1996 in Singapore

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← 1995 1994 1993 1996 in Singapore → 1997 1998 1999
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	Other events of 1996 Timeline of Singaporean history

The following lists events that happened during 1996 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President: Ong Teng Cheong
• Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong

Events

January

• 1 January – The old laminated NRICs are no longer valid for identification in Singapore. ^[1]
• 2 January – The Land Transport Authority releases the White Paper on A World Class Land Transport System, setting out plans to improve land transport in Singapore.
• 19 January – Minister for Communications Mah Bow Tan announced the immediate construction of the North East MRT line during the parliamentary debate on the White Paper on A World Class Land Transport System, initially targeted by December 2002. ^[2] However, automation problems pushed back the date to 20 June 2003.
• 20 January – The Singapore Art Museum is officially opened. ^[3]

February

• 2 February – The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is formed from a merger between the Marine Department (under the then Ministry of Communications), National Maritime Board and the Regulatory departments of the former Port of Singapore Authority (PSA). This helps to streamline maritime operations. ^[4]
• 9 February – Tampines Mall is officially opened. ^[5]
• 10 February –
  • The Woodlands extension of the North South MRT line opens. On the same day, the Bukit Panjang LRT line is announced, with completion in 1999. The Buona Vista LRT line will not go ahead as it is unfeasible, even with a new funding arrangement used. A new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Checkpoint for the Malayan Railway will be built in Woodlands as well, in preparation for a train network linking Asia, particularly with Malaysia. ^[6]
  • Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange opens as Singapore's first underground bus interchange.

March

• 4 March – 16 stations will be built on the 20 km (12 miles) North East MRT line. Construction will start in the middle of 1997 and will finish by 2002. All the stations will be finished by then except for Sennett (present day Potong Pasir), Woodleigh and Punggol, which will open when the surrounding areas develop. ^[7]
• 5 March – The Singapore Gamma Knife Centre is officially opened. The centre, a privately owned facility, uses gamma knife for brain surgeries, resulting in less pain than conventional brain surgery, as well as a much safer alternative. ^[8]
• 10 March – Several bus services running parallel to the Woodlands MRT extension were either withdrawn or amended.
• 16 March – The first bendy bus is officially launched by Trans Island Bus Services. ^[9]
• 22 March – Cyberway Internet is officially launched as Singapore's third ISP. ^[10]

April

• 1 April – The Singapore Productivity and Standards Board (renamed SPRING Singapore) is formed from the merger of three agencies, namely National Productivity Board (NPB), Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR) and the SME development function of the Economic Development Board (EDB). The agency aimed to encourage productivity and growth in the economy. ^[11]
• 6 April – The Gleneagles Hospital is officially opened. ^[12]
• 14 April – The S.League, a professional tournament, is launched. ^[13]

May

• 2 May – The Advance Medical Directive Act is passed to allow people to apply for a Directive should they not want to continue treatment. The law came into effect in 1997. ^[14]
• 11 May – The Government announced that it will end SingTel's monopoly on the mobile network by 2000 as part of a move to start competition in the telecoms industry. ^[15]
• 21 May – A debate happened in Parliament over the HPL saga. ^[16]

June

• 20 June – The National Youth Centre and Youth Park are officially launched. ^[17]
• 24 June – The Singapore Chinese Orchestra is launched as Singapore's second orchestra. ^[18]

July

• 1 July – The National Parks Board (NParks) is formed, building on the vision of a 'City in a Garden'.
• 5 July – Plans to replace the Causeway are announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. ^{[19] [20]}
• 12 July – In response to mobile liberalisation, a sum of $1.5 billion is approved as compensation to SingTel for the early end of its monopoly. ^[21]
• 20 July – New finger piers are opened in Changi Airport's Terminal 2. ^[22]
• 24 July – The Tourism 21 plan is unveiled. ^[23]

August

• August – Lot One opens to the public.
• 11 August – Construction starts on The Esplanade, which will enhance the arts in Singapore. ^[24]
• 18 August –
  • Plans to develop Punggol are announced known as Punggol 21. The town will incorporate residential areas, clustered community areas linked up by an LRT system. However, the plan did not fully materialise after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, low demand of flats and construction troubles plagued the project.
  • On the same day, the formation of Community Development Councils (CDCs) are announced, which numbered nine in 1997. ^{[25] [26]}

September

• 3 September – The third phase of the Tampines Expressway opens. More roads are planned for upgrading and widening, including on stretches of the Pan Island Expressway and East Coast Parkway, the PIE/TPE flyover and Upper Bukit Timah Road. The ERP system is still being tested. ^[27]
• 9 September – The Singapore government launched the year-long "Smile Singapore" campaign. ^[28]
• 27 September – The Sengkang LRT line is unveiled during a ceremony to start construction on the Bukit Panjang LRT line, to be completed by 1999. ^[29]
• 28 September – Construction starts on the Opera Estate Drainage Scheme to relieve floods in the area, targeted for completion by 2000. ^[30]

October

• 18 October – St Luke's Hospital is officially opened in Bukit Batok, being the first hospital to cater for the elderly. The hospital also has inpatient rehabilitation facilities and long-term residential care services as well. ^[31]
• 19 October – The Cantonment Complex (now Police Cantonment Complex) starts construction. It will have state-of-the-art features, housing the Central Narcotics Bureau, Criminal Investigation Department and Central Police Division, strengthening cooperation between the agencies. The building will retain the historic Fairfield Methodist Girls' school as an anti-crime and drug education and exhibition centre, and covered walkways will be built for comfort. The Complex is completed in 2001. ^[32]

November

• 8 November – SingTel opens the new Telepark building in Tampines as a state-of-the-arts telecommunications facility. ^[33]
• 15 November
  • The Changi Airport Extension Line (CGL) is announced to serve Changi Airport, with another station in future. The extension will be finished by 2001. ^[34]
  • Eastpoint Mall's soft opening to the public.
• 16 November – The Selegie Arts Centre is officially opened. ^[35]
• 23 November – The S'pore Discovery Centre is officially opened. ^[36]
• 26 November – The CashCard is officially launched. ^[37]

December

• 2 December – The Government announced the building of Terminal 3 in Changi Airport to handle more passengers, with completion initially targeted by 2004. However, several crises have delayed the project, which started operating on 9 January 2008. An airport hotel is also considered for travellers, which is ultimately built as Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. ^[38]
• 5 December – The SCORE Counselling Centre is officially opened, in operation since 1995. The centre aims to help drug addicts steer clear of drugs. ^[39]
• 9–13 December – The World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 1996 took place in Singapore, the first Ministerial Conference to be held. ^[40]
• 23 December – Nomination day for 1997 General Election: The People's Action Party wins 47 uncontested seats and hence returns to power. ^[41]

Date unknown

• The Fort Canning Aquarium closes. ^[42]

Births

• 12 January – Adam Swandi, footballer
• 20 February – Zong Zijie, actor
• 19 March – Tyler Ten, Singaporean actor
• 14 May – Herman Keh, Singaporean actor
• 20 September – Shanti Pereira, track and field athlete.
• 29 September – Quah Zheng Wen, swimmer.
• 27 October – Hannah Delisha, actress and singer
• 5 November – Zhai Siming, Singapore based actor

Deaths

• 5 February – Lim Chin Siong, former legislative assemblyman for Bukit Timah Constituency and Secretary-General of Barisan Sosialis (b. 1933). ^[43]
• 13 March – T. T. Rajah, short time Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (b. 1919). ^[44]
• 22 May – Wong Peng Soon, badminton player (b. 1917). ^[45]
• 23 May – Benny Probocemdana Oen, murder victim in the Pacific Plaza stabbing (b. 1958). ^[46]
• 26 August – Neo Lam Lye, murder victim in the Bedok Reservoir flat murder (b. 1986–1987). ^[47]
• 14 September – E. J. H. Corner, botanist and Assistant Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens (b. 1906). ^[48]
• 4 October – Phang Ai Looi, murder victim of Kwan Cin Cheng (b. 1973). ^[49]
• 4 December – Albert Winsemius, economic advisor (b. 1910). ^[50]

References

1. "NRIC Re-registration Exercise Closing Ceremony at the Chua Chu Kang Community Club" (PDF). NAS. 22 October 1994. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
2. "Immediate start for north-east line". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 20 January 1996. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
3. "Singapore Art Museum is officially opened". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
4. "Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is formed". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
5. "Official Opening of Tampines Mall" (PDF). NAS. 9 February 1996. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
6. "Opening of Woodlands MRT Line" (PDF). NAS. 10 February 1996. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
7. Leong, Chan Teik (5 March 1996). "16 MRT stations for 20-km North-East line". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 19 November 2019.
8. "Opening of the Gamma Knife Centre" (PDF). NAS. 5 March 1996. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
9. "Mercedes-Benz O405G". Land Transport Guru. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
10. "Cyberway Internet Service Launch" (PDF). NAS. 22 March 1996. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
11. "SPRING Singapore". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
12. "Official Opening of the new Gleneagles Hospital" (PDF). NAS. 6 April 1996. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
13. "Launch of S.League". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
14. "Advance Medical Directive". NLB. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
15. "Govt ending SingTel's monopoly in year 2000". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 12 May 1996. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
16. "Nassim Jade and Scotts 28" (PDF). NAS. 21 May 1996. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
17. "PM to launch National Youth Centre and park". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 20 June 1996. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
18. "Inauguration of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra Company" (PDF). NAS. 24 June 1996. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
19. "Malaysia 'may replace Causeway with bridge'". The Straits Times. 6 July 1996.
20. "Malaysia announces plans to replace the Causeway". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
21. "House approves $1.5b payment for ending monopoly rights early". The Straits Times. 13 July 1996. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
22. "Official Opening Ceremony of the new finger piers of Terminal 2, Changi Airport" (PDF). NAS. 20 July 1996. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
23. "Tourism 21 Blueprint is unveiled". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
24. "Ground-Breaking Ceremony of The Esplande – Theatres on the Bay" (PDF). NAS. 11 August 1996. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
25. "Community Development Councils are envisaged". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
26. "Full map of CDCs released for first time". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 21 August 1997. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
27. "Speech by Minister for Communications Mr Mah Bow Tan at the Opening of Tampines Expressway (Phase III) on 3 September 1996 at 9.00 am at Punggol Bridge" (PDF). NAS. 3 September 1996. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
28. "Smile, it's a campaign". The New Paper. 10 September 1996. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
29. "Ground-breaking ceremony for Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit (LRT)" (PDF). NAS. 27 September 1996. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
30. "Launching Ceremony for the Opera Estate Drainage Scheme" (PDF). NAS. 28 September 1996. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
31. "Official Opening of St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly". NAS. 18 October 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
32. "Ground Breaking Ceremony for Cantonment Complex". NAS. 19 October 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
33. "Opening Ceremony of Telepark". NAS. 8 November 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
34. "Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Employees' Union (SMRTEU)'s annual Dinner and Dance" (PDF). NAS. 15 November 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
35. "Official Opening of Selegie Arts Centre". NAS. 16 November 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
36. "Our History". SDC. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
37. "Official launch of CashCard". NAS. 26 November 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
38. "Annual Airport Reception 1996". NAS. 2 December 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
39. "Official Opening Ceremony of SCORE Counselling Centre". NAS. 5 December 1996. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
40. "Inaugural WTO Ministerial Conference is held". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
41. "PAP is back in power". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 24 December 1996. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
42. "Van Kleef Aquarium". NLB. 14 May 1991. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
43. "Lim Chin Siong". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
44. "Ex-Barisan Sosialis leader T. T. Rajah dies". NewspaperSG. 14 March 1996. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
45. "Wong Peng Soon". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
46. Miller, David (24 May 1996). "Indonesian dies after being stabbed". The Straits Times . p. 3. Retrieved 17 May 2024– via NewspaperSG.
47. "Man charged with murder". The Straits Times . 29 August 1996 – via NewspaperSG.
48. "E. J. H. Corner". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
49. "'I tried to hang myself, but failed'". The Straits Times . 23 April 1997. p. 26. Retrieved 17 May 2024– via NewspaperSG.
50. "Albert Winsemius". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.