Timeline of Singaporean history
Encyclopedia
This is a timeline
of the history
of Singapore
. For more detailed annual listings, see List of years in Singapore.
Timeline
A timeline is a way of displaying a list of events in chronological order, sometimes described as a project artifact . It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labeled with dates alongside itself and events labeled on points where they would have happened.-Uses of timelines:Timelines...
of the history
History of Singapore
The history of Singapore dates to the 11th century. The island rose in importance during the 14th century under the rule of Srivijayan prince Parameswara and became an important port until it was destroyed by Acehnese raiders in 1613. The modern history of Singapore began in 1819 when Englishman...
of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. For more detailed annual listings, see List of years in Singapore.
Before 1800
- 3rd century – Early Chinese account of Singapore describes the island of "Pu Luo Chung".
- 13th century – The port of TemasekTemasekTemasek was the name of an early city on the site of modern Singapore. From the 14th century, the island has also been known as Singapura, which is derived from Sanskrit and means "Lion City"...
is founded by Sang Nila UtamaSang Nila UtamaSang Nila Utama was a Srivijayan prince from Palembang who founded the kingdom of Singapura in 1324. He was officially styled as Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana...
, a prince of SrivijayaSrivijayaSrivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
. - 1320 – The Mongol courtMongol EmpireThe Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
sends a mission to obtain elephants from Long Ya MenLong Ya MenLong Ya Men or Dragon's Teeth Gate, a craggy granite outcrop, formerly stood at the gateway to Keppel Harbour in Singapore. The Long Ya Men served as navigational aids to ancient mariners sailing through the swift waters of the narrow channel between them...
(or Dragon's Tooth Strait), believed to be Keppel HarbourKeppel HarbourKeppel Harbour is a stretch of water in Singapore between the mainland and the southern islands of Pulau Brani and Sentosa. Its naturally sheltered and deep waters was to meet the requirements of British colonists attempting to establish a Far East maritime colony in that part of the world, and...
. - 1330s – The Chinese traveller Wang DayuanWang DayuanWang Dayuan was a traveller from Quanzhou, China during the Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century. He made two major trips on ships. During 1328-1333, he sailed along the South China Sea and visited many places in Southeast Asia and reached as far as South Asia, landing in Sri Lanka and India...
visits Temasek. - 1390s – Parameswara, the last SrivijayaSrivijayaSrivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
n prince, flees to Temasek. - 1414 – Temasek becomes part of the Sultanate of Malacca established by ParameswaraParameswara (sultan)Parameswara , also called Iskandar Shah or Sri Majara, was a Malay-Hindu prince from Temasek who founded the Malacca Sultanate around 1402.-Etymology:...
. - 1511 – Temasek becomes part of Sultanate of Johor after Malacca fell to the Portuguese.
- 1613 – Portuguese burn down a trading outpost at the mouth of Singapore River.
1800–1899
- 1819 – 29 January – Stamford RafflesStamford RafflesSir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore . He is often described as the "Father of Singapore"...
arrives in SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
with William FarquharWilliam FarquharMajor-General William Farquhar was an employee of the East India Company, and the first Resident of colonial Singapore.-Early life:Farquhar was born at Newhall, Aberdeenshire, near Aberdeen in 1774, and joined the East India Company as a cadet when he was 17...
to establish a trading post for the British East India CompanyBritish East India CompanyThe East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. - 1819 – 6 February – The treaty is signed between Sultan Hussein of JohorJohorJohor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Stamford RafflesStamford RafflesSir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore . He is often described as the "Father of Singapore"...
. Farquhar is installed as Resident of the settlement. - 1821 – Singapore General Hospital is established.
- 1822 – Raffles drafts the Raffles Plan of Singapore to reorganise the island.
- 1823 – Dr John Crawfurd takes over as Resident.
- 1823 – Raffles InstitutionRaffles InstitutionRaffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
is founded by Stamford RafflesStamford RafflesSir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore . He is often described as the "Father of Singapore"...
. - 1826 – Singapore becomes part of the British colony of Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
under the rule of the East India CompanyBritish East India CompanyThe East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, together with MalaccaMalaccaMalacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
and PenangPenangPenang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. - 1830 – Singapore comes under the Presidency of BengalBengalBengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
in India. - 1832 – Singapore becomes the centre of government of the Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
. - 1842 – St. Margaret's Girls School is founded by Maria TarnMaria TarnMaria Dyer , was a British Protestant Christian missionary to the Chinese in the Congregationalist tradition, who worked among the Chinese in Malaysia. She arrived in Penang in 1827 with her husband, Samuel Dyer. She was the eldest daughter of Joseph Tarn, Director of London Missionary Society...
Dyer, the first and oldest all girls' school in Singapore - 1843 – Thomas DunmanThomas DunmanThomas Dunman was the first Commissioner of Police in Singapore from 1856 to 1871. Dunman Road and Dunman Lane in the Katong area of Singapore are named after him....
, the first full-time police chief of Singapore, improves the police force as well as the pay and working hours of policemen. - 1844 – The Tan Tock Seng HospitalTan Tock Seng HospitalThe Tan Tock Seng Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Singapore after the Singapore General Hospital, but its accident and emergency department is the busiest in the country largely due to its geographically centralised location...
begins operation. - 1844 – 4 March – Raffles Girls' School is established.
- 1845 - The Straits Times is established.
- 1852 – A new deep harbour called New Harbour, later known as Keppel HarbourKeppel HarbourKeppel Harbour is a stretch of water in Singapore between the mainland and the southern islands of Pulau Brani and Sentosa. Its naturally sheltered and deep waters was to meet the requirements of British colonists attempting to establish a Far East maritime colony in that part of the world, and...
, is built. St Joseph's Institution [as St John's Institution] established. - 1858 – Singapore is placed under the hierarchy of the Government of India, remaining as part of the Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
. - 1858 – Commercial Square is renamed Raffles PlaceRaffles PlaceRaffles Place is a geographical location in Singapore, south of the mouth of the Singapore River. Located in the Downtown Core and the Central Area, it features some of the tallest buildings and landmarks of the country.-History:...
. - 1859 – The Singapore Botanic GardensSingapore Botanic GardensThe Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 74-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m...
is founded. - 1867 – 1 April – Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
become a crown colony of British EmpireBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. - 1869 – The Suez CanalSuez CanalThe Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
opens, and Singapore enjoys the increase in trade - 1877 – The Chinese ProtectorateChinese ProtectorateThe Chinese Protectorate was an administrative body responsible for the well-being of ethnic Chinese residents of the Straits Settlements during that territory's British colonial period. Protectorates were established in each area of the Settlements, namely Singapore, Penang and Malacca. Each was...
is set up, and William PickeringWilliam A. PickeringWilliam A. Pickering was the first Protector appointed by the British government to administer the Chinese Protectorate in colonial Singapore. He was the first European official in Singapore who could speak fluent Mandarin and Hokkien and gained the trust of many of the Singapore Chinese...
becomes the head of it. - 1885 – Gan Eng Seng SchoolGan Eng Seng SchoolFounded by philanthropist Gan Eng Seng in 1885, Gan Eng Seng School is one of the oldest schools in Singapore. GESS was the first school to be set up by a local Chinese and the first to form a parent-teachers' association in 1950. It was an all-boys' school for 102 years until it became...
was established at Telok Ayer Street - 1886 – Anglo-Chinese SchoolAnglo-Chinese SchoolThe Anglo-Chinese School ; is a family of Methodist schools in Singapore, and Indonesia.The name is usually abbreviated as "ACS", with the junior college as "ACJC", and its students and alumni referred to as "ACSians" , or "ACS boys" .ACS was the first school...
established. - 1887 – Methodist Girls' SchoolMethodist Girls' SchoolMethodist Girls' School is a girls' independent school, consisting of two sections - the Primary School and Secondary School, located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. It is affiliated to the Anglo-Chinese School family and the Methodist Church in Singapore...
established. - 1887 – The Raffles HotelRaffles HotelRaffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
is built. - 1888 – Henry Ridley becomes the director of the Singapore Botanic GardensSingapore Botanic GardensThe Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 74-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m...
. - 1888 – The Singapore Fire Brigade was formed.
- 1892 – The Tanjong Pagar Police Station opens, and many SikhSikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
policemen are recruited. - 1899 – Singapore Chinese Girls' SchoolSingapore Chinese Girls' SchoolSingapore Chinese Girls' School is one of the oldest schools in Singapore having been founded in 1899. It is a full school with both primary and secondary divisions, taking in students between the ages of 6 and 16...
1900–1939
- 1906 – The NanyangNanyang (geographical region)Nanyang is the Chinese name for the geographical region south of China, particularly Southeast Asia. Literally meaning "Southern Ocean", it came into common usage in self-reference to the large ethnic Chinese migrant population in Southeast Asia, to be more precise, in Singapore, the Philippines,...
branch of TongmenghuiTongmenghuiThe Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
is set up in Singapore. - 1906 – Tao Nan SchoolTao Nan SchoolTao Nan School , is a co-educational primary school in Singapore. One of the five Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan schools, along with Ai Tong School, Chongfu Primary School, Kong Hwa School and Nan Chiau Secondary School, Tao Nan School is among the 30 most popular primary schools listed by the...
established by the Hokkien Huay Kuan. - 1912 – The Singapore Harbor board is set up.
- 1915 – 15–25 February – The Singapore Mutiny1915 Singapore MutinyThe 1915 Singapore Mutiny, also known as the 1915 Sepoy Mutiny, or Mutiny of the 5th Native Light Infantry was a mutiny involving up to half of 850 sepoys against the British in Singapore during the First World War, linked with the 1915 Ghadar Conspiracy...
occurred as British MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Indian sepoySepoyA sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
s rose up against the British. - 1917 – Nanyang Girls' High SchoolNanyang Girls' High SchoolNanyang Girls' High School is an all-girls secondary school in Singapore. It participates in the Integrated Programme with Hwa Chong Institution under the Hwa Chong Affiliate Programme...
was established by Tan Chor Nam , partially due to Dr Sun Yat Sen's belief in education for girls. - 1919 – The Chinese High SchoolThe Chinese High SchoolThe Chinese High School , formerly Singapore Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School was an independent school in Singapore offering secondary education. The school was founded by Tan Kah Kee on 21 March 1919 and it merged with Hwa Chong Junior College on 1 January 2005 to form Hwa Chong Institution...
established by Tan Kah KeeTan Kah KeeTan Kah Kee was a prominent businessman, community leader, and philanthropist in colonial Singapore, and a Communist leader in the People's Republic of China.- Early years :...
. - 1923 – Singapore starts constructing the main British naval baseNaval baseA naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
in East AsiaEast AsiaEast Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
. - 1932 - Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is opened.
- 1935 – Catholic High School, the first bicultural and bilingual school in Singapore, was founded.
- 1937 - 12 June - Kallang Airport is opened.
- 1939 - Singapore completes the main British naval base, which is the largest drydock and third largest floating dockFloating dockA floating dock is a platform or ramp supported by pontoons. It is usually joined to the shore with a ramp that rests upon the dock on rollers, to adjust for the vertical movement of the dock...
in the world.
1940s
- 1941 – 7/8 December – In an extensive three-pronged attackAttack on Pearl HarborThe attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Japan opens hostilities with the AlliesAllies of World War IIThe Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
and their colonies. First air raid on Singapore at 4:15 am. The Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
invades MalayaBattle of MalayaThe Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
. - 1941 – 10 December – The British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS RepulseHMS Repulse (1916)HMS Repulse was a Renown-class battlecruiser of the Royal Navy built during the First World War. She was originally laid down as an improved version of the s. Her construction was suspended on the outbreak of war on the grounds she would not be ready in a timely manner...
are sunk by Japanese bombers. - 1941 - 16 December - Second air raid on Singapore, at night. Only RAF Tengah is attacked.
- 1941 - 25 December - A lone Japanese aircraft drops propaganda pamphlets on Singapore Island.
- 1941 - 29 December - Second Japanese air raid on Singapore City (and third on the island), at night. Nightly raids commence.
- 1941 - 30 December - The Overseas Chinese Mobilization Council is set up in Singapore, led by Tan Kah Kee.
- 1942 - 12 January - First major daylight air raid on Singapore. Henceforth, the island is bombed everyday up to the British surrender (with the exception of 19 January).
- 1942 – 31 January – MalayaBritish MalayaBritish Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
falls to the Japanese and the Causeway is blown up to delay Japan's advancement to Singapore. - 1942 - 1 February - The siege of Singapore begins. The Japanese in Johor Bahru begin shelling the island daily in addition to daily aerial bombing.
- 1942 – 8 February – The Japanese cross the Strait of Johor by inflatable boats and land in Singapore during the Battle of SingaporeBattle of SingaporeThe Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
. - 1942 – 11 February – The Japanese and Allied soldiers fight fiercely at Bukit TimahBukit TimahBukit Timah is an area in Singapore and a hill in that area. Bukit Timah is located near the centre of the Singapore main island. The hill stands at an altitude of 163.63 metres and is the highest point in the city-state of Singapore...
. - 1942 – 13 February – The Malay regiment, led by Lt. Adnan bin SaidiAdnan Bin SaidiAdnan bin Saidi, , was a Malayan soldier of the 1st Infantry Brigade which fought the Japanese in the Battle of Singapore. He is regarded by Malaysians and Singaporeans today as a hero for his actions on Bukit Chandu.-Personal life:...
, fight bravely against the Japanese at Pasir Panjang Ridge in the Battle of Pasir PanjangBattle of Pasir PanjangThe Battle of Pasir Panjang, which took place between 13 and 14 February 1942, was part of the final stage of the Empire of Japan's invasion of Singapore during World War II...
. - 1942 – 14 February – The Japanese have captured most of Singapore, and most of the population is crammed into the city centre.
- 1942 – 15 February – The British surrenders and the Japanese Occupation of SingaporeJapanese Occupation of SingaporeThe Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
starts. Singapore is renamed Syonan (Light of the South). - 1942 – February/March – The Japanese military police, the Kempei Tai kills an estimated 25,000 to 50,000 people during Sook Ching MassacreSook Ching massacreThe Sook Ching massacre was a systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese military during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, after the British colony surrendered on 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. Sook Ching was later...
. - 1943 - September 27 - Operation Jaywick occurs. Seven Japanese ships are bombed at Clifford Pier.
- 1943 - October 10 - The Japanese initiate the Double Tenth Incident in response to Operation Jaywick, by launching a fierce crackdown on anti-Japanese elements and Allied prisoners-of-war in Singapore.
- 1944 – March 27 – Lim Bo SengLim Bo SengLim Bo Seng was a World War II anti-Japanese resistance fighter based in Singapore and Malaya.-Family background and early life:...
is captured by the Japanese, and dies after 3 months of torture. - 1945 – 14 August - Japan surrenders, and there is anomieAnomieAnomie is a term meaning "without Law" to describe a lack of social norms; "normlessness". It describes the breakdown of social bonds between an individual and their community ties, with fragmentation of social identity and rejection of self-regulatory values. It was popularized by French...
and lootingLootingLooting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
for nearly a month when the British do not return immediately. - 1945 – 5 September – The British return to Singapore after the end of World War II and begin a military administration of the Straits Settlements.
- 1946 – 1 April – The Straits Settlements is dissolved and Singapore becomes a separate crown colony.
- 1947 – May – Severe food shortage leads to record-low rice ration, causing malnutrition, disease and outbreak of crime and violence.
- 1947 – A large number of strikesStrike actionStrike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
occur causing stoppages in public transport, public services and the harbour. - 1948 – Rubber plantations and tin mines in Malaya are destroyed by communists, and the British declares the state of Emergency over Singapore and MalayaMalayan EmergencyThe Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
. - 1948 – 20 March – Singapore's first limited election is held, with 6 seats in the Legislative Council. The Singapore Progressive Party wins 3 seats.
- 1948 – 18 June – Malayan EmergencyMalayan EmergencyThe Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
begins, Singapore declared a State of EmergencyState of emergencyA state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
a week later. - 1949 – The University of MalayaUniversity of MalayaThe University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
is formed following the merger of Raffles College and King Edward Medical College.
1950s
- 1950 – 11–13 December – 18 people are killed during the Maria Hertogh riotsMaria Hertogh riotsThe Maria Hertogh riots or Nadrah riots, began on 11 December 1950 in Singapore after a court decided that a child who had been raised by Muslims should be returned to her biological Catholic parents. A protest by outraged Muslims escalated into a riot when images were published showing 13-year-old...
. - 1951 – The number of elected seats is increased to 9 in the second election.
- 1953 – Rendel Commission is appointed to make recommendations for Singapore's self-government.
- 1954 – May – Chinese school students demonstrate against the British due to the National Service proposal. See Anti-National Service Riots1954 National Service Riots1954 National Service Riots or Anti-National Service Riots is a riot in Singapore that occurred in 1954 due to the communist influence. The persons involved were limited to the Chinese students in some Chinese Middle Schools...
- 1955 – 12 May – Four people are killed during the Hock Lee bus riotsHock Lee bus riotsThe Hock Lee bus riots occurred on May 12, 1955, in Singapore. 4 people were killed and 31 injured in the violent and bloody riot.-Strikes begin:...
. - 1955 – 2 April – The Labour FrontLabour FrontThe Labour Front was a political party in Singapore. It was founded before the 1955 legislative council elections by David Saul Marshall, Singapore's first chief minister in 1955 and Lim Yew Hock, Singapore's second chief minister...
wins the most seats in election and David Saul MarshallDavid Saul MarshallDavid Saul Marshall was the leader of the Singapore Labour Front and became the first Chief Minister of Singapore in 1955....
becomes the first Chief Minister of Singapore. - 1956 – June – David Saul MarshallDavid Saul MarshallDavid Saul Marshall was the leader of the Singapore Labour Front and became the first Chief Minister of Singapore in 1955....
appeals to the United Kingdom for full self-government, but resigns when he fails. Lim Yew HockLim Yew HockLim Yew Hock , later renamed Haji Omar Lim Yew Hock, was Singapore’s second Chief Minister from 1956 to 1959. He is known for suppressing the communist movements and leading the all-party delegation that won internal self-government for Singapore....
takes over as Chief Minister. - 1956 – October – Riots by pro-communist Chinese school students occur when government closes down a student union.
- 1956 – – River Valley High School, Singapore (formally known as Singapore Government Chinese Middle School), became the first Chinese secondary school established by the government.
- 1959 – March – Lim Yew HockLim Yew HockLim Yew Hock , later renamed Haji Omar Lim Yew Hock, was Singapore’s second Chief Minister from 1956 to 1959. He is known for suppressing the communist movements and leading the all-party delegation that won internal self-government for Singapore....
successfully gains full self-government for Singapore. - 1959 – May – People's Action PartyPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP) wins the General Election and Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
becomes the first Prime MinisterPrime Minister of SingaporeThe Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
. - 1959 – Encik Yusof bin Ishak becomes the Head of StateHead of StateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Singapore. - 1959 – 3 June – A celebration is held at the PadangPadang, SingaporeThe Padang is an open field located within the Downtown Core of the Central Area in Singapore, at the heart of Singapore's central business district. It was formerly known as the Padang Cricket Ground...
for Singapore gaining full self-government. - 1959 – 3 December – The national anthem Majulah SingapuraMajulah SingapuraMajulah Singapura is the national anthem of Singapore. Composed by Zubir Said in 1958 as a theme song for official functions of the City Council of Singapore, the song was selected in 1959 as the island's anthem when it attained self-government. Upon full independence in 1965, Majulah Singapura...
, written by Zubir SaidZubir SaidZubir Said was a Singaporean composer originally from the Minangkabau highlands of Indonesia who composed the national anthem of Singapore, "Majulah Singapura"...
, is presented.
1960s
- 1960 – The Housing and Development Board is set up.
- 1961 – 25 May – The Bukit Ho Swee FireBukit Ho Swee FireThe Bukit Ho Swee Fire is a fire that broke out in the squatter settlement of Bukit Ho Swee, Singapore, on May 25, 1961 at 3.20 p.m. Four people died, eighty-five were injured, and 16,000 were made homeless and more than 2,200 attap houses were destroyed...
kills four people and destroys 2,200 attap houses. - 1961 – 27 May – Tunku Abdul RahmanTunku Abdul RahmanTunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
, the Prime Minister of MalayaFederation of MalayaThe Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, proposes a merger between Singapore, Malaya, SabahSabahSabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
and SarawakSarawakSarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. - 1962 – 1 September – A referendum is held in Singapore to vote on merger with Malaysia.
- 1963 – February – During Operation ColdstoreOperation ColdstoreOperation Coldstore was a security operation launched in Singapore on 2 February 1963 in which at least 111 anti-government left-wing activists were arrested and detained, including key members of the opposition political party Barisan Sosialis...
, 107 left-wing politicians and trade unionists are arrested by Internal Security DepartmentInternal Security DepartmentThe Internal Security Department is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970... - 1963 – 9 July – The Malaysia Agreement is signed between leaders of Malaya, Singapore, SabahSabahSabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
and SarawakSarawakSarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. - 1963 – 31 August – In this Malaysia Solidarity Day, Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
declares the Independence for Singapore. - 1963 – 16 September – Malaysia is formed. IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
carries out its konfrontasi campaign. - 1963 – 21 September – The PAP wins the 1963 State Elections, defeating the Barisan SosialisBarisan SosialisThe Barisan Sosialis is a former Singaporean left-wing political party formed in 1961, by left-wing members of the People's Action Party and led by Dr Lee Siew Choh and Lim Chin Siong.-Formation:...
and UMNO. - 1964 – The PAP wins one seat in the Malaysian Federal Election. UMNO is outragedPAP-UMNO relationsThe sometimes turbulent relationship between the People's Action Party and United Malays National Organisation , which were, and still are, the ruling parties respectively of Singapore and Malaysia, has affected the recent history of both states.-Origins:Both parties have common roots, being...
. - 1964 – 21 July – There is an ethnic riot between various Malays and Chinese, on Prophet MuhammadMuhammadMuhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
's birthday, 23 people are killed. - 1965 – 10 March – IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n saboteurs carry out the MacDonald House bombingMacDonald House bombingThe MacDonald House bombing occurred on 10 March 1965, at the then Hongkong and Shanghai Bank building along Orchard Road of Singapore. The time bomb was planted by a duo of Indonesian saboteurs, during the period of Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation...
, killing three people. - 1965 – May – Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
begins campaigning for a Malaysian MalaysiaMalaysian MalaysiaThe phrase "Malaysian Malaysia" was originally used in the early 1960s as the rallying motto of the Malaysian Solidarity Council, a confederation of political parties formed to oppose Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia... - 1965 – 7 August – Singapore and Malaysia sign the separation agreement.
- 1965 – 9 August – The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia.
- 1965 – 21 September – Singapore is admitted into the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as the 117th member. - 1965 – October – Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. - 1965 – 22 December – Constitutional Amendment Act is passed and Yusof bin IshakYusof bin IshakYusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:...
becomes the first President of SingaporePresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. - 1967 – 15 February – The Civilian Memorial is unveiled at the Kranji War CemeteryKranji War CemeteryThe Kranji War Cemetery is located in Kranji, Singapore, and is the final resting place for Allied soldiers who perished during the Battle of Singapore and the subsequent Japanese occupation of the island from 1942-1945 and in other parts of Southeast Asia during World War II.There are 4,461 World...
- 1967 – 14 March – The National ServiceNational serviceNational service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
bill is passed in the parliamentParliament of SingaporeThe Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
. - 1967 – 28 March – Registrations for national serviceNational Service in SingaporeConscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
begins at the Central Manpower Base. - 1967 – 12 June – The issue of the first Singapore DollarSingapore dollarThe Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
. - 1967 – July – The first batch of the army is drafted for national serviceNational Service in SingaporeConscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
. - 1967 – 8 August- Singapore is the founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian NationsAssociation of Southeast Asian NationsThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
(ASEAN). - 1968 – January – BritainUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
announces its intention to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore. - 1968 – April – The PAP wins all seats in the 1968 General Election, which is boycotted by Barisan SosialisBarisan SosialisThe Barisan Sosialis is a former Singaporean left-wing political party formed in 1961, by left-wing members of the People's Action Party and led by Dr Lee Siew Choh and Lim Chin Siong.-Formation:...
. - 1969 – 31 May – The 1969 Race Riots of Singapore1969 Race Riots of SingaporeThe 1969 race riots of Singapore were the only riots encountered in post-independence Singapore as a result of the spillover of the May 13 Incident in Malaysia. The seven days of communal riots resulted in the final toll of 4 dead and 80 wounded.-History:...
broke out after growing tension of the 13 May Incident in Malaysia spilled over to SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
1970s
- 1970 – May – The National Junior CollegeNational Junior CollegeNational Junior College is the first junior college established by the Ministry Of Education, located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. It is considered as one of the top five junior colleges in Singapore. NJC offers a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to the GCE 'A' Levels...
, Singapore's first junior college opens. - 1971 – 2 January – Dr Benjamin Henry ShearesBenjamin Henry ShearesBenjamin Henry Sheares, GCB , was the second President of Singapore.-Early life:Sheares was born the second of six children in Singapore to a Eurasian family with an English lineage. His father Edwin H. Sheares, a technical supervisor of the Public Works Department, was born in England and raised...
becomes the second President of SingaporePresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. - 1971 – 31 October – The last British military forces withdraws from Singapore.
- 1972 – 2 September – The PAP wins the 1972 General Election.
- 1972 – The Singapore AirlinesSingapore AirlinesSingapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
is formed. - 1973 – The first Chingay ParadeChingay ParadeThe Chingay Parade is an annual street parade held in Penang, Malaysia and Singapore as part of Chinese New Year festivities. The term Chingay itself originated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Penang, which is a phonetic equivalent of the Chinese words "妆艺", which means "a decorated miniature...
is held in Singapore. - 1973 – The construction of the National StadiumNational Stadium, SingaporeThe Singapore National Stadium was located in Kallang. Opened in July 1973, the National Stadium was officially closed on 30 June 2007 and has demolished to make way for the Singapore Sports Hub and New Singapore National Stadium which is expected to open in 2014.The stadium has played host to...
is completed. - 1973 – The Presidential Council for Minority RightsPresidential Council for Minority RightsThe Presidential Council for Minority Rights is a non-elected government body in Singapore established in 1970, the main function of which is to scrutinize most of the bills passed by Parliament to ensure that they do not discriminate against any racial or religious community...
is set up to ensure minority would not be discriminated. - 1974 – Hwa Chong Junior CollegeHwa Chong Junior CollegeHwa Chong Junior College was a junior college in Singapore offering pre-university education. The college was founded in 1974 and merged with The Chinese High School on 1 January 2005 to form Hwa Chong Institution.-Founding:...
, Singapore's first government-aided junior college was established. - 1974 – 31 January – Laju incidentLaju incidentThe Laju Incident occurred on 31 January 1974 in Singapore, when four armed men attacked the Shell oil refinery complex on Pulau Bukom and later hijacked the ferryboat Laju.- Overview :...
: Japanese Red ArmyJapanese Red ArmyThe was a Communist terrorist group founded by Fusako Shigenobu early in 1971 in Lebanon. It sometimes called itself Arab-JRA after the Lod airport massacre...
bombs petroleum tanks at Pulau BukomPulau BukomPulau Bukom, also known as Pulau Bukum, is a small island located about five kilometres to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. The size of Pulau Bukom is about 1.45 km²....
and hijacks a ferry boat. - 1976 – The PAP wins all 69 seats in the 1976 General Election.
- 1978 – 12 October – Spyros disasterSpyros disasterThe Spyros disaster was a major industrial disaster that occurred in Singapore. The Greek tanker Spyros exploded at Jurong Shipyard in Singapore on October 12, 1978. It killed 76 people, and remains as Singapore's worst accident, in terms of lives lost, in Singapore's post-war history...
- 1979 – Singapore becomes the world's second busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage.
1980s
- 1980 – The PAPPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
wins all 75 seats in the 1980 General Election. - 1981 – 1 July – Singapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
starts operation. - 1981 – 24 October – C V Devan Nair becomes the third President of SingaporePresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. - 1981 – 31 October – Workers' Party of SingaporeWorkers' Party of SingaporeThe Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
's Joshua Benjamin JeyaretnamJoshua Benjamin JeyaretnamJoshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
elected into Parliament, breaking a 16 years PAP monopoly of the House. - 1982 – The Courtesy Campaign and the Civil Defence Programme are launched.
- 1983 – 29 January – Eniwetok, a Panamanian-registered oil rig, hits the Singapore Cable CarSingapore Cable CarThe Singapore Cable Car provides an aerial link from Mount Faber on the main island of Singapore to the resort island of Sentosa across the Keppel Harbour. Opened on 15 February 1974, it was the first aerial ropeway system in the world to span a harbour. However, it is not the first aerial ropeway...
system, sending two cabins plunging into the sea and killing seven people. - 1984 – The PAP wins the 1984 General Election while two members of the opposition parties are elected as members of parliamentParliament of SingaporeThe Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
. Three PAP women MPs are also elected, ending a 16 years absence of women representation in Parliament. - 1984 – Non-Constituency Member of ParliamentNon-Constituency Member of ParliamentNon-Constituency Members of Parliament are members of the opposition parties who are appointed as members of the Parliament of Singapore even though they had lost in the parliamentary election....
was introduced. - 1985 – 2 September – Wee Kim WeeWee Kim WeeWee Kim Wee GCB was the fourth President of Singapore from 2 September 1985 to 1 September 1993.-Early life:Born into a humble family, Wee Kim Wee was the son of a clerk, Wee Choong Lay and his wife Chua Lay Hua. His father died when he was eight...
becomes the fourth President of SingaporePresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. - 1986 – 15 March – The Hotel New WorldHotel New World disasterThe Hotel New World emergency occurred on 15 March 1986, and was Singapore's deadliest civil disaster since the Spyros disaster of 12 October 1978. The six-story building situated at the junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road rapidly collapsed, trapping 50 people beneath the rubble...
collapses, killing 33 people. - 1987 – 21 May – 16 people were arrested during Operation SpectrumOperation SpectrumOperation Spectrum was launched on May 21, 1987 by Singapore's Internal Security Department using the Internal Security Act . 16 people were arrested for their involvement in what was described as a "Marxist conspiracy". On June 20, 1987, four of the original 16 were released and six more were...
and detained under the Internal Security ActInternal Security Act (Singapore)The Internal Security Act of Singapore is a law that allows the Singapore government to investigate security threats like international terrorism, foreign subversion, espionage and acts of violence or hatred using race or religion...
. Another six were arrested on 20 June. - 1988 – 3 September – The PAP wins the 1988 General Election and group representation constituenciesGroup Representation ConstituencyA Group Representation Constituency is a type of electoral division or constituency in Singapore, the Members of Parliament of which are voted into Parliament as a group...
(GRC)s are introduced.
1990s
- 1990 – 6 July – The East West LineEast West MRT LineThe East West Line was the 2nd Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. The line is currently 49.2 km long with 35 stations , making it the longest MRT line in Singapore. It takes about 63 minutes to travel from one end to the other...
of the Mass Rapid TransitMass Rapid Transit (Singapore)The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
(MRT) is completed. - 1990 – 22 November – Singapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
Terminal 2 begins operation. - 1990 – 28 November – Goh Chok TongGoh Chok TongGoh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
becomes the second Prime Minister of SingaporePrime Minister of SingaporeThe Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
. - 1991 – 26 March – Four PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
is hijack Singapore Airlines Flight 117Singapore Airlines Flight 117On March 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers who claimed to be Pakistanis. The aircraft landed at Singapore...
and demand the release of Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples PartyThe Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
members from Pakistani jails. - 1991 – 27 March – Members of the Singapore Special Operations ForceSingapore Special Operations ForceThe Special Operations Force is a special forces unit in the Commando Formation of the Singapore Army and a component of the joint Special Operations Task Force. It specialises in operations such as direct action, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and special reconnaissance, and is one of the few...
storm into Singapore Airlines Flight 117Singapore Airlines Flight 117On March 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers who claimed to be Pakistanis. The aircraft landed at Singapore...
, killing all hijackers and freeing all passengers and crew members. - 1993 – 1 September – Ong Teng CheongOng Teng CheongOng Teng Cheong was the first directly elected President of the Republic of Singapore. He was the nation's fifth President, and served a six-year term from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1999.-Early life:...
becomes the first directly-elected President. - 1994 – 5 May – American teenager Michael P. FayMichael P. FayMichael Peter Fay is an American who briefly shot to international notoriety when he was sentenced to caning in Singapore as an 18-year-old in 1994 for theft and vandalism...
is convicted and caned for vandalismVandalismVandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
. - 1996 – The parliamentParliament of SingaporeThe Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
passes the Maintenance of Parents law, a private member's bill introduced by Nominated Member of ParliamentNominated Member of ParliamentA Nominated Member of Parliament is a Member of the Parliament of Singapore who is appointed instead of being elected into office by the people, and who does not belong to any political party or represent any constituency. There are currently nine NMPs in Parliament...
Woon Cheong Ming WalterWoon Cheong Ming WalterWalter Woon Cheong Ming is a professor of law with the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law and the Dean of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education. He is an authority in the areas of company law and securities regulation. Educated at the National University of Singapore and St...
. - 1997 – 19 December – Silkair Flight 185SilkAir Flight 185SilkAir Flight 185, a Boeing 737-36N, registration 9V-TRF, was a scheduled passenger flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Singapore, which crashed on 19 December 1997 into the Musi River after abruptly plunging from its 35,000-foot cruise altitude, killing all 97 passengers and 7 crew on board.The...
crashes into Musi River near PalembangPalembangPalembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, killing all 104 people onboard. - 1998 – 15 January – Singapore and United States announces agreement for US ships to use a planned $35 million naval base from 2000.
- 1998 – September – "The Singapore Story", the first volume of Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
's memoirs is published - 1999 – Sellapan Ramanathan becomes the President of Singapore
- 1999 – Singapore slips into recession during the Asian financial crisis.
2000s
- 2000 – 1 September – Speaker's Corner is launched at Hong Lim Park
- 2000 – 31 October – Singapore Airlines Flight 006Singapore Airlines Flight 006Singapore Airlines Flight 006 was a scheduled passenger flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Chiang Kai-shek Airport in Taiwan...
crashes during take-off in Chiang Kai Shek International Airport, killing 83 people. - 2001–2003 – Economic recession in Singapore.
- 2001 – January – A pipeline feeding gas to Singapore from IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
's Natuna field in South China SeaSouth China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
opens. - 2001 – 3 November – The PAPPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
wins 82 of 84 seats in the 2001 General ElectionSingapore general election, 2001The Singapore parliamentary general elections of 2001 were held on 3 November. The People's Action Party, the incumbent ruling party, won 82 out of 84 seats in the election, including 55 walkovers...
. - 2001 – 9 December – 15 suspected militants of Jemaah Islamiah are arrested for alleged bomb plot.
- 2001 – 27 December – Typhoon VameiTropical Storm VameiTropical Storm Vamei was a Pacific tropical cyclone that formed closer to the equator than any other tropical cyclone worldwide...
, a rare typhoon that occurs only once in 100 to 400 years, hits Singapore. - 2002 – 13 January – Singapore and Japan sign the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement.
- 2003 – April – SARS virus outbreak in Singapore and other parts of Asia.
- 2003 – 6 May – Singapore and United States sign the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA).
- 2003 – 29 October – A major research center BiopolisBiopolisBiopolis is an international research and development centre located in Singapore for biomedical sciences. It is located in One-North in Buona Vista, near Dover, and is close to the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Polytechnic, the Institute of Technical Education, the National...
opens. - 2004 – 20 April – A section of Nicoll Highway collapseNicoll Highway collapseThe Nicoll Highway collapse was a construction accident that occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. Singapore Time on 20 April 2004 in Singapore when a tunnel being constructed for use by MRT trains collapsed. The tunnel was part of the construction of the underground Circle MRT Line, near the Nicoll...
s, killing 4 people. - 2004 – National ServiceNational serviceNational service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
was reduced from two and half years to two years. - 2004 – 12 August – Lee Hsien LoongLee Hsien LoongLee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
, Lee Kuan Yew's Son becomes the third Prime MinisterPrime Minister of SingaporeThe Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
. - 2005 – 15 January – Singapore and Malaysia settle dispute over land reclamation work.
- 2005 – 18 April – The government approves the plan to legalise casinoCasinoIn modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
-gambling and build two Integrated ResortIntegrated ResortAn integrated resort is a resort with a wide variety of leisure and entertainment attractions, all housed in one resort property. The first known integrated resort began in early 1980s in Malaysia, when Resorts World Genting was developed from a single hotel with casino facility to a variety of...
s. - 2005 – 8 July – In the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 – London bombings, Transport Minister Yeo Cheow TongYeo Cheow TongYeo Cheow Tong is a former politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served in the Cabinet from 1990 to 2006, and was a Member of Parliament from 1984 to 2011....
announces plan to set up a new Police MRT UnitPolice MRT UnitThe Public Transport Security Command ) is a specialised transit police unit of the Singapore Police Force. It was first established as a unit of the Special Operations Command under the name Police MRT Unit in 2005 in response to the need for greater security concerns in public transport...
to enhance the security of Singapore's public transport. (CNA) - 2005 – 17 August – S R Nathan returns for his second term as PresidentPresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
, following a walkover in the Singapore presidential election, 2005Singapore presidential election, 2005The Singapore presidential election of 2005 was held to elect the President of Singapore. The incumbent S. R. Nathan's first term was to end on August 31, 2005...
. - 2005 – 27 August – White Elephant Incident at Buangkok MRT StationBuangkok MRT StationBuangkok MRT Station is an underground station located on the North East Line of the Mass Rapid Transit in Singapore. The station is in Sengkang and near to Hougang and serves residents in the vicinity....
. - 2006 – 6 May – The PAPPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
, led by Lee Hsien LoongLee Hsien LoongLee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
, wins 82 of 84 seats in the General ElectionSingapore general election, 2006The 2006 Singapore parliamentary general election was held on 6 May 2006. 1.22 million out of the 2.16 million eligible Singaporeans voted for Members of Parliament and elected their next government. The People's Action Party , in its first election under Lee Hsien Loong, won 66.6% of the overall...
. - 2008 – 9 January – Singapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
opens its third passenger terminal. - 2008 - 21 February- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awards the Youth Olympic Games hosting rights to Singapore ahead of Moscow by a vote of 53 to 44.
- 2008 – 21 March – Jemiah Islamiah terrorist head Mas Selamat bin Kastari escapes from prison.
- 2008 – September- Singapore slips into recession due to the global financial crisis. World economies hit badly; banks around the world collapse.
- 2008 – 16 October – Singapore government guarantees all local and foreign currency fixed deposits with a $ 150 billion pool for that in view of the financial crisis, joining governments around the world in doing so.
2010s
- 2011 - 7 May - PAP loses its grip on Aljunied Group Representation ConstituencyAljunied Group Representation ConstituencyAljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
to the Workers' Party in the General Election. This is the first time an opposition party has captured a GRC since the inception of this scheme in 1988. - 2011 - 27 August - Singaporeans, for the first time since the establishment of Presidential Election, will be voting for the next President after the 6th President of Singapore - SR Nathan stepped down on 31 August 2011. The candidates involves in this election includes - Dr Tan Keng Yam TonyTan Keng Yam TonyTony Tan Keng Yam is the seventh and current President of Singapore. Until 1 July 2011, he was Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings Limited...
, Mr Tan Jee SayTan Jee SayTan Jee Say is a Singaporean investment adviser, politician and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and contested the 2011 general election under the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , but failed to win a seat...
, Mr Tan Kin LianTan Kin LianTan Kin Lian is the former CEO of NTUC Income. Since stepping down as CEO in April 2007, his activities have included organising public rallies for people who lost their money due to investing in Lehman Brothers' Minibond products to seek redress, and setting up FISCA, an organisation to teach...
and Dr. Tan Cheng BockTan Cheng BockTan Cheng Bock is a politician and physician from Singapore. Tan was a People's Action Party Member of Parliament in Singapore politics for 26 years and the first non cabinet minister elected into the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee .-Early life:Tan was educated at Radin Mas...
.
External links
- Timeline of Singapore's History, compiled by students of Raffles Girls' School.