communism but more democracy and freedom. 8 of them are arrested the same day, the 9th is out of the country and remains in self-exile.
May: Francis Seow, who has plans to run for Parliament as an opposition candidate, appears in court to represent Teo Suh Lung, the lawyer for the Operation Spectrum detainees. Hours after his court appearance, he is arrested and charged with being in close contact with an American embassy diplomat E. Mason Hendrickson (Seow claims he was meeting actually to arrange a cocktail party for visiting American judges). The government releases Seow after 72 days, in time for him to run for Parliament but not to organise a broad opposition movement.Hendrickson is expelled by the government alleging that he has been meeting with antigovernment lawyers to "manipulate and instigate Singaporeans in order to bring about a particular political outcome". When the American media reports on this expulsion, the Singapore government releases a torrent of abuse at the US, resulting in a bizarre diplomatic clash between close trade partners.
10 August: Kuo Pao Kun's "Mama Looking for Her Cat" is performed. It is Singapore's first multilingual play.
September: In parliamentary elections, the PAP wins all seats except for one, taken by Chiam See Tong. Francis Seow takes a non-constituency seat.
December: A Singapore appellate court rules against the government, ordering the release of 4 prisoners under the Internal Security Act. The following month, Parliament amends the constitution to eliminate judicial review of ISA detentions. The amendment is made retroactive to 1971.
December: The government hires private detectives to follow Seow for seven weeks.
1989
Moral Education and Religious Knowledge are abolished as a compulsory subjects.
Singapore's last political detainee Chia Thye Poh moved to Fort Siloso, Sentosa, for internment until 1993.
Caning introduced for illegal immigrants.
Russell Lee's “True Singapore Ghost Stories” is first published.
Dick Lee releases “The Mad Chinaman” album.
World's Largest Musical Chairs event performed as fund-raiser for Anglo-Chinese School.
Theatre Studies programme established at Victoria Junior College.
R(A) ratings of movies introduced.
The first foreign players for Singapore team are imported: Yugoslavs Josko Spanjic and Boris Lucic.
The URA introduces a Conservation Plan: historic districts like Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Singapore River - including Boat Quay and Clarke Quay - as well as residential areas like Emerald Hill, Cairnhill, Blair Plain, and secondary settlements like Joo Chiat and Geylang are given conservation status.
Singapore sends her first-ever contingent to take part in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The 21 volunteers from the Singapore Police Force will help oversee Namibia’s transition to independence after more than a century of colonial rule.
SBC screens the wildly successful serial "Zao An Lao Shi" aka "Good Morning Teacher".
July: The Committee of International Human Rights of the New York City Bar Association visits Singapore to prepare a report financed by the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. Extracts of their damning report, released in December 1990, are found on p36 of The Land of Charm and Cruelty.
4 August: With the Sound Blaster, Creative Technologies makes it into NASDAQ.
Singapore's last political detainee Chia Thye Poh moved to Fort Siloso, Sentosa, for internment until 1993.
Caning introduced for illegal immigrants.
Russell Lee's “True Singapore Ghost Stories” is first published.
Dick Lee releases “The Mad Chinaman” album.
World's Largest Musical Chairs event performed as fund-raiser for Anglo-Chinese School.
Theatre Studies programme established at Victoria Junior College.
R(A) ratings of movies introduced.
The first foreign players for Singapore team are imported: Yugoslavs Josko Spanjic and Boris Lucic.
The URA introduces a Conservation Plan: historic districts like Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Singapore River - including Boat Quay and Clarke Quay - as well as residential areas like Emerald Hill, Cairnhill, Blair Plain, and secondary settlements like Joo Chiat and Geylang are given conservation status.
Singapore sends her first-ever contingent to take part in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The 21 volunteers from the Singapore Police Force will help oversee Namibia’s transition to independence after more than a century of colonial rule.
SBC screens the wildly successful serial "Zao An Lao Shi" aka "Good Morning Teacher".
July: The Committee of International Human Rights of the New York City Bar Association visits Singapore to prepare a report financed by the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. Extracts of their damning report, released in December 1990, are found on p36 of The Land of Charm and Cruelty.
4 August: With the Sound Blaster, Creative Technologies makes it into NASDAQ.
1990
JBJ is successfully sued by LKY for libel. To pay damages, he has to put his house up for sale.
Bonny Hicks publishes “Excuse Me, Are You a Model?”
Kuo Pao Kun wins Cultural Medallion.
The Substation founded.
Parliament passes the Maintenance of Religious Harmony act, giving the government power to arrest religious leaders whom it feels are engaging politics.
1 May: The Vehicle Quota System (VQS) is implemented to regulate traffic growth in Singapore. Vehicle owners would now have to bid for a certificate of entitlement (COE) for the rights to own one.
June: The last of the Operation Spectrum detainees, Vincent Cheng and Teo Suh Lung, are freed.
6 July: The East-West line of the MRT is completed.
22 November: Changi Airport Terminal 2 opens.
28 November: Goh Chok Tong sworn in as PM.
Bonny Hicks publishes “Excuse Me, Are You a Model?”
Kuo Pao Kun wins Cultural Medallion.
The Substation founded.
Parliament passes the Maintenance of Religious Harmony act, giving the government power to arrest religious leaders whom it feels are engaging politics.
1 May: The Vehicle Quota System (VQS) is implemented to regulate traffic growth in Singapore. Vehicle owners would now have to bid for a certificate of entitlement (COE) for the rights to own one.
June: The last of the Operation Spectrum detainees, Vincent Cheng and Teo Suh Lung, are freed.
6 July: The East-West line of the MRT is completed.
22 November: Changi Airport Terminal 2 opens.
28 November: Goh Chok Tong sworn in as PM.
1991
"The Next Lap" is published.
The White Paper is issued.
The kucinta is advertised as a national icon.
January: the Constitution is amended to provide for popular election of the President, who has the power to veto appointments in the civil service and the use of government reserves, examine the administration's enforcement of the ISA and religious harmony laws, and look into investigations of corruption.
26 March: 4 Pakistanis hijack SQ 117, arriving to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, and demand the release of Pakistani People's Party members from Pakistani jails.
27 March: Singapore Special Operation Force members storm the plane, killing all hijackers and freeing all 118 passengers and crewmembers.
July: Jukeboxes are finally legalised when a licence is given for Hotel Asia's ownership of one. Jukeboxes were banned by LKY shortly after PAP takeover in 1999.
August: PM Goh calls for snap parliamentary elections. Chiam See Tong organises the opposition so that PAP candidates run unopposed for 41 seats, thus automatically keeping the government in power: the "protest vote" causes PAP to win only 61% of the vote in contested districts; the opposition's biggest victory since 1963.
The White Paper is issued.
The kucinta is advertised as a national icon.
January: the Constitution is amended to provide for popular election of the President, who has the power to veto appointments in the civil service and the use of government reserves, examine the administration's enforcement of the ISA and religious harmony laws, and look into investigations of corruption.
26 March: 4 Pakistanis hijack SQ 117, arriving to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, and demand the release of Pakistani People's Party members from Pakistani jails.
27 March: Singapore Special Operation Force members storm the plane, killing all hijackers and freeing all 118 passengers and crewmembers.
July: Jukeboxes are finally legalised when a licence is given for Hotel Asia's ownership of one. Jukeboxes were banned by LKY shortly after PAP takeover in 1999.
August: PM Goh calls for snap parliamentary elections. Chiam See Tong organises the opposition so that PAP candidates run unopposed for 41 seats, thus automatically keeping the government in power: the "protest vote" causes PAP to win only 61% of the vote in contested districts; the opposition's biggest victory since 1963.
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