1994 in Singapore explained

The following lists events that happened during 1994 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• President

Ong Teng Cheong

• Prime Minister

Goh Chok Tong

Events

January

• New Year's Day (1 January)
  • After countdown new year, After SBC 5 officially introduced, and launched new name or new look as Channel 5 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "Where It All Happens!" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 5 opening at stroke of midnight Singapore Time after countdown new year and happy new year and became the very first channel in Singapore to become a all full-fledged Singaporean Standard English (or Singapore English), and Singaporean Colloquial English (or Singlish) free-to-air terrestrial channel on the television programme Panasonic Countdown New Year (Countdown 94): Hi! 5 is an annual multi-tiered event held every New Year's Eve celebrations in Singapore are centered in Raffles Hotel and Changi Airport its main events are pyrotechnic displays was officially launched by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong including after countdown new year marked farewell from SBC 5 marked very final and last time farewell the end to midnight firework new year marked officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 5 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "Where It All Happens!" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 5 officially formal full grand opening at stroke of midnight Singapore Time after countdown new year and happy new year and became the very first channel in Singapore to become a all full-fledged Singaporean Standard English (or Singapore English), and Singaporean Colloquial English (or Singlish) free-to-air terrestrial channel both of which are terrestrial telecast nationally free-to-air on Channel 5 on New Year's Eve 1993 11:15pm to New Year's Day 1994 at 12:30am Singapore Time lasting 75-minutes and sponsored by Panasonic, Grand Seiko (Seiko) and Lexus (Toyota), Tellymatch: Hip Hop! Fashion Stop! on New Year's Day 1994 at 12:30am Singapore Time (live from Junction 8), Eye on 5 at 12:45am Singapore Time, Tellymatch: Hubhub at the Pub at 2:20am Singapore Time, Tellymatch: Running On 5 at 7:30am Singapore Time, Tellymatch: Style Alive On 5 at 2:00pm Singapore Time and Tellymatch: Finale On 5 at 1:30am Singapore Time. News in English was officially launched new split into two new English television news bulletin programmes includes:^{[1] [2]}
    • "News 5 at Seven" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's very first main flagship evening television news bulletin programme officially opened on New Year's Day 1994 new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 7:00pm to 7:30pm Singapore Time.
    • "News 5 Tonight" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's very first main flagship late-night television news bulletin on Channel 5 new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 10:30pm to 11:00pm Singapore Time.
  • Malay programmes was officially moved from SBC 5 to SBC 12.
  • News in Malay was officially renamed as "Berita 12" was formally premiered on SBC 12 on the same night now extended from 20 to 30 minutes and new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 7:30pm to 8:00pm Singapore Time.
  • Singapore International Television (SITV) (Malay: Televisyen Antarabangsa Singapura) was a Singaporean international free-to-air terrestrial and satellite television channel operated by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). SITV was broadcast from Palapa B2P an Indonesian communications satellite owned by Indosat which covers Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. It was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm Singapore Time based in Singapore and it operated from Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) head office and headquarters in Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore. Singapore International Television (SITV) was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm Singapore Time after officially opening ceremony by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong based in Singapore owned and company by Television Corporation of Singapore daily with the first programme at launching ceremony: a special edition of Inside Asia and a live simulcast of News 5 Tonight was aired on Channel 5. It was originally based in Singapore.
• 4 January - The Straits Times Industrials Index hits a record high of 2471.90 points,^[3] now-former record has been surpassed in 2000 with a record high of 2582.94.^[4]
• 22 January – Junction 8 is officially opened.^[5]
• 30 January – SBC 12 officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 12 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "Something Special" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 12 opening television programme '12' Celebrates at 9:30pm Singapore Time.^[6]

February

• 1 February - Radio Singapore International (RSI) is launched as Singapore's first international shortwave radio station.^[7]

March

• 2 March – The extension of the CISCO headquarters starts construction. When completed, it will have cash processing facilities and a computer disaster recovery centre.^[8]
• 8 March – The first 2G networks are launched in Singapore.^[9]
• 13 March – The National Service Resort and Country Club is officially opened.^[10]
• 26 March – Singapore wins the bid to host the 1999 Rotary Convention.^[11]

April

• 1 April – The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is first introduced with a tax rate of 3%.^[12]

May

• 5 May – United States media reports on the caning incident of American teenager Michael P. Fay who was convicted for vandalism.
• 21 May – A Singapore Police Force officer, Corporal Hoi Kim Heng, 24, dies after being stabbed in the neck during the attempted arrest of drug abuser Soh Loo Ban. His companion, Corporal Tan Huang Yee, recovers from his injuries.^[13]
• 23 May
  • The final and last edition episode of "Variety Tonight (开心五重奏)" is a Singaporean Mandarin/Standard Singaporean Mandarin/Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) variety and entertainment show on every Monday at 8:45pm to 9:45pm Singapore Time on Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Channel 8. One weeks later, was officially rebranded or rebranding took place becomes "Comedy Night (搞笑行动)" became Singaporean Mandarin/Standard Singaporean Mandarin/Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) very first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show was host/presenter by Jack Neo officially opening night on Monday Night, 30 May 1994 on every Monday at 8:00pm to 9:00pm Singapore Time) on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8 after rebranding took place.
  • Corporal Tan Huang Yee is given a rare field promotion to the rank of sergeant, while Corporal Hoi Kim Heng is conferred the same award posthumously.
• 26 May – The Night Safari is officially opened.^[14]
• 28 May
  • News in Mandarin (新闻) and News in Tamil aired its very final and last edition for this channel Tonight and next day farewell from 新闻 and News in Tamil was officially renamed to becomes because officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 8 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "追潮流，看世界，第八波道最亲切" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 8 opening television programme "Be A Part On 8" at 10:00pm Singapore Time:
    • "News in Mandarin (第八新闻)" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's first main flagship evening television news bulletin programme in Singaporean Mandarin, Standard Singaporean Mandarin, and Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) on Channel 8 new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time.
    • "Tamil News (Tamil Seithi)" was formally premiered on Channel 8 on the same night now extended from 10 to 20 minutes and new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 6:30pm to 6:50pm Singapore Time.
  • SBC 8 officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 8 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "追潮流，看世界，第八波道最亲切" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 8 opening television programme "Be A Part On 8" at 10:00pm Singapore Time.^[15]
• 29 May - After revamp Channel 8, the channel officially introduced and launched new logo and slogan for a new look "追潮流，看世界，第八波道最亲切" was officially completed and successful fully on one night past, News in Tamil was officially renamed "Tamil News (Tamil Seithi)" was formally premiered on Channel 8 on the same night now extended from 10 to 20 minutes and new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 6:30pm to 6:50pm Singapore Time. News in Mandarin was officially launched new split into two new Singaporean Mandarin, Standard Singaporean Mandarin, and Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) television news bulletin programmes includes:^[16]
  • The premiere of "News Brief in Mandarin (新闻快讯)" a 10-minute evening television news summary in Singaporean Mandarin, Standard Singaporean Mandarin, and Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) on Channel 8 first aired, schedule, clock and time became daily from 6:50pm to 7:00pm Singapore Time.
  • "News in Mandarin (第八新闻)" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's first main flagship evening television news bulletin programme in Singaporean Mandarin, Standard Singaporean Mandarin, and Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) on Channel 8 new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time.
• 30 May - Singaporean Mandarin/Standard Singaporean Mandarin/Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) very first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show, Comedy Night (搞笑行动) was host/presenter by Jack Neo officially opening night on Monday Night, 30 May 1994 on every Monday at 8:00pm to 9:00pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8 after rebranding took place.
• 31 May – The Great Singapore Sale is launched.

June

• 6 June – Known as the Oriental Hotel Murder, a Japanese tourist, Madam Fujii Isae, 49, is found murdered in her hotel room at the Oriental Hotel.
• 9 June – The biggest single robbery to strike a private home occurs at a property in Bukit Timah, in which S$6 million worth of valuables were stolen. All five men involved in the armed robbery were subsequently arrested.

July

• 1 July – SingTel launches SingNet, Singapore's first ISP.^[17]
• 21 July – The design for the new arts centre is unveiled, with the name of the facility called the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, which will be finished by 2000. It opened in 2002.^[18]

August

• 29 August – "AM Singapore" as Singapore's very first English-language breakfast programme begins on Channel 5 aired live on Monday to Friday at 6:00am Singapore Time.

September

• 1 September – SingTel launched its fully digitalised telecom network.^[19]
• 2 September – Tuas Naval Base is officially opened.^[20]
• 16 September – A sergeant with the Republic of Singapore Navy, Chong Peh Choong, 26, kills his three children aged between 3 and 10 before failing in his attempts to kill his wife and himself. He was jailed for life.
• 23 September
  • Dutchman Johannes van Damme is executed for drug trafficking.^[21]
  • FM97.2 officially grand opening and launching broadcast and transmission.

October

• 1 October
  • Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) was formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring into a new holding company Singapore International Media (SIM) with four business units: Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS), Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS), Television Twelve (TV12) and SIM Communications (SIMCOM).^{[22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]}
  • Singapore International Media (SIM) formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring took place on 1 October 1994 were:
    • Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring took place as privatisation programme or privatised program were:
      • Channel 5

E! News Week in Review (Variety) (formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring at 6:00am Singapore Time).

• • • • Channel 8

Proverb's Maze (Children's info-educational) (formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring at 7:00am Singapore Time).

• • • • Singapore International Television (SITV)

Portret Keluarga (Family magazine) and Hiburan Minggu Ini (Variety) (formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring at 10:00pm Singapore Time).

• • • Television Twelve (TV12) formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring took place as privatisation programme or privatised program were:
      • Channel 12

The History of Mr. Polly (formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring at 12:25pm Singapore Time).

• • • Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS) formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring took place were:
      • Warna 942 (formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring at 4:45am Singapore Time).
      • Ria 897, Radio 1, Symphony 924, YES 933, Class 95, Capital Radio 95.8FM, Oli 968, Love 972 and Perfect Ten 98.7FM (formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring at 6:00am Singapore Time).
  • Singapore Broadcasting Authority is formed.^{[37] [38]}
• 12 October - Singapore English first television drama series, Masters of the Sea was aired on Channel 5.
• 15 October – Madam Mona Koh, 46, a mamasan, survives two gunshot wounds at Katong People's Complex.^[39]
• 22 October - The last National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) replacement exercise takes place in Choa Chu Kang Community Club, marking the end of a three-year replacement programme. For those who did not re-register yet, a grace period will be given until 1995. From 1 January 1996, the old laminated NRICs will be invalid.^[40]
• 31 October to 3 November – A three-day debate on ministerial salaries ensues.^{[41] [42]} Eventually, the white paper is approved on 3 November.^[43]
• 31 October – Power98FM is launched by SAFRA.

November

• November – Tiong Bahru Plaza opens to the public.
• 21 November – The Singapore People's Party is formed after several members broke off from the Singapore Democratic Party.^[44]
• 30 November – Police officer Senior Staff Sergeant Boo Tiang Huat, 47, dies after sustaining an axe wound to the head while conducting routine vehicular inspection at Newton Road.^[45] He was given a field promotion to the rank of Station Inspector posthumously.^[46]

December

• 31 December - Panasonic Countdown 95 is an annual multi-tiered event held every New Year's Eve celebrations in Singapore are centered in Raffles Hotel and Changi Airport its main events are pyrotechnic displays. It was officially launched by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong including from the midnight countdown new year to midnight firework new year both of which are terrestrial telecast nationally free-to-air on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) such as Channel 5 from 11:00pm to 12:30am Singapore Time lasting 90-minutes and sponsored by Panasonic, Grand Seiko (Seiko) and Lexus (Toyota).

Date unknown

• The Singapore Heart Centre starts operations.^[47]

Births

• 1 January – Carrie Wong, television actress
• 8 January - Shawn Tok, singer-actor
• 1 October - Linying, the singer for NDP 2021 theme song 'The Road Ahead'.
• 5 November – Timothee Yap, national sprinter.
• 13 November – Andrew Tang, racing driver.^[48]

Deaths

• 24 January – F. A. Chua – Supreme Court Judge (b. 1913).^[49]
• 11 February – Gog Sing Hooi – Pioneer watercolour painter (b. 1933).^[50]
• 24 August – Ee Peng Liang – Businessman and philanthropist (b. 1913).^[51]
• 7 March – P. V. Sarma, leader of the Malayan National Liberation League, allowed back to Singapore in 1991 (b. 1917).^[52]
• 8 November – Kwek Hong Png – Founder of Hong Leong Group (b. 1913).^[53]
• 10 December – Jamit Singh – Trade unionist (b. 1929).^[54]

Notes and References

1. News: 1 January 1994 . CHANNEL 5 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK. The Straits Times . 8 August 2023.
2. Web site: 19 December 1993 . 35 hours of TV to ring in 1994 . 12 October 2023 . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB).
3. Web site: Shares: 2 records set . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) . 28 January 2020 . 5 January 1994.
4. Web site: STI blazes past 2,500 to new high . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) . 28 January 2020 . 4 January 2000.
5. Web site: Official Opening of Junction 8 . NAS . 12 September 2019 . 22 January 1994.
6. News: 30 January 1994 . CHANNEL 12 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK. The Straits Times . 8 August 2023.
7. News: 1 February 1994 . New regional radio service starts today . 9 August 2023 . The Straits Times.
8. Web site: Ground Breaking Ceremony of the extension to the existing Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation (CISCO) Building . NAS . 12 September 2019 . 2 March 1994.
9. Web site: Digital handphone network launched . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) . 17 April 2020 . 9 March 1994.
10. Web site: Official opening of SAFRA Resort at SAFRA Resort and Country Club . NAS . 17 July 2019 . 13 March 1994.
11. Web site: Singapore wins bid for Rotary convention . UPI . 17 July 2019 . 26 March 1994.
12. Web site: Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax . NLB . 14 July 2019.
13. News: . 31 December 1994 . Crimes and tragedies that shocked the nation – Two police officers killed .
14. Web site: Official Opening of the Night Safari . NAS . 28 July 2019 . 26 May 1994.
15. News: 28 May 1994 . CHANNEL 8 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK. The Straits Times . 8 August 2023.
16. News: 29 May 1994 . CHANNEL 8 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK. The Straits Times . 8 August 2023.
17. Web site: Online project highlights key days of our lives . The New Paper . 7 August 2019 . 24 December 2015.
18. Web site: Design for world-class arts centre unveiled . The Straits Times. 26 August 2019 . 22 July 1994.
19. Web site: Ceremony marking total digitalization of Singapore Telecom's network . NAS . 26 July 2019 . 1 September 1994.
20. Web site: Official Opening of Tuas Naval Base . NAS . 8 September 2019 . 2 September 1994.
21. News: Singapore Executes a Dutch Engineer Arrested on Drug Charges. 4 July 2011. The New York Times. 24 September 1994.
22. News: 1 October 1994 . A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING . . 1 October 2023.
23. News: 1 October 1994 . A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING . . 1 October 2023.
24. News: 1 October 1994 . TCS, RCS AND TV12 OFFICIALLY VERY FIRST RADIO AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE. . 1 October 2023.
25. News: 1 October 1994 . A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING . . 1 October 2023.
26. News: 1 October 1994 . A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING . . 1 October 2023.
27. News: 1 October 1994 . TCS, RCS AND TV12 OFFICIALLY VERY FIRST RADIO AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE. . 1 October 2023.
28. News: 1 October 1994 . BERMULA ERA BARU DALAM PENYIARAN DI SINGAPURA . . 1 October 2023.
29. News: 1 October 1994 . BERMULA ERA BARU DALAM PENYIARAN DI SINGAPURA . . 1 October 2023.
30. News: 1 October 1994 . TCS, RCS DAN TV12 SECARA RASMI INTISARI RANCANGAN RADIO DAN TELEVISYEN PERDANA. . 1 October 2023.
31. News: 1 October 1994 . 新加坡广播业今天开始迈人新纪元 . . 1 October 2023.
32. News: 1 October 1994 . 新加坡广播业今天开始迈人新纪元 . . 1 October 2023.
33. News: 1 October 1994 . 新视、新广电及新视12举行正式开始广播电视节目表仪式. . 1 October 2023.
34. News: 1 October 1994 . சிங்கப்பூரின் ஒலிபரப்புத் துறை இன்று ஒரு புதிய சகாப்தத்தைத் தொடங்குகிறது . . 1 October 2023.
35. News: 1 October 1994 . சிங்கப்பூரின் ஒலிபரப்புத் துறை இன்று ஒரு புதிய சகாப்தத்தைத் தொடங்குகிறது . . 1 October 2023.
36. News: 1 October 1994 . சிங்கப்பூர் தொலைக்காட்சி நிறுவனம், சிங்கப்பூர் வானொலி கழகம் மற்றும் தொலைக்காட்சி பன்னிரண்டு அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக முதல் வானொலி மற்றும் தொலைக்காட்சி அட்டவணை. . 1 October 2023.
37. Web site: The Formation of the Singapore Broadcasting Authority . NAS . 20 January 2021 . 29 September 1994.
38. Web site: Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) . NLB . 10 August 2019.
39. Book: Peter H. L. Lim. Chronicle of Singapore, 1959–2009: Fifty Years of Headline News. 2009. Editions Didier Millet. 978-981-4217-75-0. 257–.
40. Web site: NRIC Re-registration Exercise Closing Ceremony at the Chua Chu Kang Community Club. NAS. 27 August 2019. 22 October 1994.
41. . See also ; ; .
42. News: In his own words: Higher pay will attract most talented team, so country can prosper . The Straits Times. 27 August 2019 . 27 March 2015.

43. .

44. Web site: Singapore People's Party is formed . NLB . 14 September 2019.
45. News: The Straits Times . 1 December 1994 . Policeman slashed on head dies instantly .
46. A tribute to SI Boo Tiang Huat . Police Life . 20 . 12 . 14 . . December 1994 .
47. Web site: 10 facts you should know about Singapore's 200-year healthcare history . 17 July 2019. 6 January 2015 .
48. Web site: Andrew Tang . 17 July 2019.
49. Web site: A Tribute to the Late Mr. Justice F. A. Chua . HeinOnline . 13 December 2021.
50. Web site: Gog Sing Hooi . NLB . 12 November 2019.
51. Web site: singapores mr charity ee peng liang dies at age 81. ucanews.com.
52. Web site: NewspaperSG . 2023-07-31 . eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
53. Web site: Kwek Hong Png . NLB . 29 October 2019.
54. Web site: Jamit Singh . NLB . 29 October 2019.