Wikipedia:WikiProject Singapore/Archives/2007

Year 2007

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...that Singaporean Web Map Service Streetdirectory.com successfully sued several businesses for copyright infringment, but is now being sued on the same charge by the Singapore Land Authority?
...that the Singapore Conference Hall was the first building to be built in the Shenton Way financial district?
...that the Old Admiralty House, a national monument in Singapore, was used by the British Armed Forces for strategic planning during World War II?
...that Singaporean citizenship was first granted in 1957 when Singapore was a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom?
...that The Best Bet, a film by Singaporean gambling addict Jack Neo, was intended to warn people of the perils of gambling?
...that Wee Chong Jin, one of the former judicial officers of the Republic of Singapore, was the longest-serving Chief Justice of Singapore and of a Commonwealth country, having held the post for over 27 years?
...that the first Director of Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department, Glenn Knight, was also the first legal officer in the country to be charged for corruption?
...that Dragon's Teeth Gate, an ancient navigational landmark, was documented in one of the earliest historic records of Singapore?
...that Catherine Lim's 1994 essay The PAP and the people - A Great Affective Divide invoked such a strong response from the Singapore government, its then-PM Goh Chok Tong outlined which topics were permissible for public discussion?
that Reginald Hugh Hickling drafted Malaysia's Internal Security Act, but did not expect it to be used against political opponents?
...that John Martin Scripps was the first Briton in Singapore to be sentenced to death by hanging?
...that Shinozaki Mamoru was credited as the "Japanese Schindler" for saving thousands of Chinese and Eurasians during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore?
...that four Japanese War Memorials found in the Japanese Cemetery Park were built without knowledge of the British colonial government of Singapore?
...that the Bukit Batok Memorial was built by Australian POWs to honor the war dead of the Japanese and Allies from the Singapore's Battle of Bukit Timah?
...that the first Western abbot of Singapore's Buddhist Poh Ern Shih Temple was an American?
...that a military coalition from 4 countries helped the British colonial government to quell the 1915 Singapore Mutiny?
...that the Old National Library Building, a much-beloved national icon of Singapore, was demolished despite a rare display of public opposition?
...that Fort Pasir Panjang, part of the 11 coastal fortifications built to repel the Japanese invasion, saw little action during the Battle of Singapore?
...that Lee Choon Seng, a Singaporean philanthropist built a Buddhist temple with the intention of liberating the spirits of those killed during the 1942 Battle of Pasir Panjang?
...that The New 7th Storey Hotel, a budget hotel catering to backpackers in Singapore, is actually nine storeys high and was the tallest building in the Beach Road area in the 1950s?
...that John Little, established in 1845, is the oldest department store in Singapore?
...that Chao Tzee Cheng, a Singaporean forensic pathologist, performed over 25,000 autopsies?
...that Chen Wen Hsi was the first Singaporean artist to be conferred an honorary doctorate by the National University of Singapore?
...that Singapore's Middle Road is home to over 21 Hainanese clan and sub-clan associations?
...that the Singapore Stone (fragment pictured), a sandstone slab bearing an undeciphered 13th century inscription, was blown up by the British in 1843 to make way for a fort?
...that Tang Choon Keng, who established Tangs and built the former Dynasty Hotel, was also known as the "Tin Trunk Man" in Singapore for his rags to riches legacy?
...that Tan Howe Liang is Singapore's only Olympic Games medallist?
...that library@esplanade is Singapore's first public library for the performing arts?
...that Singapore's Burmese Buddhist Temple has the largest white marble statue of the Buddha (pictured) outside of Myanmar?
...that the planned Marina Coastal Expressway is Singapore's most expensive expressway, and will cost S$2.5 billion for the 5-kilometre route?
...that the Former Singapore Badminton Hall was marked as a historical site by Singapore's National Heritage Board in 1999, as it held two Thomas Cup tournaments and was the vote counting station for a landmark 1962 referendum?
...that the Former Asia Insurance Building (pictured) in Singapore was the tallest building in Southeast Asia when it was completed in 1954?
...that at the age of 10, Megan Zheng became the first Singaporean to win a Golden Horse Award?
  • Runme Shaw (Did you know, mentioned 6 August 2007)
...that Runme Shaw, philanthropist and founder of the Shaw Organisation, started his Singapore movie business in a makeshift timber cinema known as The Empire in 1927?
...that The Majestic (pictured) in Singapore was a opera house built by tin and rubber magnate Eu Tong Sen in 1928 for his wife who was a Cantonese opera fan?
...that Liang Wern Fook, a pioneer of Singapore's xinyao movement, has composed over 200 songs?
  • Tekka Mall (Did you know, mentioned 10 August 2007)
...that Tekka Mall is the first and largest modern shopping mall in Singapore's Little India?
...that the Buddhist Library (pictured), which is located in a shophouse, is Singapore's first dedicated Buddhist library and is unique in that it is neither an association nor a temple?
...that Pearl Bank Apartments was the tallest residential building in Singapore when it was completed in 1976?
...that the People's Park Complex was the first shopping mall in Singapore to incorporate a large internal atrium, based on the Metabolist Movement of the 1960s?
...that the Golden Mile Complex (pictured), which was designed as an avant-garde building with a stepped terrace structure, was once described as a "vertical slum" by a Singapore Nominated Member of Parliament?
...a four-year old boy lama visiting Singapore's Amitabha Buddhist Centre caused a stir when over 10,000 people from all walks of life, including some Christians and Hindus, sought blessings from him?
..that the tower of Paul Rudolph's The Concourse (pictured) is octagonal in plan, as the number "8" is associated with prosperity in Chinese culture?
...that Singaporean anime distributor Odex is asking for legal settlements from children as young as nine years old for copyright infringement through file-sharing?
...that 159 soldiers of the Malay Regiment fought against a 13,000-strong Japanese force to defend a hill position in Singapore’s Kent Ridge Park?
...that Howe Yoon Chong played a key role in establishing Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit system, Changi Airport (pictured) and public housing?
...that Singaporean dancer, choreographer and teacher Neila Sathyalingam, who dances in the classical Indian style (example pictured), decided to devote her life to dance after performing for Queen Elizabeth II?
...that during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore the Kempeitai East District Branch was the site of interrogation and torture of many civilians and that later the building housed the YMCA?
...that the architecture of the Singapore Power Building (pictured) was influenced by Gerhad M. Kallmann's Boston City Hall and Le Corbusier's Sainte Marie de La Tourette?
...that Singapore's Ee Hoe Hean Club, a century-old millionaires' club for Chinese businessmen, became a headquarters of an anti-Japanese movement in Southeast Asia from 1937-1942?
...that a community centre will be incorporated in Sengkang New Town's new sports complex?
...that the apparent disparagement of Singapore as a "little red dot" by former Indonesian President B.J. Habibie has come to be used by Singaporeans with pride?
...that Tan Teck Guan Building (pictured) was the site of Singapore's first medical school, and has been conserved as a national monument?
...that the National Art Gallery of Singapore will incorporate two national monuments — the Old Supreme Court Building and the City Hall (both pictured)?
...that the Singapore Government has introduced the "Punggol 21-plus" plan to re-vitalise Punggol New Town (pictured), after an unsuccessful attempt in the late 1990s?
...that the Singapore's DHL Balloon is the world's largest tethered helium balloon?
...that there was a lighthouse on the roof of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, which could be seen by ships 29 kilometres away?
...that Singapore’s Early Founders Memorial Stone (pictured), a foundation stone for a proposed memorial, became the memorial itself?
...that the website HardwareZone initiated the first court case in Singapore over a domain name, which was settled after just four days?
...that the SGH War Memorial (pictured) was gazetted as one of the nine historical landmarks that are closely linked with the history of medical education in Singapore?
...that Swan and Maclaren is the oldest architectural firm in Singapore?
...that the Newton Food Centre is promoted by the Singapore Tourism Board for sampling Singaporean cuisine, despite allegations of overpricing and mediocre food quality by locals?
...an inscribed tombstone of a political dissident, Tan Chay Wa, sparked off a court case in Singapore which eventually made international news in 1983?
...that Stamford House in Singapore, at first an office building, was for a time in the early 20th century an annex of Raffles Hotel due to a shortage of hotel rooms?
...that the appearance of an outline of monkeys on a tree in Singapore drew large crowds as devotees believed that the images are a manifestation of the Monkey God and Hanuman?
...that a series of miscommunications and withdrawals by Allied forces during the Battle of Kranji, allowed the Japanese forces to gain strategic footholds which led to the fall of Singapore in 1942?
...that Yue Hwa Building used to house a popular boutique hotel, and was the tallest building in Singapore's Chinatown when it was completed in 1936?
...that Tanjong Katong Primary School has the most diverse student population among all government-operated schools in Singapore, as its students come from 39 countries?
...that the planned South Beach complex in Singapore will incorporate four conservation buildings, where the first National Service enlistment was held in 1967?
...that the wall mural on Marine Parade Community Building (pictured) is Singapore's largest piece of installation art?
...that New World, the first and largest family-oriented amusement park in Singapore, was known for its striptease, cabaret girls, and wrestling matches during its heyday?
...that the International Plaza (pictured) is the tallest commercial building with residential apartments in Singapore?
...that Singapore's Gallery Hotel, with its twisted cuboid form and seemingly random and multi-coloured windows, stands like a massive pop art signpost?
..that Singaporean Venerable Ho Yuen Hoe worked nineteen-hour days hairdressing for nearly thirty years, and used the money to open an old folks' home at age 61?
...that a dispute about S$60 has led to a court appeal amounting to over S$120,000 in legal costs?
...that Singapore’s Fort Tanjong Katong, one of the oldest military forts built by the British colonial government, never saw combat action and was nicknamed the "Wash-out Fort"?
...that a 120-year old Bodhi tree (pictured) in Jin Long Si Temple, standing over 30 m tall with a girth of 8.5 m, is the oldest and largest of its kind ever found in Singapore?
  • Dave Teo (Did you know, mentioned 2 November 2007)
...that Singaporean conscript Dave Teo gained national headlines when he went AWOL with an assault rifle and was subsequently caught in an upscale shopping district twenty hours later?
...that Singapore’s Sungei Road, formerly a place designated for affluent Europeans and Asians, is now the largest and oldest flea market better known as the Thieves' Market?
...that Singaporean Teresa Hsu, a 110-year old social worker who teaches yoga and selfless service to the needy, was named 'Hero for Today' by the Chinese edition of the Reader's Digest?
...that Singapore's 5.4-ton Pegasus is the first helicopter-portable 155mm howitzer with a self-propelled capability?
...that "Majulah Singapura", the national anthem of Singapore, was originally a theme song for events held by Singapore's City Council during colonial times?