SG50
50 Years of Singapore Pride
EVENTS IN 1975-1984
1975
Public standpipes phased out
1976
PAP wins all 69 Parliamentary
seats
1977
Singapore & Kallang Rivers' cleaning operation begins
1978
Lee Kuan Yew meets
Deng Xiao Ping in Singapore
In the 1960s, the government started phasing out public standpipes. This is because most HDB flats had running water and they were encouraging Singaporeans to move into HDB flats. In the 1970s, the last few standpipes in Singapore were being removed.
In 1976, the PAP did a clean sweep of all seats in Parliament. This was also Goh Chok Tong's first time participating in an election, winning a seat in Marine Parade.
In the 1970s, Lee Kuan Yew challenged Singaporeans to clean up the dirty, polluted Singapore and Kallang Rivers. In 1977, a large project was started to clean up the rivers. The project was completed in 1983, when a mass swim was organised in the pristine river.
In 1978, Lee Kuan Yew met Chinese vice-President Deng Xiaoping. Deng was on his last leg of his South-east Asian tour. In 2005, Lee remarked that Deng was one the most impressive people that he had met in his public life in an interview with TIME.
1979
Formation of the Singapore
Symphony Orchestra
In 1973, Goh Keng Swee said that the absence of a professional orchestra in Singapore was a "minor scandal". After much funding, the SSO gave its first concert in 1979 at the Singapore Concert Hall.
1980
Changi Airport Control Tower lifted
In 1980, a year before the Changi Airport was opened, the control area of the Control tower was lifted up. This was because the control area could not be constructe with the rest of the tower lest it topple. Engineers used hydraulic jacks to push the tower up into position.
1981
Changi Airport opens
In 1981, Changi Airport was opened. It served as the replacement for Paya Lebar Airport, which was nearing full capacity. Terminal 2 of the airport opened in 1990. The airport cost S$1.3 billion. Its first flight was SQ 101 arriving from Kuala Lumpur at 0700 UTC.
1982
Ang Peng Siong is World No.1 at 50m freestyle
In 1982, Ang Peng Siong became the world's fastest 50-metres freestyle swimmer when he clinched 1st place at the US National Championships in Indianapolis at a time of 22.69s. In recognition of his achievement, he was named the World's Fastest Swimmer in 1982 by Swimming World magazine.
1983
Sentosa Cable Car Disaster
On 29 January 1983, an oil rig struck the cable of the cable car, causing it to snap. As a result, two cabins were detached from the cable car system, killing seven people. This was the only accident that had ever befallen the cable car system.
1984
Total Defence Campaign launched
In 1984, the Singapore government launched the Total Defence Campaign. This campaign is adapted from similar campaigns in Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland. It focuses on five aspects: military, civil, economic, social and psychological defence.