2002 in Singapore

2002
in
Singapore

Decades:
See also:

The following lists events that happened during 2002 in Singapore.

Incumbents

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Events

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January

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  • 1 January – The re-registration of NRICs starts for those aged 30 and above. Those turning 30 on or after 1 January 2002 are required to re-register for a new NRIC if they had not replaced their NRIC within the past 10 years.
  • 2 January – City Gas is formed from PowerGas.[1]
  • 5 January – The National Science and Technology Board is renamed to the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star).[2]
  • 9 January –
    • A Passenger Security Service Charge will be introduced for passengers who use Changi Airport from 1 March. This is so as to cover security costs incurred in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.[3] In addition, Changi Airport will upgrade Terminal 2 for S$200 million.[4]
  • 11 January – The new building housing the Family and Juvenile Court is officially opened, having been brought together in September 2001.[5]
  • 12 January – MediaCorp channel CityTV ceases transmission after two years due to lack of viewership and poor economic climate.[6]
  • 13 January – Singapore and Japan signed the Japan–Singapore Economic Agreement for a New Age Partnership, making it Singapore's first free-trade agreement FTA with a major trading partner.[7]
  • 14 January – Reclamation works around Chek Jawa area will be deferred as long as development works are not required, with plans made to conserve the island instead.[8]
  • 25 January –

February

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Changi Airport MRT station

March

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  • 1 March –
    • The prefix '6' is added to all landline phones.[27]
    • The Changi Business Aviation Centre is opened for business travellers who fly via executive jets. Plans are announced to strengthen the aviation industry, including a future dedicated Business Aviation Centre in Changi Airport subject to demand and research and development projects via AIRport Systems Technology, Research, and Innovation Platform (AIRSTRIP).[28]
  • 3 March – TV Works is renamed to Channel i.[29]
  • 5 March – Construction of the five-stage Circle MRT line starts, spanning 34 km (21 miles) orbitally. The first two stages are scheduled for completion by 2006 with the rest by 2010.[30][31]
  • 8 March – Singapore Press Holdings's new headquarters (named 'News Centre' on 11 November) is officially opened.[32][33]
  • 16 March – Raffles Hospital is officially opened.[34]
  • 20 March – PSA Corporation acquires logistics company CWT.[35]
  • 27 March – Singapore Management University's new campus starts construction. Targets for primary cohort in universities will be raised from 21 percent now to 25 percent in 2010.[36]

April

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May

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June

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July

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August

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September

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  • 5 September – A new Automated People Mover system (now the Changi Airport Skytrain) is announced. The system will link all three terminals, which was completed in 2006.[50][51]
  • 12 September – library@esplanade is opened in Esplanade as a performing arts library.[52][53]
  • 15 September – The Merlion is reopened in the new Merlion Park.[54]
  • 23 September – The Heritage Trees Scheme is officially launched to conserve trees of historical value, with some of them ranging 80 to 100 years old. An initial list of 36 trees has been drawn up.[55][56]
  • 30 September –
    • NRICs will not display blood types from today due to quick blood tests that can be obtained easily.
    • ElderShield is launched as an insurance plan for those with severe disabilities. It will pay S$300 over 5 years.[57]

October

[edit]
The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

November

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  • 2 November – After several accidents and two deaths, Fantasy Island in Sentosa is closed.
  • 11 November – The Kallang Paya Lebar Expressway is officially launched, with the 12 km (7.5 miles) expressway scheduled by 2007.[64]
  • 20 November – A large Chengal Pasir tree was felled by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung. After a court hearing, it was fined in 2003.[65]
  • 21 November – Comfort Group and DelGro Corporation announced a merger between the biggest taxi operator and the largest public bus operator in Singapore respectively, creating a S$1 billion company.[66] The merger results in the formation of ComfortDelGro Corporation on 29 March 2003.[67]

December

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  • 1 December – Magnetic-stripe cards for use on Singapore's public transport system are completely phased out, completing the switchover to EZ-Link cards.[68][69]
  • 5 December – A gender-quota for admission of medical school students will be abolished from the 2003 batch, allowing men and women to pursue medicine as they wish.[70]
  • 21 December – The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Transport announced that an air marshals unit will be stationed in Singapore Airlines and SilkAir for security, with the first stationed in 2003.[71][72]
  • 27 December – Two police officers, on normal supervisory rounds from the Changi Neighbourhood Police Centre of Bedok division were killed when their patrol car was overrun from the rear by a large garbage truck along Tanah Merah Ferry Road.
  • 30 December – The Integrated Programme is announced, allowing students to proceed directly to Junior Colleges without taking the O Level exams. The scheme takes its first students in 2004.[73]

Births

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  • 28 March – Kiki Lim, Singaporean actress

Deaths

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Unknown date

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Milestones". City Gas. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  2. ^ "A*Star is born, Boon comes on board as MD". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 January 2002. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Changi Airport to Impose Security Levy (Page 5)". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 10 January 2002. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  4. ^ Foo, Serene (10 January 2002). "$200m upgrade for Terminal 2". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  5. ^ "History". Family Justice Courts of Singapore. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  6. ^ Foo, Serene (10 January 2002). "MediaCorp announces City TV closure". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Japan–Singapore Economic Arrangement for a New Age Partnership". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Deferment of reclamation works at Pulau Ubin". MND. 14 January 2002. Archived from the original on 14 October 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Opening Ceremony of OSIM HQ". NAS. 25 January 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  10. ^ "New names for boards". Today. 26 January 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2019 – via NLB.
  11. ^ "Next stop: Changi Airport". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 9 February 2002. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Dr Tony Tan Opens the Chevrons" (PDF). MINDEF. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Ex-President Ong dies". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 9 February 2002. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Ong Teng Cheong". National Library Board. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Completion Ceremony for the Opera Estate Drainage Scheme". NAS. 9 February 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  16. ^ "State Flags to Fly at Half-mast on Monday 11 February 2002: Prime Minister's Office Press Statement, 10 February 2002". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 May 2024. The Government has announced earlier that state flags on all public buildings will be flown at half-mast on the day of Mr Ong Teng Cheong's funeral as a mark of respect. This day, 12 February 2002, coincides with the first day of the Chinese New Year. Feedback shows that many people are uncomfortable to have the nation's flag at half-mast on an auspicious day like the first day of the Chinese New Year. The Government has now decided to fly all state flags at half-mast a day earlier, on Monday 11 February 2002 instead of on 12 February 2002.
  17. ^ "Times House". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 May 2024. On 12 February 2002, 371 staff from the Singapore Press Holdings moved from Times House to their new and spacious office at the News Centre at Toa Payoh North.
  18. ^ "Demise of Former President Ong Teng Cheong: Prime Minister's Office Press Release, 8 February 2002". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 May 2024. As a mark of respect to ex-President Ong, the State flag on all Government buildings will be lowered to half-mast on the day of his funeral i.e. Tuesday, 12 February 2002.
  19. ^ "Opening of Upper Serangoon Viaduct". MOT. 16 February 2002. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  20. ^ "OCBC BANK AND KEPPEL TATLEE BANK ARE LEGALLY AND OPERATIONALLY ONE" (PDF). OCBC Bank. 25 February 2002. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Opening of the Changi Airport MRT Extension". MOT. 27 February 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  22. ^ "MRT trains to stop at Potong Pasir after all". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 28 February 2002. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  23. ^ "MRT's next stop: Potong Pasir". Today (retrieved from NLB). 28 February 2002. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development and Chairman of the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the new NTUC building, Thursday, 28 February 2002, 10.30 AM". NAS. 28 February 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Work starts on NTUC Centre in heart of city". The Straits Times. 1 March 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Golden Village closes cinema at Eastpoint". The Straits Times. 5 March 2002. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Phone numbers to get extra digit". Today (retrieved from NLB). 20 January 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Speech By Mr Yeo Cheow Tong For The Official Opening Of The Changi Business Aviation Centre On 1 March 2002". MOT. 1 March 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  29. ^ "i – Your choice for Movies and Action on Singapore's Terrestrial TV!". SPH MediaWorks. 25 February 2002. Archived from the original on 14 August 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Speech By Mr Yeo Cheow Tong At The Groundbreaking Ceremony For The Circle Line On 5 March 2002". MOT. 5 March 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Faster MRT routes with new Circle Line". Today (retrieved from NLB). 5 March 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Speech by Mr David T E Lim at the Official Opening of Singapore Press Holdings Building at 1000 Toa Payoh North". MITA (now MCI). 8 March 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  33. ^ "SPH names new HQ News Centre". SPH. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  34. ^ "Opening of Raffles Hospital". NAS. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  35. ^ "PSA acquires CWT". Today (retrieved from NLB). 21 March 2002. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  36. ^ "Speech by RADM Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and 2nd Minister for Defence, at SMU Groundbreaking Ceremony, 27 Mar 2002 at 4.30 PM, Bras Basah Park". NAS. 27 March 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  37. ^ "No More 1-Cent Coins from BCCS". BCCS (now MAS). 27 February 2002. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  38. ^ "Singapore Business Federation is formed". NLB. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Launch of Singapore Tyler Print Institute". NAS. 10 April 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  40. ^ "Ez-link card". NLB. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Slim 10 saga". NLB. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  42. ^ "First To Reach Both North Pole And South Pole". Singapore Book of Records. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  43. ^ "StarHub and SCV Seal Merger Agreement". StarHub. 15 May 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  44. ^ "StarHub Strengthens Brand Identity with New Product Names". StarHub. 26 September 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  45. ^ "Opening of the First Airconditioned Bus Interchange at Toa Payoh". MOT. 19 May 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  46. ^ "SIA'S First Spacebed Equipped Aircraft Takes to The Air". Asia Travel Tips. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  47. ^ "UOB, OUB merger complete". The Business Times (retrieved from NLB). 17 June 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  48. ^ "Speech By Mr Yeo Cheow Tong At The DELGRO NTWU National Day Observance Ceremony Cum Official Opening For SBS Transit Soon Lee Bus Depot On 8 August 2002". MOT. 8 August 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Launch of the Singapore Green Plan 2012". NAS. 24 August 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  50. ^ "New Automated People Mover System To Link Changi Airport's Three Terminals". MOT. 5 September 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  51. ^ "Linking Changi's three terminals". Today. 6 September 2002. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  52. ^ "Library@Esplanade". NLB. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  53. ^ "Opening of Library@Esplanade". NAS. 12 September 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  54. ^ "Inauguration of the Merlion Park". STB. 15 September 2002. Archived from the original on 13 October 2003. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  55. ^ "Official Launch of Heritage Trees Scheme". NAS. 23 September 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  56. ^ "Heritage Tree Scheme". NLB. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  57. ^ "ElderShield: NTUC Income". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  58. ^ "BCCS Merges with MAS on 1 October". BCCS (now MAS). 30 September 2002. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  59. ^ "Merger of the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore (BCCS) With The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)". MOF. 1 March 2002. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  60. ^ "Virgin, SingTel Close Venture After Mobile Flop in Singapore (premium)". The Wall Street Journal. 9 July 2002. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  61. ^ "Last call for Virgin Mobile". CNET. 11 October 2002. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  62. ^ "It's showtime at the Esplanade". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 13 October 2002. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  63. ^ "Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay opens". NLB. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  64. ^ "Speech By Mr Yeo Cheow Tong At The Kallang Paya Lebar Expressway Contract Signing Ceremony On 11 November 2002". MOT. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  65. ^ "Felling of the Chengal Pasir tree". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  66. ^ "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.
  67. ^ "Corporate Profile". ComfortDelGro. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  68. ^ "Public transport system gears up for switchover to EZ-Link card". EZ-Link. 17 October 2002. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  69. ^ "Ez-link card". NLB. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  70. ^ "Lifted: Quota on women in medicine". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 6 December 2002. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  71. ^ "Joint Statement From Ministry of Home Affairs And Ministry of Transport". MOT. 21 December 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  72. ^ "SIA and SilkAir to deploy air marshals soon". The Star. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  73. ^ "Integrated Programme is announced". NLB. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  74. ^ "Guilty As Charged: Michael McCrea killed a woman and a man he called his brother". The Straits Times. 16 May 2016. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  75. ^ "Chinese national stabbed to death in Rangoon Road flat". The Straits Times. 5 February 2002 – via NewspaperSG.
  76. ^ "Ong Teng Cheong". National Library Board. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  77. ^ "Gopal Baratham". NLB. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  78. ^ "Lee Siew Choh". NLB. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  79. ^ "Mum says she panicked when she couldn't find infant". The Straits Times. 4 April 2003. p. 12. Retrieved 17 May 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  80. ^ "Brother Joseph McNally". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  81. ^ "Kuo Pao Kun". NLB. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  82. ^ "Low Ing Sing". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.