Year 1998

Singapores First Satellite

Tuesday, 1st December 1998

The ST1 telecommunication satellite, a partnership between Taiwan’s government-run Chunghwa Telecom and Singapore Telecoms, began commercial operations today, three months later it blasted into orbit. The satellite, built by Frances Matra Marconi Space and launched by the European company, Arianspace, was handed to the owners after months of testing and adjustment.


DBS Acquired POSB

Monday, 16th November 1998

DBS Bank fully acquired The Post Office Savings Bank (POSB or POSBank) our nation's beloved "People's bank" and POSB ceased to exist as a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance. The integration of both banks allowed customers of either bank to share the facilities; DBS Bank depositors may use the Cash Deposit Machine installed islandwide in POSBank branches, likewise for POSBank depositors.


RSAF F-16 USA Detachment

Tuesday, 15th September 1998

In 1998, the governments of the United States and Singapore signed an agreement laying the foundation of the Peace Carvin III (PC Three) program. As a Foreign Military Sales training program for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Peace Carvin III was designed for the continued training of RSAF in rapid deployment and tactical employment of the block 52 F-16 C/D throughout a wide spectrum of missions including air to- air, joint maritime and precision air-to-ground weapons delivery.


RSAF 150 Squadron Moved To France

Tuesday, 1st September 1998

The RSAF A-4SU Skyhawks were shipped to southwest France at Cazaux Air Base. The RSAF 150 Squadron was re-established here for advance training of RSAF pilots. The French site was selected because of available practice bombing ranges and airspace over the North Atlantic for ACM training, as well as opportunity for electronic warfare technique practice.


RSAF Setup Oakey Detachment In Australia

Tuesday, 1st September 1998

RSAF's Super Puma detachment in Australia inaugurated on 1 September 1998. Based in the Army Aviation Centre in Oakey, Queensland, the detachment is the second such arrangement between the two countries. The RSAF's Flying Training School at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce, Western Australia, was the first. The detachment was made possible by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the defence ministers of Singapore and Australia in October 1996.


RSAF Trainer Aircraft Veers off Runway

Friday, 21st August 1998

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) SIAI-Marchetti S.211 aircraft veered off the runway while landing at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Gingin Airfield in Australia. This is about 28 nautical miles (40 km) north-west of RAAF’s Pearce base, in Western Australia, where the RSAF Flying Training School, Basic Training Wing. The pilot was not hurt. He was sent to the medical centre at Pearce RAAFB for observation. The undercarriage of the aircraft was damaged. A Mindef statement said the RSAF was investigating the incident.


Sing Singapore Bus

Saturday, 30th May 1998

Hop on the singing bus for those who fancied singing Singapore songs. The Sing Singapore Bus was brought to 98 venues around the island where they could join others to belt out the songs. Bukit Timah GRC MP Ms. Yu-Foo Yee Shoon launched the special bus service at the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange.


Singapore climber reached Everest summit

Monday, 25th May 1998

Climbers Khoo Swee Chiow and Edwin Siew, and their four Sherpas, reached the summit at 8.30 am, Singapore time. The Singapore Everest team reached the top of the 8,848 meter high summit six days after it aborted the first attempt to scale the world’s highest peak.


Money No Enough

Thursday, 7th May 1998

Money No Enough is a movie directed by the local movie director, Jack Neo. Money No Enough was released in cinemas in the wake of the 1998s Asian financial crisis. The film is about three friends with various financial struggles, who start a car polishing business together. The film earned over S$5.8 million and remains Singapore’s all-time highest-grossing film. And it catapulted Neo into the local movie limelight. The Singaporean film industry experienced a revival following the success of the film.


Asian Aerospace '98

Tuesday, 24th February 1998

The Ninth Asian Aerospace ‘98 (AA98) is a 6-day event, taking place from 24 February to 1 March 1998. The first 4 days of the Singapore Airshow are exclusively for trade attendees and the final 2 weekend days are open to general public at large. Show visitors are treated to an extra 30-minute aerobatic flying display taking place at this year’s Singapore Airshow over the public weekend. This is in addition to the 60-minute aerial display.