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2008 in Singapore

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2008
in
Singapore

Decades:
See also:

The following lists events that happened during 2008 in the Republic of Singapore.

Incumbents

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Events

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January

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  • 1 January – All radio stations in Singapore officially start broadcasting 24-hour seven days one week at stroke of midnight SGT.[1][2]
  • 2 January – The School of the Arts is opened, making it the first specialised pre-tertiary arts school in Singapore.[3]
  • 3 January – The Keppel Bay Bridge is officially opened.[4]
  • 8 January
  • 9 January – Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 starts operations.[8][9]
  • 14 January – The Athletes Achievement Awards is launched to recognise Paralympians. The awards are 10 per cent that of the Multi-million dollar Award Programme for Olympians, being launched 15 years ago.[10]
  • 18 January – The Land Transport Gallery is launched. Several enhancements are announced for buses. Among them, the Land Transport Authority will centrally plan bus routes by 2009 with Public Transport Council overseeing bus networks and service quality, 80% of bus services at timings of 10 minutes or less by August 2009, more seamless transfers, distance-based fares by 2009 to remove transfer penalties, an integrated season pass, more bus lanes, pilot bus priority at traffic junctions and mandatory give-way at bus bays by end-2008, seven more integrated bus interchanges, more information panels at 20 bus stops and SMS for bus arrival times, an enhanced Integrated Public Transport Journey Planner by July 2008 and an Integrated Multi-Modal Travel Information System to be developed. Bus services will be made contestable and more niche services will be provided. A community division is set up in LTA with a new programme soon.[11][12][13][14][15]
  • 19 January –
    • Marina at Keppel Bay is officially opened as a yacht facility with world-class restaurants.[16][17]
    • The Sports Hub project tender is awarded to Singapore Sports Hub Consortium led by Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd.[18]
  • 23 January – The National University Health System is formed as Singapore's third health cluster.
  • 25 January
    • Several new rail lines are announced to double the network from 138 km (86 miles) today to 278 km (173 miles) by 2020 as part of refreshed transport plans.
    • The Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line will finish by 2018 and 2020 respectively, and new extensions on the North South and East West Lines will finish by 2015, serving the new cruise centre in Marina South and Tuas area respectively. Downtown Line Stage 3 will be brought forward by two years from 2018 to 2016 (a year after Stage 2 opens). Circle Line Stage 3 will open a year earlier in mid-2009, with two stations (Thomson and West Coast) opening with the whole line after initial plans as shell stations. The Circle Line extension serving Marina Bay will open in 2012.[19][20][21]
    • There will also be 93 more train trips per week on the North South, East West and North East Lines during peak periods from February 2008, with more train capacity for the North South and East West Lines by 2012.
    • Platform screen doors will be installed on all above ground stations to boost safety and reduce track intrusions, with the installation make more cost-effective after usage in many countries. It will start with test pilots in Yishun, Jurong East and Pasir Ris in 2009 before a rollout to all stations in 2012.[22][23]
    • The rail financing framework will also be reviewed for greater rail expansion by allowing a network approach in evaluating feasibility of new lines instead of a line approach, as well as ensure greater contestability of rail operators by having shorter licence terms at 10 to 15 years instead of 30 currently, and having operators compete to run rail lines and meet service obligations.
    • In other transport plans, 86 percent of overhead bridges will be covered by 2010, with all transport walkways made barrier-free too. 40 percent of buses will be wheelchair accessible by 2010, with the entire fleet by 2020. There will also be 17 more lifts for 16 MRT stations to boost convenience, with more than 70 percent of MRT stations having at least two access routes by end 2011. Public transport fares will continue to be regulated for affordability, including for those lower-income.
    • For taxis, Quality of Standards for call bookings will be tightened to ensure availability, along with setting up a common booking number by July.
    • For cyclists, a six-month trial will start from March to allow foldable bikes on trains and buses. Park connectors will be leveraged to allow cyclists to get to public transport interchanges more easily, along with improving bike parking facilities at MRT stations and bus interchanges in housing estates. Signs will also be put up to alert motorists of cyclists in frequently-used routes from March, with trials started to allow cycling on pedestrian walkways in Tampines.
    • Transport fleet standards will be improved for the environment, with all taxis complying with Euro IV by 2014, and 40 percent of public buses doing so in 2010; and the rest by 2020.[24]

February

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March

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April

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May

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June

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  • 23 June – The Singapore National Paralympic Council is formed to focus on para athletes.[43]
  • 27 June – Phase 2B of Fusionopolis (known as Solaris) starts construction.[44]

July

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August

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September

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October

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Fusionopolis Phase 1

November

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  • 3 November – Keppel Corporation completes building two icebreakers for the Arctic, the first in Asia as well as the first time being done in the tropics.[77]
  • 7 November – Bombardier Transportation is awarded a contract for Downtown MRT line trains, part of six contracts awarded for the new line.[78][79]
  • 10 November – A second school for those who did not do well in PSLE, the Assumption Pathway School, will start taking in students from 2009.[80]
  • 21 November – Awards under the Athletes Achievement Awards scheme are doubled for Paralympians after increased funding announced by Tote Board, which will fund the full sum compared to previously. This comes after a debate on differences in rewarding able-bodied and disabled athletes.[81]

December

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  • 1 December – Sembawang Shopping Centre is reopened to the public after the renovation in 2007.
  • 23 December – Singapore Flyer stops for six hours due to technical problems.[82]

Date unknown

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  • The 1st phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System is completed.
  • The Singapore Totalisator Board is renamed to Tote Board.
  • The Common Services Tunnel is completed.

Deaths

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Date unknown

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Notes

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  1. ^ All MediaCorp Radio stations to run 24/7 from 1 Jan – Channel NewsAsia
  2. ^ Toh, Christopher (20 April 2016). "Some radio milestones through the decades". Today. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  3. ^ "School of The Arts is opened". NLB. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Keppel Bay Bridge rises as new icon at Singapore's southern waterfront". Keppel Corporation. 3 January 2008. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. ^ "my paper, Singapore's first full-fledged bilingual newspaper, is out!". SPH. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Asia Netcom and Pacific Internet Launch Merger and Unveil New Corporate Identity". The Straits Times. Singapore. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Reflections at Keppel Bay breaks new ground for iconic waterfront residences". Keppel Corporation. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 Opens For Operations". MOT. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  9. ^ "T3 Takes Off". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 10 January 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. ^ Low, Lin Fhoong (15 January 2008). "Cash boost for disabled athletes". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Speech by Mr Raymond Lim At The Launch Of The Land Transport Gallery on 18 January 2008". MOT. 18 January 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  12. ^ Goh, Chin Lian (19 January 2008). "Overhaul of bus system for smooth, fast trips". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Page 57". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 January 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Page 58". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 January 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  15. ^ Popatlal, Asha (18 January 2008). "Transport minister announces major changes in land transport". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Singapore's new luxury waterfront playground premieres". Keppel Corporation. 19 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  17. ^ Majid, Hasnita (19 January 2008). "Newly-opened Marina at Keppel Bay welcomes Clipper Race participants". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Singapore Sports Hub Preferred Bidder Announcement". Singapore Sports Council. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  19. ^ Popatlal, Asha (25 January 2008). "MRT network length to double by 2020; two new lines to be built". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  20. ^ Tan, Christopher (25 January 2008). "Govt to spend $40b to expand rail network". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  21. ^ "2 new MRT lines & 2 extensions by 2020". The Straits Times. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Platform screen doors for all above-ground MRT stations by 2012". The Straits Times. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  23. ^ Wong, Siew Ying (25 January 2008). "Above-ground MRT stations to have platform screen doors by 2012". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Speech By Mr Raymond Lim At The Visit To Kim Chuan Depot on 25 January 2008". MOT. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Launch of Employment and Employability Institute". NTUC. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Opening of Employment and Employability Institute (e2i)". WDA (now WSG). 1 February 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  27. ^ "INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE – NEWS". 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  28. ^ "JI detainee Mas Selamat Kastari escapes from Singapore detention centre". Channel NewsAsia. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  29. ^ "FY 2008 Committee of Supply Debate 1st Reply by Minister on Educational Policy" (PDF). NAS. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  30. ^ Chong, Elena; Quek, Carolyn; Joo Lin, Teh (6 March 2008). "Police shot dead murder suspect in Outram MRT". Asiaone. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Official commissioning of the Underground Ammunition Facility" (PDF). NAS. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Remaking a big splash'". Today (retrieved from NLB). 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Launch of the Land Transport Masterplan And Announcement of the Community Outreach Programme". MOT. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  34. ^ Cheney, Satish (31 March 2008). "Changi Airport celebrates launch of shopping and dining facilities at T3". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  35. ^ "Specialist clinics at new Khoo Teck Puat Hospital open" (PDF). Alexandra Health. 24 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Casino Regulatory Authority is Operational". CRA. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  37. ^ "JTC launches new space for the arts". The Business Times (retrieved from NLB). 12 April 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  38. ^ "Speech at The Launch of The National Workplace Safety and Health Campaign 2008 and The Workplace Safety and Health Council". MOM. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  39. ^ "SMRT Is Green Launch". MOT. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  40. ^ "PM Lee Hsien Loong Officially Opens Two Pedestrian Bridges and HortPark – The Gardening Hub at the Southern Ridges". NParks. 10 May 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  41. ^ "Court awards islet to Singapore". BBC News. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  42. ^ "No plans to develop Jurong LRT for now". Land Transport Authority. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  43. ^ "About". SNPC. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  44. ^ "Fusionopolis Phase 2B Groundbreaking Ceremony". MTI. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  45. ^ "Mr Lim Hng Kiang at the Official Opening of DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore". MTI. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Jurong East Modification Project". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  47. ^ "Inauguration of Reform Party". NLB. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  48. ^ "Mr S Iswaran at the Completion Ceremony of the Pit Building for the FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix". MTI. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  49. ^ "Downtown Line 2 Station Sites Named". LTA. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  50. ^ "LTA unveils locations of DTL stage 2 stations" Archived 13 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Christopher Tan, The Straits Times, 15 July 2008
  51. ^ "12 MRT stations for Bukit Timah by 2015". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 16 July 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  52. ^ "Speech by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister, at Official Opening of Changi Airport's Terminal 3, on 25 July 2008 at 3.45 PM". NAS. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  53. ^ "Radio Singapore International to stop transmission". MediaCorp. 3 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  54. ^ ir. "Olympics: First medal in 48 years for Singapore". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  55. ^ "Singapore into table tennis final". BBC. 15 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  56. ^ "Olympics: Singapore paddlers settle for silver in women's team final". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  57. ^ "Government doubles budget to provide more support for marriage and parenthood" (PDF). NAS. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  58. ^ "Braddell Road/Thomson Road/Lornie Road Flyover to open in July". Channel NewsAsia. 20 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  59. ^ "Lornie Viaduct opens this Sunday". Asiaone. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  60. ^ "Single Intake for Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute from 2009". MOE. 26 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  61. ^ Cheney, Satish (28 August 2008). "New butterfly garden opens at Changi Airport Terminal 3". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  62. ^ "Singapore Pharmacy Council formed". Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  63. ^ "SAF opens its first urban training facility". Channel NewsAsia. 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  64. ^ "Murai Urban Training Facility to Hone the SAF's Networked Urban Operations Capability" (PDF). NAS. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  65. ^ Ryan Huang (9 September 2008). "Paralympics: Singapore wins first-ever medal through Equestrian". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 9 September 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  66. ^ Tan Yo-Hinn. "Paralympics: Singapore's Laurentia Tan wins second Equestrian bronze". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  67. ^ Lynda Hong (13 September 2008). "Swimmer Yip Pin Xiu clinches Singapore's first silver at Paralympics". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  68. ^ Tan Yo-Hinn (16 September 2008). "Paralympics: Swimmer Pin Xiu is Singapore's golden girl". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  69. ^ "Speech by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport, at visit to Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway". NAS. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  70. ^ "Weblink to Official Website News". Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  71. ^ "Opening of One Raffles Place Tower Two". MOF. 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  72. ^ "Drumming up a new beat – SPH launches a weekly English newspaper for the Indian diaspora". SPH. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  73. ^ "Launch of the Jewel Box's New Extension". MTI. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  74. ^ "Welcome Remarks at the Official Opening of Fusionopolis @ Genexis Theatre, Fusionopolis". A*STAR. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  75. ^ "Two more to savour". Today (retrieved from NLB). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  76. ^ "Speech by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister, at launch of Clean And Green Singapore 2009 and Opening of Marina Barrage". NAS. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  77. ^ "Keppel Singmarine completes Asia's first two icebreakers for the Arctic". Keppel Corporation. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  78. ^ "LTA Awards 6 Downtown Line Contracts Totalling $1.13 Billion". LTA. 7 November 2008. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  79. ^ "Downtown train deal goes to Bombardier". Asiaone. 8 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  80. ^ "New school offers boarding stint". Asiaone. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  81. ^ Wang, Jeanette (22 November 2008). "More for medallists". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  82. ^ "Dozens trapped on Singapore wheel". BBC. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  83. ^ "Local comedian Jimmy Nah dead at 40". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 January 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  84. ^ "Chua Ek Kay". NLB. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  85. ^ "Choo Hwee Lim". NLB. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  86. ^ "Gregory Yong". NLB. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  87. ^ a b "Guilty As Charged: Man murders lover, her daughter and flatmate after quarrel over money for crab". The Straits Times. 18 May 2016. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  88. ^ "Jurong GRC MP Ong Chit Chung dies". AsiaOne. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  89. ^ "Constance Mary Turnbull". NLB. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  90. ^ "Nicole Lai had died on Sept 6 after a year-long battle with skin cancer". AsiaOne. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  91. ^ "J B Jeyaretnam dies of heart failure, aged 82". Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  92. ^ "Opposition politician dies". The Straits Times. 30 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  93. ^ "WOMAN'S BODY FOUND". TODAY. 21 October 2008. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  94. ^ Lin, Teh Joo; Quek, Carolyn (28 November 2008). "S'porean hostage killed". The Straits Times. Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  95. ^ "Ho See Beng". NLB. Retrieved 12 August 2019.