2003 in Singapore

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

← 2002 2001 2000 2003 in Singapore → 2004 2005 2006
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2003 Timeline of Singaporean history

The following lists events that happened during 2003 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President: S.R. Nathan
• Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong

Events

January

• 1 January –
  • The Goods and Services Tax is raised from 3% to 4%. ^[1]
  • The Media Development Authority is formed to better regulate and encourage Singapore's media industry.
• 3 January – RSS Courageous got into a collision with ANL Indonesia, causing four fatalities. An investigation found that errors by the RSS Courageous crew contributed to the tragedy. ^[2]
• 5 January - Ang Mo Kio Public Library is officially reopened after a one year renovation.
• 17 January – The Majestic is opened as a shopping mall after being renovated from a theatre. ^[3]
• 18 January – The East Loop of the Sengkang LRT line is opened, ^[4] as well as the Sengkang Bus Interchange which is Singapore's second air-conditioned bus interchange. ^[5]
• 20 January – Stage 3 of the Circle MRT line is announced, which will travel through Serangoon and Bishan. It is slated for completion by 2008, but is eventually delayed to 2009. ^[6]
• 21 January – FairPrice's new Fresh Food Distribution Centre is officially opened, enhancing freshness and safety of food. ^[7]
• 27 January – The Land Transport Authority introduced a new licensing scheme for taxi operators, resulting in increased competition. Since then, more taxi operators joined in.

February

• 15 February – The Ministry of Community Development and Sports announced plans to redevelop the National Stadium as part of a recommendation from a study. The proposed S$650m facility will have a 55,000-capacity stadium, a commercial district and indoor halls, which is targeted for completion by 2009 (though work only started in 2010). ^{[8] [9]} In addition, new rules are released to increase transparency in National Sports Associations, taking effect from 1 January 2004. ^{[10] [11]}
• 17 February – The World Trade Centre Retail reopens as HarbourFront Centre. ^{[12] [13]}
• 20 February – Fusionopolis is launched as a place to fuse the infocomm, media and engineering sectors together. ^[14]
• 21 February – NEWater is launched in Singapore. ^[15]

March

• 1 March to 16 July – An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurs in Singapore. ^{[16] [17]}
  • 1 March – The first SARS patient is warded in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, after 3 women fell ill from a visit to Hong Kong.
  • 15 March – The term SARS is coined by the WHO. As a result, the Ministry of Health forms a task force to tackle SARS. On that day, 16 cases are confirmed.
  • 16 March – Guidelines are issued to screen emergency department patients for fever and travel history to SARS-affected areas, as well as on infection-control.
  • 22 March – TTSH is designated the SARS hospital. The SARS hotline is set up, with the number of cases increasing to 44.
  • 24 March – Singapore invokes the Infectious Diseases Act. As a result, about 740 people are placed on Home Quarantine Orders for 10 days.
  • 25 March – The first SARS death happens.
  • 26 March –
    • A second person dies due to SARS.
    • The Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Health (MOH) will close all primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and centralised institutes due to the SARS outbreak from 27 March to 6 April. Due to this, the school term will be extended into the holidays. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) are unaffected by this closure of schools. In addition, childcare centres, special education schools, madrasahs, playgroups and tuition classes will also close during this period with pre-school centres and student care centres advised to close. As a result, this makes it the first time since Singapore's independence that schools are closed. ^[18]
  • 27 March – Patients who die of SARS must be cremated within 24 hours.
  • 29 March – Temperature checks are introduced for all passengers arriving into Singapore through Changi Airport.
  • 5 April –
    • A SARS outbreak occurs at Singapore General Hospital.
    • MOE and MOH extend school closures with reopening of schools in stages, starting from junior colleges and centralised institutes on 9 April, secondary schools on 14 April and finally primary schools on 16 April. Pre-school centres and kindergartens will be allowed to reopen from 16 April. ^[19]
  • 6 April – A ministerial committee to tackle SARS is formed.
  • 7 April – TTSH doctor Ong Hok Su becomes the first hospital worker to die from SARS. In addition, another patient dies from SARS.
  • 11 April – The new Infrared Fever Sensing System (IFSS) is introduced in Changi Airport to screen travellers arriving into Singapore. Originally intended for military use, the system is jointly developed by Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) and ST Electronics. 4 more IFSS systems will be deployed by 18 April. ^[20]
  • 20 April – After several SARS cases discovered, the Pasir Panjang Vegetable Wholesale Market (PPWC) is ordered to close until 29 April. ^[21]
  • 22 April – SGH surgeon Alexandre Chao dies from SARS.
  • 23 April – All eight IFSS systems are in operation across various checkpoints, including Woodlands Checkpoint and Tuas Checkpoint. ^[22]
  • 28 April – PPWC's closure is extended until 5 May after the extension of Home Quarantine Orders for tenants and workers there. ^[23]
  • 29 April – Temperature checks are introduced for all passengers arriving and departing Singapore by sea from 7pm. Tighter screening procedures are also introduced for all cargo and passenger vessels to contain SARS. ^[24]
  • 11 May – Nurse Hamidah Ismail dies on Mother's Day. ^[25]
  • 18 May – Last SARS patient detected.
  • 21 May – The SARS Channel is launched in partnership with MediaCorp, SPH MediaWorks and StarHub. ^{[26] [27]} The channel shows SARS-related programming, as well as news and infomercials on SARS, broadcasting until 9 July, after all countries are taken off the SARS list. ^[28]
  • 30 May – Singapore is officially declared SARS-free by the World Health Organization, taking effect the following day. ^[29]
  • 16 July – SARS is eradicated from Singapore. By the time the outbreak ended, a total of 238 people are infected with 33 dead.
• 1 March – Online identification-based service, SingPass is launched.
• 20 March – The Airport Logistics Park is officially opened. ^[30]
• 21 March – Compressed natural gas (CNG) taxis are launched to encourage vehicles to run on cleaner fuels. ^[31]
• 24 March – Downer EDI Group (an Australian firm) announced the acquisition of CPG Corporation from Temasek Holdings, which is completed on 1 April. ^{[32] [33]}
• 29 March – ComfortDelGro Corporation is formed from the merger of land transport companies Comfort Group and DelGro Corporation, first announced on 21 November 2002. Since then, ComfortDelGro Corporation has become a multinational transport operator. ^{[34] [35]}
• 31 March – Daimaru shuts its last stores in Singapore. ^[36]

April

• 1 April –
  • The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority is formed to tackle new security threats, leading to the formation of Singapore Customs. As a result, the Registry of Societies and Registry of Political Donations will transfer to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Elections Department respectively. ^[37]
  • Meidi-Ya opens in Liang Court, taking over what used to be a Daimaru store. ^[38]
• 28 April – The last traces of the Overseas Union Bank (OUB) name will disappear by end-2003 as it merged into United Overseas Bank (UOB). ^{[39] [40]}

May

• 6 May – Singapore and United States sign the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA). ^[41]
• 26 May – The Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) is launched to help businesses thrive. ^[42]

June

The North East MRT line

• 9 June – The Declaration of Religious Harmony is unveiled. ^[43]
• 20 June – The North East MRT line opens, the first line operated by SBS Transit. Stretching about 20 km (12 miles) long, the line is the world's first fully automated underground line. ^{[44] [45]}

July

• 1 July – The then HDB Corporation (renamed to Surbana and now Surbana Jurong) is formed from a corporatisation. ^[46]
• 7 July – The Singapore civil service now allows gay employees to be employed, as revealed in a Time magazine interview. ^[47]
• 8 July – The Iranian twins are separated, but the operation takes a drastic turn. Both of them eventually passed on. ^[48]
• 14 July – Bungee jumping will be allowed after being turned down years back on grounds of safety. It is hoped this will encourage a more risk-taking society. ^[49]
• 22 July – A pair of South Korean twins are successfully separated. ^[50]
• 24 July – Singapore and Malaysia jointly submit to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) a dispute concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge).

August

• 1 August –
  • DesignSingapore Council is launched to spearhead design in Singapore.
  • Bar-top dancing is legalised, and some bars are allowed to operate 24/7.
• 4 August – The Sumatra-Singapore gas pipeline is inaugurated. ^[51]
• 6 August – Creative Technology announced that they will progressively launch 90 new products. ^[52]
• 25 August – The National Volunteer Centre is renamed to the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre. ^[53]

September

• 8 September – The Ministry of Health announced that a laboratory technician caught SARS, after a big outbreak earlier in March. It is later learnt that it is caused by a mix-up in viruses for research. ^[54]
• 17 September – The Singapore Workforce Development Agency is formed to help workers find jobs, especially during the ongoing economic downturn. ^[55]
• 25 September – BreadTalk launches the first Din Tai Fung restaurant in The Paragon. ^[56]

October

Biopolis

• 1 October – In view of economic restructuring, CPF rates were cut by 3 percentage points. ^{[57] [58]}
• 10 October – The Raffles Terrace is officially opened. ^[59]
• 16 October – MoneySENSE is launched to educate Singaporeans on financial literacy. ^[60]
• 20 October – The Ministry of Health launched SingaporeMedicine to promote Singapore as a leading medical hub. ^[61]
• 29 October – Biopolis is opened as a research hub. ^{[62] [63]}
• 31 October – The Queenstown Community Library is reopened after upgrading works. ^[64]

November

• 10 November – Amendments to the Computer Misuse Act are passed to protect against potential cyberattacks that could disrupt critical information infrastructure (CIIs) on the basis of national security, but not before addressing concerns on privacy and liberties. The new law also compounds certain offences. ^[65]
• 14 November – Dairy Farm will acquire Delhaize's stake in Shop N Save, which is also owned by QAF Limited. ^[66]

December

• 12 December – Stages 4 and 5 of the Circle MRT line are unveiled, connecting western Singapore from Bishan to HarbourFront. It is slated for completion in 2010, but later delayed to 2011. ^{[67] [68]}
• 13 December – 10-year-old Megan Zheng becomes the first Singaporean actress to win the Taipei Film Festival Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer (co-recipient) with her role in Jack Neo's movie Homerun .
• 30 December – The Kaki Bukit Viaduct opens to traffic. ^[69]
• 31 December – Passion 99.5FM shuts down after a lack of funding.

Date unknown

• A&W pulls out of Singapore, ^[70] only returning in 2019 at Jewel Changi Airport.

Deaths

• 9 January – Thabun Pranee, murder victim in the Chai Chee rape and murder (b. 1977). ^[71]
• 10 March – Diana Teo Siew Peng, murder victim of Harith Gary Lee (b. 1970). ^[72]
• 7 April – Ong Hok Su, TTSH doctor (b. 1976). ^[73]
• 17 April – Ong Poh Lim, former badminton player (b. 1923). ^[74]
• 22 April – Alexandre Chao, SGH vascular surgeon (b. 1966). ^[75]
• 11 May – Hamidah Ismail, nurse (b. 1958). ^[76]
• 28 June – Chi Tue Tiong, murder victim of Zailani bin Ahmad and Rachel (b. 1935). ^[77]

Unknown date

• Jonnel Pabuyon Pinera, nurse at Orange Valley Nursing Home.
• Kiew Miyaw Tan, SGH attendant.

References

1. "Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax". NLB. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
2. "Collision between RSS Courageous and ANL Indonesia". NLB. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
3. "Singapore Infopedia: Majestic Theatre". National Library Board. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
4. "Free LRT service in Sengkang". Today (retrieved from NLB). 17 January 2003. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
5. "Speech By Mr Yeo Cheow Tong At The Official Opening Of Sengkang Bus Interchange on 18 January 2003". MOT. 18 January 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
6. "Circle Line Stage 3". LTA. 20 January 2003. Archived from the original on 26 May 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
7. "Official Opening of NTUC FairPrice's Fresh Food Distribution Centre". NAS. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
8. "National Stadium to make way for sports centre". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 16 February 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
9. Tan, Yo-Hinn (17 February 2003). "Build a sports culture (Page 38)". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 26 October 2019.
10. "Code unveiled". Today (retrieved from NLB). 17 February 2003. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
11. "Launch of the Code of Governance for National Sports Associations". NAS. 15 February 2003. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
12. "World Trade Centre Retail Re-Opens With New Look and Name". Mapletree. 17 February 2003. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
13. Tor, Ching Li (17 February 2003). "WTC is now HarbourFront Centre". Today (retrieved from NLB). p. 5. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
14. "Speech by Mr David T E Lim at the Launch of Fusionpolis at One-North, Ayer Rajah Avenue". MITA (now MCI). 20 February 2003. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
15. "Official Launch of NEWater". nas.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
16. "Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, 2003". NLB. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
17. "Sars in Singapore: Timeline". The Straits Times. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
18. "Closure of schools: Joint Press Release by MOE and MOH". NAS. 26 March 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
19. "Phased Reopening of Schools". NAS. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
20. "Combating SARS with new Infrared Fever Sensing System". DSTA. 15 April 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
21. "Press Statement by Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan at Press Conference on 20 April 2003". MND. 20 April 2003. Archived from the original on 6 March 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
22. "Combating SARS with Infrared Fever Sensing System". DSTA. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
23. "Press Statement by the Ministry of National Development on the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre". MND. 28 April 2003. Archived from the original on 6 March 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
24. "Singapore Introduces 100% Temperature Checks for All Passengers Departing and Arriving By Sea". MPA. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
25. "Nurse loses battle with SARS on Mothers Day". The Star. 13 May 2003. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
26. "Launch of the SARS Channel". NAS. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
27. "Launch of Singapore's SARS Channel". StarHub. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
28. "SARS Channel To Cease Transmission". StarHub. 7 July 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
29. "Update 70 – Singapore removed from list of areas with local SARS transmission". World Health Organization. 30 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 August 2003. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
30. "Official Opening of the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS)". MOT. 20 March 2003. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
31. "Flag-Off Ceremony for Toyota Compressed Natural Gas Taxis". NAS. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
32. "Sale of CPG Corporation Pte Ltd to Downer EDI Ltd". Temasek Holdings. 24 March 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
33. "Downer EDI to buy CPG from Temasek". The Star. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
34. "Comfort, DelGro merger to create $1b company". The Business Times (Zaobao). 22 November 2002. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
35. "Corporate Profile". ComfortDelGro. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
36. "Sun begins to set on Daimaru". Today (retrieved from NLB). 13 March 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
37. "Formation of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority". NAS. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
38. "Sun begins to set on Daimaru". Today (retrieved from NLB). 13 March 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
39. "Overseas Union Bank (OUB)". NLB. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
40. "Last traces of OUB name go with OUT". The Business Times. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
41. "President Signed U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
42. "Press Conference on the launch of Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE)". Action Community for Entrepreneurship. 26 May 2003. Archived from the original on 8 September 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
43. "More than words, a S'pore way of life". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 10 June 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
44. "Opening Date for the North East Line". LTA. 7 June 2003. Archived from the original on 11 August 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
45. "It's a smooth ride on NEL – mostly". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 21 June 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
46. "Restructuring of HDB". NAS. 26 February 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
47. Arnold, Wayne (5 July 2003). "Quietly, Singapore lifts its ban on hiring gays". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
48. "World's first separation of adult Siamese twins in Singapore". NLB. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
49. "Singapore pushes the boundaries". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
50. "Success: Korean Twins Separated". CBS News. 22 July 2003. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
51. "Speech by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline from Grissik, Indonesia to Sakra, Singapore, 04 August 2003, 1.15 pm (Singapore time)". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
52. "90 new Creative products to hit shelves". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 7 August 2003. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
53. "Volunteerism increasing, now for philanthropy". Today (retrieved from NLB). 26 August 2003. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
54. "Singapore man confirmed with SARS". CNN. 9 September 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
55. "A stat board just for workers". The Straits Times. 17 September 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
56. "Best of Taiwan in a yummy parcel from BreadTalk". The Straits Times. 27 September 2003. p. 34. Retrieved 2 December 2022– via NewspaperSG.
57. "CPF Contribution and Allocation Rates from 1 October 2003 to 31 December 2003" (PDF). CPF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
58. "Changing CPF rates over the years". The Straits Times. 12 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
59. "Official Opening of Raffles Terrace at Fort Canning Park". MND. 10 October 2003. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
60. "Singapore unveils "MoneySENSE" – A National Financial Education Programme for Consumers". MAS. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
61. "Speech By AG Minister Khaw Boon Wan, At The Launch Of SingaporeMedicine, 20 October 2003, 4.00 pm". NAS. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
62. "Biopolis heralds next phase of Singapore's biomedical sciences development". A*STAR. 29 October 2003. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
63. "Keynote Address by Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan, at the Launch of Biopolis, Singapore, 29 October 2003, 7.00 pm". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
64. "Queenstown Community Library". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
65. Tan, Hui Leng (11 November 2003). "Sharper cyber eye". Today. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
66. "Delhaize Group sells interest in Singapore retailer Shop N Save". Globe Newswire (Press release). 14 November 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
67. "Completing the Circle via Holland V". Today (retrieved from NLB). 13 December 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
68. "News 5 Tonight (12 December 2003)". MediaCorp (retrieved from NAS). Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
69. "Opening of a New Vehicular Viaduct To Provide a More Direct Route between Tampines and Kaki Bukit". LTA. 27 December 2003. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
70. Raymond, Jose (13 May 2003). "Bye bye, Coney". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 6 September 2019.
71. "Malaysian held over Thai woman's murder". The Star . 12 January 2003. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
72. "MURDER ACCUSED FACES MORE CHARGES". The Straits Times . 27 March 2003 – via NewspaperSG.
73. "Sars in Singapore: Timeline". The Straits Times. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
74. "Ong Poh Lim". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
75. "Remembering S'pore's Sars heroes: Gone but never forgotten". Asiaone. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
76. "Nurse loses battle with SARS on Mothers Day". The Star. 13 May 2003. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
77. "[2004] SGHC 202". Supreme Court Judgements. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 17 May 2024.