1994 in Singapore

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The following lists events that happened during 1994 in Singapore.

← 1993 1992 1991 1994 in Singapore → 1995 1996 1997
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	Other events of 1994 Timeline of Singaporean history

Incumbents

• President: Ong Teng Cheong
• Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong

Events

January

• 1 January
  • SBC 5 officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 5 (新视第五波道) 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 SGT after countdown new year and happy new year and became the first channel in Singapore to become a full-fledged English-language channel on the television programme Panasonic Countdown New Year (Countdown 94): Hi! 5 on New Year's Eve 1993 at 11:15pm SGT (live from Raffles Hotel and Changi Airport), Tellymatch: Hip Hop! Fashion Stop! on New Year's Day 1994 at 12:30am SGT (live from Junction 8), Eye on 5 at 12:45am SGT, Tellymatch: Hubhub at the Pub at 2:20am SGT, Tellymatch: Running On 5 at 7:30am SGT, Tellymatch: Style Alive On 5 at 2:00pm SGT and Tellymatch: Finale On 5 at 1:30am SGT. News in English was officially launched new split into two new English television news bulletin programmes includes:^[1]
    • "News 5 at Seven (now Asia Tonight)" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's very first main flagship evening news 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 SGT.
    • "News 5 Tonight (now News Tonight and Singapore Tonight)" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's very first 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 SGT.
  • 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 SGT.
  • 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 SGT based in Singapore and it operated from TCS head office and headquarters in Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore along with Channel NewsAsia. 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 SGT 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 (now News Tonight) was aired on Channel 5. It was originally based in Singapore.
  • Radio Singapore International (RSI) is launched as Singapore's first international shortwave radio station.
• 4 January - The Straits Times Industrials Index hits a record high of 2471.90 points,^[2] now-former record has been surpassed in 2000 with a record high of 2582.94.^[3]
• 22 January – Junction 8 is officially opened.^[4]
• 30 January – SBC 12 officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 12 (新视第12波道) 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 SGT.^[5]

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.^[6]
• 8 March – The first 2G networks are launched in Singapore.^[7]
• 13 March – The National Service Resort and Country Club is officially opened.^[8]
• 26 March – Singapore wins the bid to host the 1999 Rotary Convention.^[9]

April

• 1 April – The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is first introduced with a tax rate of 3%.^[10]

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.^[11]
• 23 May – 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.^[11]
• 26 May – The Night Safari is officially opened.^[12]
• 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 (新视第八波道) 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 SGT:
    • "News in Mandarin (第八新闻) (now News Tonight (晚间新闻))" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's very first main flagship evening news programme in Mandarin on Channel 8 new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 10:00pm to 10:30pm SGT.
    • "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 SGT.
  • SBC 8 officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 8 (新视第八波道) 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 SGT.^[13]
• 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 SGT. News in Mandarin was officially launched new split into two new Mandarin television news bulletin programmes includes:^[14]
  • The premiere of "News Brief in Mandarin (新闻简报) (now Hello Singapore (狮城有约) and Singapore Today (狮城6点半))" a 10-minute evening news summary in Mandarin on Channel 8 very first aired, schedule, clock and time became daily from 6:50pm to 7:00pm SGT.
  • "News in Mandarin (第八新闻) (now News Tonight (晚间新闻))" officially formal opening took place as Singapore's very first main flagship evening news programme in Mandarin on Channel 8 new aired, new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 10:00pm to 10:30pm SGT.
• 30 May - Singaporean Mandarin very first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show, Comedy Night (搞笑行动) was host/presenter by Jack Neo and aired on Channel 8.
• 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.^[15]
• 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.^[16]

August

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

September

• 1 September – SingTel launched its fully digitalised telecom network.^[17]
• 2 September – Tuas Naval Base is officially opened.^[18]
• 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.^[19]
  • FM97.2 officially grand opening and launching broadcast and transmission.
• 30 September
  • Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) officially closing broadcasting and transmission ceremony took place on 1 October 1994 were:
    • Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Television (SBC Television) officially closing broadcast and transmission took place as very final and last programme or ceasing program were:
      • Channel 5 (新视第五波道): Sell–A–Vision (Commercial presentation) (officially closing telecast on 1 October 1994 at 3:45am SGT).
      • Channel 8 (新视第八波道): Friday Feature Special — "Point of No Return" (English and Singdarin subtitles) (officially closing telecast on 1 October 1994 at 12:30am SGT).
      • Channel 12 (新视第12波道): The Mary Tyler Moore Show – Season 1 Episode 15 "Howard's Girl" (officially closing telecast at 11:55pm SGT).
    • Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Radio (SBC Radio) officially closing broadcast and transmission took place were:
      • Ria 897, Symphony 924, Warna 942, Class 95, Capital Radio 95.8FM and Olikkalanjiam 96.8FM (officially closing broadcast at 2:00am SGT).
      • After 24-hour 7-days a week of radio station in Singapore such as SBC Radio 1 or Radio 1 was officially new launched to new name or renamed becomes One FM 90.5, YES 933, Love 972 and Perfect Ten 98.7FM because due to hear or listen broadcasting and transmission until 5:59am SGT or 6:00am SGT.

October

• 1 October
  • Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) was formally privatised 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).^{[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]}
  • Singapore International Media (SIM) officially opening broadcasting and transmission ceremony took place on 1 October 1994 were:
    • Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) officially opening broadcast and transmission took place as very first programme or launching program were:
      • Channel 5 (新视第五波道): E! News Week in Review (officially opening telecast at 6:00am SGT).
      • Channel 8 (新视第八波道): Sell–A–Vision (Commercial presentation) (officially opening telecast at 6:00am SGT).
    • Television Twelve (TV12) officially opening broadcast and transmission took place as very first programme or launching program were:
      • Channel 12 (新视第12波道): The History of Mr. Polly (officially opening telecast at 12:25pm SGT).
    • Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS) officially opening broadcast and transmission took place were:
      • Warna 942 (officially opening broadcast at 4:45am SGT).
      • Ria 897, One FM 90.5, Symphony 924, YES 933, Class 95, Capital Radio 95.8FM, Oli 968, Love 972 and Perfect Ten 98.7FM (officially opening broadcast at 6:00am SGT).
  • Singapore Broadcasting Authority is formed.^[35][36]
• 12 October - Singapore English very 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.^[37]
• 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.^[38]
• 31 October to 3 November – A three-day debate on ministerial salaries ensues.^[39][40] Eventually, the white paper is approved on 3 November.^[41]
• 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.^[42]
• 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.^[43] He was given a field promotion to the rank of Station Inspector posthumously.^[44]

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 President of Singapore Ong Teng Cheong 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 SGT lasting 90-minutes and sponsored by Panasonic, Grand Seiko (Seiko) and Lexus (Toyota).

Date unknown

• The Singapore Heart Centre starts operations.^[45]

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.^[46]

Deaths

• 24 January – F. A. Chua – Supreme Court Judge (b. 1913).^[47]
• 11 February – Gog Sing Hooi – Pioneer watercolour painter (b. 1933).^[48]
• 24 August – Ee Peng Liang – Businessman and philanthropist (b. 1913).^[49]
• 7 March – P. V. Sarma, leader of the Malayan National Liberation League, allowed back to Singapore in 1991 (b. 1917).^[50]
• 8 November – Kwek Hong Png – Founder of Hong Leong Group (b. 1913).^[51]
• 10 December – Jamit Singh – Trade unionist (b. 1929).^[52]

References

1. "CHANNEL 5 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK". The Straits Times. 1 January 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
2. "Shares: 2 records set". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 January 1994. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
3. "STI blazes past 2,500 to new high". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 4 January 2000. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
4. "Official Opening of Junction 8" (PDF). NAS. 22 January 1994. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
5. "CHANNEL 12 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK". The Straits Times. 30 January 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
6. "Ground Breaking Ceremony of the extension to the existing Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation (CISCO) Building" (PDF). NAS. 2 March 1994. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
7. "Digital handphone network launched". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 9 March 1994. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
8. "Official opening of SAFRA Resort at SAFRA Resort and Country Club" (PDF). NAS. 13 March 1994. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
9. "Singapore wins bid for Rotary convention". UPI. 26 March 1994. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
10. "Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax". NLB. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
11. "Crimes and tragedies that shocked the nation – Two police officers killed". The Straits Times. 31 December 1994.
12. "Official Opening of the Night Safari" (PDF). NAS. 26 May 1994. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
13. "CHANNEL 8 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK". The Straits Times. 28 May 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
14. "CHANNEL 8 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK". The Straits Times. 29 May 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
15. "Online project highlights key days of our lives". The New Paper. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
16. "Design for world-class arts centre unveiled". The Straits Times. 22 July 1994. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
17. "Ceremony marking total digitalization of Singapore Telecom's network" (PDF). NAS. 1 September 1994. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
18. "Official Opening of Tuas Naval Base" (PDF). NAS. 2 September 1994. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
19. "Singapore Executes a Dutch Engineer Arrested on Drug Charges". The New York Times. 24 September 1994. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
20. "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Straits Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
21. "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Straits Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
22. "TCS, RCS AND TV12 OFFICIALLY VERY FIRST RADIO AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE". The Straits Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
23. "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Business Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
24. "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Business Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
25. "TCS, RCS AND TV12 OFFICIALLY VERY FIRST RADIO AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE". The Business Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
26. "BERMULA ERA BARU DALAM PENYIARAN DI SINGAPURA". Berita Harian. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
27. "BERMULA ERA BARU DALAM PENYIARAN DI SINGAPURA". Berita Harian. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
28. "TCS, RCS DAN TV12 SECARA RASMI INTISARI RANCANGAN RADIO DAN TELEVISYEN PERDANA". Berita Harian. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
29. "新加坡广播业今天开始迈人新纪元". Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
30. "新加坡广播业今天开始迈人新纪元". Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
31. "新视、新广电及新视12举行正式开始广播电视节目表仪式". Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
32. "சிங்கப்பூரின் ஒலிபரப்புத் துறை இன்று ஒரு புதிய சகாப்தத்தைத் தொடங்குகிறது". Tamil Murasu (தமிழ் முரசு). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
33. "சிங்கப்பூரின் ஒலிபரப்புத் துறை இன்று ஒரு புதிய சகாப்தத்தைத் தொடங்குகிறது". Tamil Murasu (தமிழ் முரசு). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
34. "சிங்கப்பூர் தொலைக்காட்சி நிறுவனம், சிங்கப்பூர் வானொலி கழகம் மற்றும் தொலைக்காட்சி பன்னிரண்டு அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக முதல் வானொலி மற்றும் தொலைக்காட்சி அட்டவணை". Tamil Murasu (தமிழ் முரசு). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
35. "The Formation of the Singapore Broadcasting Authority" (PDF). NAS. 29 September 1994. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
36. "Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA)". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
37. Peter H. L. Lim (2009). Chronicle of Singapore, 1959–2009: Fifty Years of Headline News. Editions Didier Millet. pp. 257–. ISBN 978-981-4217-75-0.
38. "NRIC Re-registration Exercise Closing Ceremony at the Chua Chu Kang Community Club" (PDF). NAS. 22 October 1994. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
39. Chuang Peck Ming (22 October 1994), "Six professions to set pay for ministers and civil servants", Business Times (Singapore). See also Wang Hui Ling; Chung Tsung Mien; Jimmy Yap (28 October 1994), "32 say benchmarks too high, 25 think they are valid", The Straits Times; Warren Fernandez (2 November 1994), "Will S'poreans back SM Lee's judgment on White Paper?", The Straits Times; Chuang Peck Ming (4 November 1994), "MP warns of election backlash in debate on pay rise for ministers", Business Times (Singapore).
40. "In his own words: Higher pay will attract most talented team, so country can prosper". The Straits Times. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
41. Chuang Peck Ming (1 November 1994), "Why it's fitting to peg ministers' pay to top private sector earners", Business Times (Singapore); Chuang Peck Ming (4 November 1994), "White paper on salary benchmarks approved", Business Times (Singapore).
42. "Singapore People's Party is formed". NLB. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
43. "Policeman slashed on head dies instantly". The Straits Times. 1 December 1994.
44. "A tribute to SI Boo Tiang Huat". Police Life. 20 (12). Singapore Police Force: 14. December 1994.
45. "10 facts you should know about Singapore's 200-year healthcare history". 6 January 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
46. "Andrew Tang". Retrieved 17 July 2019.
47. "A Tribute to the Late Mr. Justice F. A. Chua". HeinOnline. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
48. "Gog Sing Hooi". NLB. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
49. "singapores mr charity ee peng liang dies at age 81". ucanews.com.
50. "NewspaperSG". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
51. "Kwek Hong Png". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
52. "Jamit Singh". NLB. Retrieved 29 October 2019.