Year 1979
Singapore honours top talent with Honorary Citizen award
Monday, 27th October 2003
Dr Sydney Brenner (Nobel Laureate) and Mr Pasquale Pistorio (CEO of STMicroelectronics) were conferred Singapore's highest award for global talent as recognition of their outstanding contributions to developing the biomedical and semiconductor industries in Singapore. This first Honorary Citizen award ceremony was held at the Istana on 27 October 2003. It will mark the first time Singapore is conferring such high honours on global talent. According to the government spokesperson, "Singapore must stay connected and open to the world in order to be relevant and to flourish. We have to attract the best people, with the best ideas to Singapore so that we can continue to enlarge the economic pie."
The Esplanade Opened
Sunday, 12th October 2003
The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay officially opened. The opening of this new and major venue for the arts is a reflection of Singapore’s aim and vision of becoming a global city for the arts.
New National Library Project Started
Friday, 15th August 2003
Dr. Lee Seng Gee repeated history when the Lee Foundation he chaired gave S$60 million to the National Library Board. On 15th Aug 2003, Dr. Lee, the son of Mr. Lee Kong Chian, the the foundation stone for the New National Library Project exactly 50 years after his father did the same.
Siamese twins undergo surgical separation
Sunday, 6th July 2003
Iranian twin sisters, Laleh and Ladan Bijani, 29, were the world's first adult Siamese twins to undergo surgical separation in Singapore. The twins, who were born conjoined at their heads, however did not survive the 52-hour marathon operation which started on 6 July, dying within hours of each other on 8 July 2003. News of the twins' deaths was received with shock, grief and sadness by Singaporeans and Iranians alike. On 10 July 2003 Ladan and Laleh's bodies were flown back to Iran. Thousands of mourners lined the 10 km streets leading to the twins' birthplace of Lohrasb, where they were finally laid to rest on 12 July 2003.
Change In CPF Minimum Sum Scheme
Tuesday, 1st July 2003
The CPF Minimum Sum (MS) of $80,000 is the amount you have to set aside, in your Retirement Account (RA), for retirement needs in the Minimum Sum Scheme (MSS). It need not be all in cash. Up to 50 per cent of this sum can be a property pledge ($40,000). Your RA is set up when you reach 55 and it comprises savings from your Ordinary and Special accounts. The Minimum Sum amount will adjusted annual at a rate of about 5% per year. According to government statistics, only 40% of workers were able to meet the requirement upon reaching 55 years old.
Singapore's OK, Our Town Sparkles Programme
Sunday, 29th June 2003
The Singapore's OK - Our Town Sparkles programme, launched on 29 June. The aim of the campaign is to create awareness and a sense of ownership among residents, and that a community effort is needed to keep the blocks clean. Under this campaign, blocks that pass the cleanliness test for public areas commonly plagued by litter are awarded the "sparkle" sticker that the residents can proudly stick at their lift lobbies.
MRT North East Line Opened For Commuters
Friday, 20th June 2003
The North East MRT Line (NEL) is the third Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore was opened for commuters in Singapore.
Two Students Flew In F-16s
Saturday, 24th May 2003
Two students from the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC), 18-year old Gabriel Yam and 20-year old Matthew Foo, flew on the F-16 fighter jet. This was the first time that the RSAF provides a familiarisation flight on the F-16 fighters.
ST Aerospace To Conduct RSAF TWC
Wednesday, 23rd April 2003
ST Aerospace was awarded a five-year contract to provide the RSAF training for its trainee pilots until they became full-fledged transport pilots. The six months course teaches pilot trainee to fly in a Beechcraft King Air C90GTi aircraft.
Courage Fund Setup
Friday, 11th April 2003
The Courage Fund was set up as a fund-raising effort to provide relief to SARS victims and healthcare workers.
Nation Building 2 People 1 Places 10
2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1942 1940 1939 1937 1936 1935 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1924 1923 1922 1920 1919 1913 1911 1910 1909 1906 1905 1901 All