SG50
50 Years of Singapore Pride
EVENTS IN 2005-2014
2005
Government releases plans
to build IRs
In 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong decided to legalise casinos. This was in view of the competition with neighbouring countries for tourists. The decision sparked debates among the public and even within Parliament. In 2010, the first IR at Sentosa was opened.
2006
War heroine
Elizabeth Choy dies
War heroine Elizabeth Choy died on 14 February 2006. During the Occupation the Japanese found out that she smuggled radios into Changi Prison, thus jailing her in a tiny cell for over 200 days. After the war, especially in the 1990s, she gave school talks, reminding young Singaporeans about the need to defend Singapore.
2007
Dengue reaches epidemic levels
In 2007, dengue reached epedemic levels. During that year, at least 12 000 cases of dengue had been reported and 12 people had died. The epidemic resurfaced in 2013.
2008
Mas Selamat escapes
Mas Selamat, the purported head of Jemaah Islamiyah escaped from detention on 27 February, sparking a nation-wide manhunt. He was eventually recaptured on 1 April the next year in Johor. He was arrested and deported from Indonesia in 2006 for wanting to attack Changi Airport.
2009
Singapore is hit by H1N1
On 27 May 2009, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus arrived on Singapore's shores as 22-year-old woman came back from New York with the virus. In October the same year, MOH announced that 18 people had died from the virus. The outbreak caused significant panic not seen after the SARS outbreak.
2010
First Youth Olympic Games
2011
PAP loses its first GRC
In the 2011 General Election, the PAP lost its first GRC since Singapore became independent. The Worker's Party won 54.72% of the vote, beating the PAP team spearheaded by Georgo Yeo. The PAP won 60.1% of the overall vote, the lowest since independence.
2012
Goh Keng Swee passes away
On 14 May 2010, Goh Keng Swee, Singapore's first Defence Minister, passed away. He was the one who made Jurong the industrial area it is today. He also passed a bill to make NS compulsory. As a mark of respect, all state flags were flown at half mast.
2013
PSI reaches 401
In June 2013, winds blew East towards Singapore, carrying the haze from Sumatra here. The record Pollutant Standards Index was broken, the new record standing at 401. Many pharmacies were out of masks. However, on 5 July, after some rain, a PSI reading of 6 was recorded.
2014
Roy Ngerng is sued for
defamation
On 15 May 2014, blogger Roy Ngerng wrote in a blog post about the government misappropriating CPF funds. As such, PM Lee Hsien Loong sued him for defamation. He was found guilty and ordered to pay PM Lee S$29000 the following year.