:1999 in Singapore

• President: Ong Teng Cheong (until 1 September), S. R. Nathan (starting 1 September)
• Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong

• January – Delhaize buys up to a 49% stake in Shop N Save, with QAF Limited retaining the rest.{{cite press release |title=Delhaize Group sells interest in Singapore retailer Shop N Save |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2003/11/14/302942/48266/en/Delhaize-Group-sells-interest-in-Singapore-retailer-Shop-N-Save.html |website=Globe Newswire |access-date=23 August 2019 |date=14 November 2003}}
• 11 January – Powergrid's 400 kV transmission system is commissioned.{{cite web |title=Official Commissioning of Powergrid's 400 KV Transmission System |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999011101.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=11 January 1999}}
• 21 January – StarHub acquires Cyberway, an ISP. It is rebranded to StarHub Internet on 3 December.{{cite web |title=Singapore gets to surf the Net for free with StarHub Internet's latest offering |url=https://www.starhub.com/about-us/newsroom/1999/december/03121999_singaporegetstosurfthenetforfreewithstarhubinternetslatestoffering.html |website=StarHub |access-date=25 July 2019 |date=3 December 1999}}
• 29 January – Construction starts on the Changi Airport Line (CAL), targeted for completion by 2001.{{cite web |title=Changi Airport Line Ground Breaking Ceremony |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999012901.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=29 January 1999}}

• 2 February – Creative Resource, Creative Technology's new headquarters is officially opened in International Business Park.{{cite web |title=Official Opening of Creative Resource, Headquarters of Creative Technology |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999020202.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=2 February 1999}}
• 11 February – The Environmental Pollution Control Act is passed to replace the Clean Air Act, giving the Ministry of the Environment (ENV) more powers to deal with pollution.{{cite web |title=Clean Air Act of 1971 |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2014-04-07_110024.html |website=NLB |access-date=5 August 2019}}

File:Singapore Expo 2009.jpg

• 4 March – Singapore Expo is officially opened, making it the largest meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) venue in Singapore. This comes after some exhibition space in World Trade Centre had to make way for the North East MRT line.{{cite web |title=Opening Ceremony of the International Furniture Fair Singapore 99/ 16th ASEAN Furniture Show |url=https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999030401.htm |website=NAS |access-date=13 April 2020 |date=4 March 1999}}
• 26 March – The Civil Defence Academy is officially opened.{{cite web |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999032602.htm |title=Official opening of the Civil Defence Academy |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=26 March 1999}}
• 31 March – Lorong Halus Dumping Ground is closed.{{cite web |title=Lorong Halus |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2016-11-30_193336.html |website=NLB |access-date=29 July 2019}}

• 1 April –
• Semakau landfill begin operations after the closure of the Lorong Halus Dumping Ground.
• The Building and Construction Authority is formed from a merger of Construction Industry Development Board and Public Works Department's Building Control Division to develop and regulate Singapore's construction industry and ensure safe buildings, with some functions transferred to the Urban Redevelopment Authority. On the same day, PWD Corporation (present-day CPG Corporation) is formed from a corporatisation.{{cite web |title=Formation of PWD Corporation (PWD Co) and the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1998100206.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=2 October 1998}}
• The Juvenile Court moves to the Subordinate Courts building.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg/who-we-are/history |website=Family Justice Courts of Singapore |access-date=16 September 2019}}

• 11 May – The Ministry of Education announced a new Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing schools (PRIME) to upgrade or rebuild existing schools, ensuring all schools have access to modern and conducive learning environments.{{cite web |title=Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing schools |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999110504b.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=11 May 1999}}
• 17 May – The Monetary Authority of Singapore announced rules that liberalise commercial banking and help take local banks to new heights. They include a five-year liberalisation programme with new Qualifying Full Bank (QFB) licences, increase the number of restricted banks here and greater flexibility for offshore banks' wholesale business, all local banks having Nominating Committees to strengthen corporate governance and the lifting of 40 percent limit on foreigners' shareholding in banks.{{cite web |url=https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/speeches/1999/mas-statement-on-measures-to-liberalise-commercial-banking-and-upgrade-local-banks--17-may-1999 |title=Liberalising Commercial Banking and Upgrading Local Banks |website=MAS |access-date=6 July 2019 |date=17 May 1999}}{{cite web |title=MAS Announces Programme to Liberalise Commercial Banking and Upgrade Local Banks |url=https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/media-releases/1999/mas-statement-on-measures-to-liberalise-commercial-banking-and-upgrade-local-banks--17-may-1991 |website=MAS |access-date=4 June 2021 |date=17 May 1999}}
• 20 May – The North East MRT line (NEL) and the Sengkang and Punggol LRT lines are awarded to Singapore Bus Service (present-day SBS Transit) to foster competition with SMRT, the first rail lines to be operated by SBS. In addition, SMRT and Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) will merge. As a result, SBS will take over bus operations in Sengkang and Punggol from TIBS with TIBS taking over bus services from SBS in Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok.{{cite web |title=Appointment of operator for the North East MRT line |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999200503.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=20 May 1999}}{{cite web |title=SBS to run North-East line Tibs to merge with SMRT |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19990521-1.2.2 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=6 October 2019 |date=21 May 1999}}
• 30 May - Causeway Point shopping mall in Woodlands is officially opened.

• 1 June – The National Neuroscience Institute starts operations.{{cite web |url=https://www.nni.com.sg/about-us/our-history |title=Our History |website=NNI |access-date=14 July 2019}}
• 13–16 June – Singapore hosts the 1999 Rotary Convention.{{cite web |title=1999 Proceedings: Ninetieth Annual Convention of Rotary International |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ffIPVx2tCgC&q=1999+rotary+convention+13+to+16+june+1999&pg=PP3 |website=Rotary (retrieved from Google) |access-date=11 August 2019}}
• 21 June – SingPost and CISCO signed an agreement to create a new certification authority for e-commerce, thereby increasing security.{{cite web |title=Joint Venture Signing Ceremony between CISCO and Singapore Post |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999062101.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=21 June 1999}}
• 26 June – The National Sailing Centre is officially opened.{{cite web |title=Official Opening of the National Sailing Centre |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999260601.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=26 June 1999}}

• 18 July – The new Woodlands Checkpoint starts operations.
• 21 July – DataOne (D1) is awarded a licence to run an ISP network in Singapore, thus making D1 the fourth operator after SingNet, Pacific Internet and Cyberway. The ISP commenced operations in November.{{cite web |title=Fourth ISP Receives License in Singapore |url=https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/18677/fourth_isp_receives_license_singapore/ |website=Computer World |access-date=26 August 2019 |date=22 July 1998}}
• 25 July – Transfer of bus services 864, 865 and 866 to SBS, and transfer of bus service 190 to TIBS.

• 12 August – The Underground Ammunition Facility starts construction, which will be ready by 2003. It eventually opened in 2008.{{cite web |title=Ground-breaking Ceremony for the Underground Ammunition Facility |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19990812002.pdf |website=NAS |access-date=13 August 2019 |date=12 August 1999}}
• 17 August – The SAF Basic Military Training Centre is officially opened on Pulau Tekong.{{cite web |title=Opening of Basic Military Training Centre in Pulau Tekong |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19990817001.pdf |website=NAS |access-date=25 July 2019 |date=17 August 1999}}
• 18 August – Nomination Day for the 1999 Presidential Election: S.R. Nathan won the election via an uncontested walkover since he was the only candidate eligible to contest in the election.{{cite web |title=Nathan elected President |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19990819-1.2.2 |website=The Straits Times |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=19 August 1999}} Nathan was sworn in as the sixth President of Singapore on 1 September.{{cite web |title=Nathan sworn in as sixth President |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19990902-1.2.2 |website=The Straits Times |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=2 September 1999}}{{cite web |title=S. R. Nathan |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_490_2004-12-23.html |website=NLB |access-date=22 July 2019}}

• Eng Wah closes its White Sands cinema due to low patronage.
• 9 September – The Portrait Series notes are officially launched.{{cite web |url=https://www.mof.gov.sg/Newsroom/Speeches/Speech-By-Dr-Richard-Hu-Minister-For-Finance-Chairman-BCCS-At-The-Launch-Of-The-Portrait-Notes-And-Opening-Of-Currency-21-The-Presidential-Notes-Exhib |title=Launch of the Portrait Notes and opening of Currency 21-The Presidential Notes Exhibition at the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre |website=MOF |access-date=12 August 2019 |date=9 September 1999}}
• 11 September – The SAR 21 rifle is launched.{{cite web |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_19990911001.pdf |title=Launch of New Assault Rifle at Opening Ceremony of Army Open House 1999 |website=NAS |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=11 September 1999}}
• 14 September 1999 – In the first case of kidnapping by ransom for over a decade, 33-year-old Vincent Lee Chuan Leong and his two Chinese accomplices Zhou Jian Guang and Shi Song Jing kidnapped a 14-year-old schoolgirl for a ransom of S$330,000. All three were arrested, and sentenced to life imprisonment.{{cite news |date=25 April 2000 |title=Mastermind of kidnapping jailed for life |work=The Straits Times}}{{cite news |date=28 April 2000 |title=Kidnappers jailed tor life |work=The Straits Times}}

File:Parliament House Singapore.jpg

• 4 October – The new Parliament House is officially opened.{{cite web |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19991005-1.2.47.3 |title=New Parliament House opens |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=6 October 2019 |date=5 October 1999}}
• 18 October – The merger between TIBS and SMRT fails to go through.{{cite web |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19991019-1.2.6.1 |title=Tibs and SMRT merger is off |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=6 October 2019 |date=19 October 1999}}
• 20 October – The Monetary Authority of Singapore awards four foreign banks with Qualifying Full Bank (QFB) licences, which are ABN Amro, Banque Nationale de Paris (present day BNP Paribas), Citibank, and Standard Chartered. Another eight banks are awarded Qualifying Offshore Bank (QOB) licences. In addition, eight new Restricted Banks (RB) are announced, with 4 RBs to start operations immediately and another 4 more from 1 October 2000. MAS will eventually award up to 20 RB licences compared to 18 previously after a high demand from banks.{{cite web |url=https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/media-releases/1999/mas-announces-results-of-foreign-bank-applications--20-oct-1999 |title=MAS Announces Results of Foreign Bank Applications Four Foreign Banks named Qualifying Full Banks |website=MAS |access-date=21 September 2019 |date=20 October 1999}}
• 21 October – library@orchard officially opens in Ngee Ann City, operating until its closure in 2007.{{cite web |title=Library@Orchard |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_253_2005-01-24.html |website=NLB |access-date=19 September 2019}}
• 22 October – ST Engineering announces the acquisition of Chartered Industries of Singapore through ST Auto, now called ST Kinetics. The acquisition will help make ST Engineering a successful world-class engineering company.{{cite web |title=ST Engg Acquires Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS) |url=http://www.stengg.com/pressroom/press_releases_read.aspx?paid=243 |access-date=19 August 2019 |publisher=ST Engineering |date=22 October 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202135420/http://www.stengg.com/pressroom/press_releases_read.aspx?paid=243 |archive-date=2 February 2008}}

File:BPLRT-ExtMid-CX100.JPG

• 6 November – The Bukit Panjang LRT line opens.{{cite web |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999110601.htm |title=Official Launch of the Bukit Panjang LRT System |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=6 November 1999}}
• 18 November –
• The Ministry of Health announced the formation of two healthcare clusters known as the Eastern (SingHealth) and Western (National Healthcare Group) Networks, which will take effect in 2000.{{cite web |title=Reorganisation and Restructuring of Public Healthcare Services |url=https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/reorganisation-and-restructuring-of-public-healthcare-services |website=MOH |access-date=1 December 2021 |date=18 November 1999}}{{cite web |title=News 5 Tonight (18 November 1999) |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/audiovisual_records/record-details/5435f279-1164-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |website=Television Corporation of Singapore (retrieved from NAS) |access-date=18 July 2019}}
• Golden Village opens its ninth multiplex at Eastpoint.
• 19 November – Smart Radio, a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) service is launched in Singapore.{{cite web |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999111904.htm |title=Launch of Radio Corporation of Singapore's commercial digital audio broadcast service |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=19 November 1999}}
• 30 November – Singapore Power launches a new website CAN.COM.SG.{{cite web |title=Launch of CAN.COM.SG |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999113003/lss19991130f.pdf |website=NAS |access-date=25 July 2019 |date=30 November 1999}}

• 1 December –
• The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore is launched from a merger between the National Computer Board and the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore to take charge of Singapore's infocomm sector.
• The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is formed from the merger of Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES), Singapore International Monetary Exchange (Simex) and Securities Clearing and Computer Services Pte Ltd (SCCS),{{cite web |title=Launch of the Singapore Exchange |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999120104.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=1 December 1999}} first announced on 4 August.{{cite web |title=Simex and SES to merge to form Newco |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19990805-1.2.46.7 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=7 October 2019 |date=5 August 1999}}
• 28 December – Keppel Land and PSA Corporation (now Mapletree) start construction of the HarbourFront office towers, which is completed in 2003.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mapletree.com.sg/en/Media/News/1999/Dec/28121999-KeppelPSABreakGroundTwinOfficeTowers.aspx |title=Keppel and PSA Break Ground for Twin Office Towers at the HarbourFront |website=Mapletree |access-date=29 July 2019 |date=28 December 1999}}
• 31 December –
• The redevelopment of Changi Prison starts, eventually having consolidated clusters and facilities to optimise land use.{{cite web |title=Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Redevelopment of Changi Prison Complex |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/1999123102.htm |website=NAS |access-date=22 November 2019 |date=31 December 1999}}
• The Antarctica 2000 team becomes the first Singapore team to reach the South Pole after a 1,125 km trek.{{cite web |title=First Singapore team to reach the South Pole |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/48fe23f6-8923-40ed-9df6-a1b74646ddc2#1 |website=NLB |access-date=14 August 2019 |date=31 December 1999}}

• The last quarry on Pulau Ubin is closed.{{cite web |title=Quarries in Ubin |url=http://www.wildsingapore.com/ubin/places/quarry.htm |publisher=Wild Singapore |access-date=25 July 2019}}
• Hougang 1 and Rivervale Plaza are officially opened to the public.
• Woodlands Mart and Woodlands North Plaza are completed and opened to the public.

• 8 January – Punch Coomaraswamy, High Court judge and envoy (b. 1925).{{cite web |title=Punch Coomaraswamy |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_852_2004-12-28.html |website=NLB |access-date=25 July 2019}}
• 23 February – Pan Shou, Chinese calligrapher and poet (b. 1911).{{cite web |title=Pan Shou |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_799_2004-12-28.html |website=NLB |access-date=29 October 2019}}
• 20 March – G. Kandasamy, union leader, politician, and community leader (b. 1921).{{cite web |title=G. Kandasamy |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1193_2008-11-30.html |website=NLB |access-date=12 November 2019}}
• 25 March – Koh Mew Chin, murder victim of Chan Choon Wai (b. 1981).{{Cite news |date=27 March 1999 |title=Youth, 19, on murder charge |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19990327-1.2.60.28 |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=64 |via=NewspaperSG}}
• 21 April – T. Maniam, murder victim of Loganatha Venkatesan, Chandran Rajagopal, and Julaiha Begum (b. 1943).{{Cite web |date=14 March 2000 |title=Public Prosecutor v Loganatha Venkatesan and Others [2000] SGHC 38 |url=https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Portals/0/Docs/Judgments/%5b2000%5d%20SGHC%2038.pdf |access-date=17 May 2024 |website=Singapore Law Watch}}
• 2 May – S. Salim Ahmad, murder victim of Seah Kok Meng (b. 1943).{{Cite news |date=5 May 1999 |title=Man, 56, beaten to death |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19990505-1.2.45.12 |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=39 |via=NewspaperSG}}
• 3 June – Andy Ang Wei Jie, murder victim in the Ang Mo Kio child abuse case (b. 1991–1992).{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Fei Wan |date=12 May 2004 |title=Mother jailed for abetting lover's abuse of her son |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20040512-1.2.9.2 |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=TODAY |pages=4 |via=NewspaperSG}}
• 30 July – Ling Siew May, wife of late former President Ong Teng Cheong (b. 1937).{{cite web |title=Ling Siew May |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_898_2004-12-24.html |website=NLB |access-date=26 July 2019}}
• 21 August – Paddy Chew, actor and HIV patient (b. 1960).
• 28 August – Ho Rih Hwa, businessman and ambassador (b. 1917).{{cite web |title=Ho Rih Hwa |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_454_2005-01-14.html |website=NLB |access-date=12 November 2019}}
• 28 September – A. P. Rajah, Singapore's first High Commissioner to UK and first Supreme Court judge to remain after 70 (b. 1911).{{cite web |title=Arumugam Ponnu Rajah |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1191_2007-04-24.html |website=NLB |access-date=26 July 2019}}
• 1 December – Hsu Tse Kwang, former tax commissioner for 21 years (b. 1929).{{cite web |title=Hsu Tse Kwang |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1544_2009-08-29.html |website=NLB |access-date=12 November 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{Years in Singapore}}

{{Year in Asia|1999}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1999 in Singapore}}

Singapore

Category:Years of the 20th century in Singapore