1987 in Singapore

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← 1986 1985 1984 1987 in Singapore → 1988 1989 1990
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
See also:	Other events of 1987 Timeline of Singaporean history

The following lists events that happened during 1987 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President: Wee Kim Wee
• Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew

Events

January

• 14 January – The Mandarin Oriental Singapore is officially opened.
• 24 January – The last nightsoil bucket system is phased out in Lorong Halus, signalling the beginning of complete modern sanitation in Singapore. ^[1]

March

• 1 March – A new Have Three or More (if you can afford it) policy is announced to encourage people to have three or more children. This comes after significant decreases in population through the previous 'Stop at Two' policy of 1972. ^{[2] [3]}
• 6 March – The National Solidarity Party is formed. ^[4]

April

• 3 April – The Housing and Development Board (HDB) introduces a new scheme for families with third children to upgrade to bigger flats. This comes after the new 'Have Three or More (if you can afford it)' policy is announced a month ago. ^[5]

May

• 3 May – The first vertical marathon is held at Westin Stamford to raise funds for Community Chest. ^[6]
• 9 May – The Bukit Timah Satellite Earth Station is officially opened. ^[7]
• 15 May – The PSA Building is officially opened, serving as PSA's headquarters. ^{[8] [9]}
• 21 May – 21 people are arrested in Operation Spectrum for the Marxist conspiracy. ^{[10] [11]}

June

• 20 June – As part of Operation Spectrum, another 6 are detained, with 4 of the 16 arrested earlier released from detention. ^{[12] [13]}

July

• 11 July – Construction starts on Changi Airport's new Terminal 2, which will be linked to Terminal 1 via an automated people mover (now known as Changi Airport Skytrain). ^[14]

August

• 6 August – SMRT Corporation is formed. ^[15]
• 14 August – The Public Transport Council is formed to regulate public transport fares and standards.
• 26 August – The Van Kleef Aquarium reopens after an 18-month revamp. ^{[16] [17]}

September

• 2 September – The cleanup of the Singapore River was declared complete. ^[18]
• 28 September – The $1 and 1-cent Second Series Coins are launched. ^[19]

November

• 7 November – The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang and Toa Payoh, was opened. ^{[20] [21]}
• 28 November – The Environment Building is officially opened as the Ministry of the Environment's (now Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment) headquarters, bringing together all of ENV's departments under one roof. ^[22]

December

• 10 December – The Omniplanetarium (present-day Omni-Theatre) is officially opened. ^[23]
• 12 December – The second section of the MRT was opened, stretching from Novena to Outram Park. ^[24]
• 28 December – Singapore Indoor Stadium starts construction. When completed, it will help to enhance sports and entertainment events, which is completed in 1989. ^[25]

Births

• 22 January – Daphne Khoo, singer, contestant of Singapore Idol (Season 1).
• 18 May - Ya Hui, actress
• 1 July – Charmaine Yee, radio DJ.
• 6 August – Sezairi Sezali, singer, winner of Singapore Idol (Season 3).
• 11 October – Wang Weiliang, actor.
• Louis Chua – politician.

Deaths

• 16 November – Zubir Said - Composer of Majulah Singapura (b. 1907). ^[26]
• 17 November – Lim Nang Seng - Sculptor (b. 1917). ^[27]
• 28 November – Goh Choo San - Choreographer, ballet dancer (b. 1948). ^[28]

References

1. "Death knell of nightsoil buckets". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 24 January 1987. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
2. "Have 3, or more if you can afford it". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 2 March 1987. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
3. ""Have 3, or more if you can afford it" is announced". NLB. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
4. "National Solidarity Party is formed". NLB. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
5. "Third-child HDB priority scheme is introduced". NLB. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
6. "First vertical marathon". NLB. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
7. "Official opening of the Bukit Timah Satellite Earth Station" (PDF). NAS. 9 May 1987. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
8. "Official Opening of the PSA Building" (PDF). NAS. 15 May 1987. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
9. "Building's a tribute to local talent". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 16 May 1987. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
10. "16 held in security swoop". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 22 May 1987. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
11. "16 are arrested for Marxist Conspiracy". NLB. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
12. "Govt detains six more". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 21 June 1987. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
13. "16 are arrested for Marxist Conspiracy". NLB. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
14. "Foundation stone laying ceremony for Changi Airport Terminal II" (PDF). NAS. 11 July 1987. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
15. "SBS to be offered up to 25% of MRT company". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 7 August 1987. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
16. "Van Kleef Aquarium reopens today after $750,000 facelift". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 26 August 1987. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
17. "Van Kleef Aquarium". NLB. 14 May 1991. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
18. "Opening ceremony of Clean Rivers Commemoration '87" (PDF). NAS. 2 September 1987. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
19. "Circulation Currency: Coins". MAS. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
20. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, Singapore 1988, p. 10.
21. "Inauguration of public service of the MRT system at the Toa Payoh station" (PDF). NAS. 7 November 1987. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
22. "Official Opening of Environment Building" (PDF). NAS. 28 November 1987. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
23. "President Wee opens Omniplanetarium". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 11 December 1987. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
24. "Commencement of passenger service of the second section of the MRT system at Orchard station" (PDF). NAS. 12 December 1987. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
25. "Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Singapore Indoor Stadium" (PDF). NAS. 28 December 1987. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
26. "Zubir Said". NLB. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
27. "Merlion sculptor dies after surgery". The Straits Times (Overseas Ed). Singapore. 21 November 1987. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
28. "Goh Choo San". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.

• The MRT Story. Singapore: Mass Rapid Transit Corporation. 1988. ISBN   978-981-00-0251-0.