1997 in Singapore

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

The following lists events that happened during 1997 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President: Ong Teng Cheong ^[1]
• Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong ^[2]

Events

January

• January –
  • The Singapore Kindness Movement is officially launched.
• 2 January – In the 1997 General Election, the People's Action Party team led by Goh Chok Tong won 81 out of 83 seats (including 47 uncontested seats) with a vote share of 65.0%. The opposition won the remaining two, with one seat going to the Workers' Party and the Singapore People's Party winning the other seat. Meanwhile, the Singapore Democratic Party lost all three seats. ^[3]
• 18 January - Eastpoint Mall was officially opened by Minister for National Development Lim Hng Kiang.
• 25 January – Temasek Polytechnic's new campus is officially opened. ^[4]

February

• 1 February – 3 new cinemas were opened:
  • Studio City Cinemas Central Mall,
  • Studio City Cinemas Eastpoint and,
  • White Sands Cineplex, managed by Eng Wah Organisation.
• 15 February –
  • The Battle Box museum is officially opened. ^[5]
  • The Toa Payoh Hospital and Changi Hospital are closed and merged into New Changi Hospital.
• 24 February – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched the Home Team concept, which aims to strengthen collaboration between agencies of MHA. ^[6]

March

• 1 March – The National Dental Centre Singapore starts operations.
• 7 March – The Senoko Gasworks officially opened. That facility replaced Kallang Gasworks (which closed in 1998). ^[7]

April

• 1 April – M1 launches cellular services. It is the second telco after SingTel.
• 14 April – Neptune Orient Lines announced that it will buy APL Logistics in a merger. ^[8]
• 21 April – The Asian Civilisations Museum is officially opened. ^[9]

May

• 17 May – National Education is launched to encourage national cohesion and national identity. ^[10]
• 19 May – SingPost launches the SAM machines, allowing people to buy stamps on the go. ^[11]
• 30 May – The Singapore Expo starts construction to replace World Trade Centre Halls 1 and 2, first announced on 24 July 1996. The MTI will appoint PSA to run the centre. ^[12]

June

• June – A new standard for grading food stalls is launched, with hygiene, cleanliness and housekeeping standards taken into account. There are four grades, mainly A, B, C and D. ^[13]
• 2 June – The Ministry of Education unveiled a new strategy known as 'Thinking Schools, Learning Nation'. The new strategy aims to encourage lifelong learning and creativity. ^[14]
• 9 June – The Singapore ONE broadband network is launched with new interactive features, making Singapore the first country in the world to have such a system. The network is launched commercially in 1998. ^{[15] [16]}
• 12 June – 12 Storeys, a local films, is released in cinemas. It becomes the first-ever Singapore film to be shown during the Cannes Film Festival. ^[17]
• 25 June – Changi Business Park is launched by JTC. ^[18]

July

• July – Singapore slips into recession during the Asian financial crisis.
• 21 July – Racial Harmony Day is celebrated for the first time, commemorating the 1964 Race Riots.
• 22 July – Suntec City, a mixed-use development with a convention centre officially opened.
• 28 July – Dover MRT station is announced to link commuters to Singapore Polytechnic, with completion by 2001. ^[19]

August

• 2 August – The Esplanade Bridge and the Nicoll Highway extension is opened to traffic, ^[20] after its official opening held the day before. ^[21]
• 5 August – The Land Transport Authority awards SMRT the licence to operate the Bukit Panjang LRT line due to its experience with the MRT. ^[22]
• 20 August – A landmark appeal of Abdul Nasir Amer Hamsah led to the definition of life imprisonment to change from "life" to "natural life" from the day after 20 August 1997 onwards for future offences. At that time before 20 August 1997, life imprisonment in Singapore was defined as a jail term of 20 years, entitled with the usual practice of one-third remission for good behaviour. Chief Justice Yong Pung How, in the Court of Appeal, also decided that life imprisonment should be considered as a term of incarceration for the remainder of a convicted prisoner's natural life, with the possibility of parole after serving at least 20 years. ^{[23] [24] [25]}

September

• 2 September – Senoko Fishing Port starts operations, moving from Punggol for the construction of Punggol New Town. It officially opened on 6 December. ^{[26] [27] [28]}
• 3 September – Construction starts on the Automobile Megamart, a car hub in Ubi. ^[29]
• 12 September – Raffles Medical Group and Pidemco Land (now CapitaLand) formed a joint-venture company to convert Blanco Court into a hospital, which is the second-largest private hospital in Singapore. The hospital will be later known as Raffles Hospital. ^{[30] [31]}
• 15 September – Singapore Airlines launches KrisWorld, the world's first airline to have an inflight system. ^[32]
• 18 September – The haze came to Singapore, which caused the Pollutant Standards Index to reach a record of 226 then (since surpassed by 401 during the June 2013 haze). ^[33]
• 19 September – The Ministry of the Environment announced a haze management plan. In it, schools and sports complexes will shut when the Pollutant Standards Index reaches past 300. Sirens will sound when levels reach past 400. ^[34]

October

• October –
  • Great World City opens to the public.
  • Cathay Cineleisure Orchard opens on the former site of Orchard Cinema.
• 1 October –
  • PSA Corporation (present-day PSA International) is formed as a result of corporatisation of port activities.
  • The Community Involvement Programme is launched. ^[35]
• 10 October – The new KK Women's and Children's Hospital building is officially opened. ^[36]

November

• 8 November – The first i-Weekly issue is published. ^[37]
• 12 November – SBS Limited is now known as DelGro Corporation (present day ComfortDelGro). ^[38]
• 15 November – SingTel launches Magix, a broadband network. ^[39]
• 17 November – The Ayer Rajah Expressway extension to Tuas is officially opened, formed by the expansion of Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim into an expressway. The route will cater for the opening of the Second Link in 1998. ^[40]
• 19 November – The Singapore Tourism Promotion Board is renamed the Singapore Tourism Board. ^[41]
• 25 November – Construction of the North East MRT line starts. In addition, the Land Transport Authority has been conducting studies on potential MRT extensions. ^{[42] [43]}

December

• 8 December – ST Engineering was created from a merger of four companies, namely ST Aerospace, ST Electronics, ST Kinetics and ST Marine. The merger was announced earlier on 28 August. ^{[44] [45]}
• 19 December – SilkAir Flight 185 crashes into Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra, killing all 104 people on board. ^[46]
• 31 December –
  • The National Arts Council launched Passion 99.5FM, a radio station focused on the arts.
  • After Form Music Publication Pte Ltd and Form Records Co Ltd was officially closing ceremony "grand closing" in Singapore and Hong Kong and was officially replaced to new opening ceremony "grand opening" at Form Records Sdn Bhd based in Kuala Lumpur (capital of Malaysia).

Date unknown

– Hougang Mall and Anchorpoint are opened.

Births

• 24 January – Samantha Yeo, swimmer ^[47]
• 24 December – Marina Chan, swimmer ^[48]

Deaths

• 26 March – Lloyd Valberg, sole competitor for 1948 Summer Olympics (b. 1922). ^[49]
• 12 October – Lee Chin Koon, storekeeper for Shell, father of Lee Kuan Yew (b. 1903). ^[50]
• 19 December – Bonny Hicks, model and writer (b. 1968). ^[51]

References

1. "How Singapore's presidents have been honoured". The Straits Times. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
2. "Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong presenting book". www.nas.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
3. "1997 Parliamentary General Election". National Library Board. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
4. "Official Opening of Temasek Polytechnic's new campus". NAS. 25 January 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
5. "Official opening of The Battle Box" (PDF). NAS. 15 February 1997. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
6. "Home Team Launching Workshop". NAS. 24 February 1997. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
7. "Official opening of the Senoko Gasworks on Fri 7 March 1997 at 10.30 am at 26 Senoko Avenue". NAS. 7 March 1997. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
8. "Neptune Orient to Buy APL in $825-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. 14 April 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
9. "About ACM". ACM. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
10. "Launch of National Education" (PDF). NAS. 17 May 1997. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
11. "S.A.M. issues". Ateeme. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
12. "Ground-breaking ceremony of the mega exhibition centre". NAS. 30 May 1997. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
13. "Hawker centres". NLB. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
14. "Opening of the 7th International Conference on Thinking" (PDF). NAS. 2 June 1997. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
15. "Opening Ceremony of the Asia Telecom 97". NAS. 9 June 1997. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
16. "Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong launches the Singapore ONE Pilot Network and Services at the Asia Telecom '97 at the World Trade Centre Auditorium". NAS. 9 June 1997. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
17. "Eric Khoo". NLB. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
18. "JTC launches Changi Business Park". NLB. 26 June 1997. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
19. "New MRT station at S'pore Poly to be ready by Year 2001". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 29 July 1997. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
20. "Mouth of the Singapore River". NLB. 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
21. "Opening of the Nicoll Highway Extension and Esplanade Bridge". NAS. 1 August 1997. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
22. "SMRT 10th Anniversary Dinner". NAS. 5 August 1997. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
23. "Abdul Nasir bin Amer Hamsah v Public Prosecutor". Webcite. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
24. "Trie issue: CJ: What is life imprisonment?". National Library Board. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
25. "Not so lucky third time round". National Library Board. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
26. "Senoko Fishing Port". NLB. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
27. "Punggol fishing port to move to Senoko next month". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 August 1997. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
28. "More fish from different places". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 7 December 1997. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
29. "Automobile Megamart Foundation Laying Ceremony". NAS. 3 September 1997. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
30. "Raffles Hospital". NLB. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
31. "RMG, Pidemco pair up for $200m project". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 13 September 1997. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
32. "Blast from the past: Launch of AVOD (15 September 1997)". Singapore Airlines (Facebook). 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
33. "Haze hits pollution index record of 226" (PDF). The Straits Times. 19 September 1997. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
34. "ENV unveils haze action plan" (PDF). The Straits Times. 20 September 1997. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
35. "Introduction of Community Involvement Programme". NLB. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
36. "Official opening of KK Women's and Children's Hospital". NAS. 10 October 1997. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
37. "Cover to cover". NLB. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
38. "SBS Limited changes its name to DelGro". The Straits Times. 13 November 1997. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
39. "Launch of Magix day". NAS. 15 November 1997. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
40. "Completion Ceremony for the AYE Extension" (PDF). NAS. 17 November 1997. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
41. "Singapore Tourism Board". NLB. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
42. "Speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for Communications at the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the NEL 25 Nov 97 at 5.30 pm at Farrer Park Station site (junction of Owen and Race Course Road)". NAS. 25 November 1997. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
43. "Drilling begins for N-E line...at the push of a button". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 26 November 1997. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
44. "ST Engineering is created". NLB. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
45. "Joint Announcement – Singapore Technologies Engineering Companies Amalgamating for Strength". ST Engg. 28 August 1997. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
46. "Suicide pilot caused SilkAir crash". BBC News. 15 December 2000. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
47. "Samantha YEO – Olympic – Singapore". International Olympic Committee. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
48. "Glasgow 2014 – Nur Marina Chan Si Min Alif Abdullah Profile". results.glasgow2014.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2018.
49. "Lloyd Valberg". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
50. "Lee Chin Koon". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
51. "A Jet Crash That Defies Resolution". Los Angeles Times. 5 September 2001. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2018.