As Singapore celebrates its 61st National Day while Stomp turns 20, we\u2019re taking a trip down memory lane. Check out more stories of nostalgia<\/a>, rage, madness<\/a> and the biggest headlines<\/a> on our microsite<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The past two decades in the Little Red Dot have been anything but quiet.<\/p>\n From landmark elections and billion-dollar developments to national milestones and once-in-a-generation events, these moments sparked conversations, dominated headlines and became part of Singapore\u2019s collective memory.<\/p>\n Here are 20 unforgettable events that defined the nation over the past two decades.<\/p>\n The People\u2019s Action Party (PAP) secured 66.6 per cent of the popular vote.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Held in 2006, the General Election marked the first time then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong led the The People\u2019s Action Party (PAP), after taking over from Goh Chok Tong in 2004.<\/p>\n PAP secured 66.6 per cent of the popular vote and won 83 of 84 seats.<\/p>\n The election also saw the launch of opposition rallies that drew large crowds, and a greater use of the internet in campaigning \u2014 setting the stage for a more politically engaged electorate in the years ahead.<\/p>\n Singapore will continue hosting the F1 race until 2028.<\/p>\n MY PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Singapore became the first country in the world to host a Formula 1 race at night<\/a> when the Singapore Grand Prix debuted in 2008.<\/p>\n The dazzling Marina Bay Street Circuit<\/a> quickly became one of the sport\u2019s most iconic venues, boosting tourism and cementing Singapore\u2019s reputation as a global events destination.<\/p>\n The race was also remembered for the infamous \u201cCrashgate\u201d scandal involving Renault<\/a>.<\/p>\n The global financial crisis in 2009<\/a> triggered Singapore\u2019s worst recession since independence. Exports plunged, businesses struggled and unemployment rose as economies worldwide slowed.<\/p>\n The Government rolled out a $20.5 billion Resilience Package<\/a>, including wage support for employers, to protect jobs and help businesses weather the downturn.<\/p>\n Singapore returned to growth in 2010, recording one of its strongest economic rebounds.<\/p>\n Resorts World Sentosa hosts Southeast Asia\u2019s first and only\u00a0Universal Studios\u00a0theme park.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Singapore\u2019s skyline and tourism landscape changed dramatically in 2010 with the opening of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands<\/a>.<\/p>\n The integrated resorts<\/a> brought casinos, luxury hotels, attractions and convention facilities, drawing millions of visitors each year.<\/p>\n While the projects generated debate over gambling, they also transformed Singapore into one of Asia\u2019s leading tourism and entertainment hubs.<\/p>\n The Republic made history by hosting the first-ever Youth Olympic Games<\/a> in August 2010.<\/p>\n More than 3,500 young athletes<\/a> from over 200 countries competed across 26 sports.<\/p>\n Beyond the competition, the games promoted cultural exchange and Olympic values, while showcasing Singapore\u2019s ability to host major international sporting events.<\/p>\n The Workers\u2019 Party made history by winning its first GRC in Aljunied, the first opposition party to do so.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Widely regarded as Singapore\u2019s \u201cwatershed election\u201d, the 2011 General Election<\/a> marked a turning point in the nation\u2019s political landscape.<\/p>\n The PAP recorded its lowest vote share since independence at 60.1 per cent<\/a>, while the Workers\u2019 Party<\/a> made history by winning Aljunied GRC \u2013 the first GRC captured by an opposition party.<\/p>\n These results reflected voters\u2019 growing desire for more diverse voices in Parliament and signalled a shift in the country\u2019s political climate.<\/p>\n A 1,615sqft executive apartment at Block 149 Mei Ling Street in Queenstown became Singapore\u2019s first Housing Board flat to sell for $1 million<\/a> in 2012, fetching exactly $1,000,000 and was located around the 16th to 18th floor.<\/p>\n Shortly after, in October 2012, a second million-dollar milestone was crossed when an executive maisonette at Block 194 Bishan Street 13 was sold for $1.01 million.<\/p>\n These early landmark transactions sparked widespread debate over public housing affordability and paved the way for increasingly common million-dollar HDB sales in the years that followed, especially in prime locations with long remaining leases.<\/p>\n Singapore witnessed its first riot<\/a> in more than 40 years when violence broke out in Little India on Dec 8, 2013 after a fatal traffic accident involving a private bus and in Indian national.<\/p>\n The incident prompted a Committee of Inquiry and led to tighter measures, including restrictions on alcohol sales<\/a> in public areas.<\/p>\n The late Lee Kuan Yew gave up his own job as Prime Minister in 1990 after 31 years, while still robust at 67.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Singapore came to a standstill after the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew<\/a> on March 23, 2015, aged 91.<\/p>\n Hundreds of thousands queued for hours to pay their respects<\/a> during a week of national mourning<\/a>, while millions around the world watched the State Funeral.<\/p>\n His passing marked the end of an era and prompted reflection on the nation\u2019s remarkable transformtation since independence.<\/p>\n The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the nation\u2019s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n PHOTO: LUI HOCK SENG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n The Singapore Botanic Gardens became the country\u2019s first UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a> in July 2015.<\/p>\n Founded in 1859, the 82-hectare gardens were recognised for their historical significance and contributions to tropical botany and rubber cultivations.<\/p>\n The honour placed Singapore alongside some of the world\u2019s most treasured cultural and natural landmarks, and remains the country\u2019s only UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a> today.<\/p>\n Joseph Schooling beat his childhood idol Michael Phelps for the gold medal in the men\u2019s 100m butterfly in the 2016 Rio Olympics.<\/p>\n PHOTO: X90087<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Singapore witnessed sporting history when Joseph Schooling stunned the world at the 2016 Rio Olympics, beating his childhood idol Michael Phelps to win the men\u2019s 100m butterfly on August 13, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n His victory secured Singapore\u2019s first-ever Olympic gold medal and sparked nationwide celebrations.<\/p>\n Thousands turned up to cheer Schooling on when he made his victory parade in Singapore<\/a> in an open-top bus that travelled from Old Airport Road to Raffles City.<\/p>\n Halimah Yacob was sworn in as the Republic\u2019s first female president on September 14, 2017.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Singapore made history when Halimah Yacob became its first female president<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sworn in as the nation\u2019s eighth president in 2017<\/a> following the Republic\u2019s first reserved election<\/a> for Malay candidates, her appointment marked a milestone in the country\u2019s political landscape.<\/p>\n To contest, she had to resign from her position as a Member of Parliament \u2014 but her rival candidates failed to meet eligibility criteria<\/a>, leading to her walkover victory.<\/p>\n The government has formally acquired the site on July 31.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n In 2017, a public disagreement<\/a> between then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings, Lee Hsien Yang and the late Lee Wei Ling<\/a>, over the fate of their late father Lee Kuan Yew\u2019s Oxley Road home became one of Singapore\u2019s most closely watched political and family disputes.<\/p>\n The site was gazetted as a national monument on Dec 13, 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n The government formally acquired 38 Oxley Road on July 31<\/a>, with the National Heritage Board committing to \u201cundertake a detailed study of the site and the options for how it can be developed into a public space in a manner that respects Mr Lee Kuan Yew\u2019s wishes for privacy\u201d.<\/p>\n The boy was eventually counselled, said the principal of Henry Park Primary School.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SINGAPOREBOELH.SG\/FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n A young boy from Henry Park Primary School became an internet sensation overnight after television cameras captured him raising his middle finger during the 2017 National Day Parade. The brief moment quickly spread online, spawning countless memes and becoming one of Singapore\u2019s most memorable viral clips.<\/p>\n Following the incident, the school released a statement saying the boy was \u201cdeeply apologetic\u201d and had been counselled<\/a> on his faux pas.<\/p>\n Within Jewel Changi Airport lies the world\u2019s tallest indoor waterfall: the Rain Vortex.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Jewel Changi Airport opened to the public in April 2019 before its grand opening in October. The 135,700 sqm complex boasts the world\u2019s tallest indoor waterfall, the iconic Rain Vortex.<\/p>\n Combining retail, dining, nature and entertainment, the development quickly became one of Singapore\u2019s most popular attractions for both locals and tourists.<\/p>\n It has been featured in one of British band Coldplay\u2019s music videos<\/a> and has been the subject of many cheeky online comments from netizens claiming it as part of their homeland<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those living in Singapore experienced months of social distancing regulations and mandatory mask-wearing regulations.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n The Covid-19 pandemic transformed life in Singapore, from the Circuit Breaker that shut schools and workplaces in 2020<\/a> to the country\u2019s eventual shift towards living with the virus as endemic<\/a>.<\/p>\n The period also saw the first General Election held under pandemic restrictions, where the Workers\u2019 Party made historic gains \u2014 winning its second Group Representative Constituency in Sengkang<\/a> \u2014 and Pritam Singh<\/a> became Singapore\u2019s first official Leader of the Opposition<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lawrence Wong was subsequently chosen in 2022 to lead the 4G team<\/a> and succeed Lee Hsien Loong as prime minister.<\/p>\n After years of public debate and advocacy, Parliament voted to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code<\/a> on November 29, 2022, ending the criminalisation of sex between men in Singapore.<\/p>\n At the same sitting, constitutional amendments were passed to protect Parliament\u2019s authority to define marriage \u2014 a union between a man and a woman \u2014 marking one of the country\u2019s most significant social and legal milestones in recent years.<\/p>\n A 73-year-old British man was the lone fatality on the flight.<\/p>\n PHOTO: REUTERS<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Passengers described scenes of chaos after Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar, on May 21, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n The plane eventually made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, at around 3.45pm local time. The Boeing 777 operating the flight was carrying 18 crew members and 211 passengers. A 73-year-old British man was the only fatality on the flight that left 79 others injured<\/a>.<\/p>\n A relief flight carrying 131 passengers and 12 crew members was dispatched the next morning.<\/p>\n A 10-year-old Australian girl, \u00a0Freya Ji Yinan, died in the hospital after the fire.<\/p>\n PHOTO: ST READER<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Singapore mourned the death of a 10-year-old Australian girl after a fire broke out at a children\u2019s cooking school in a River Valley shophouse<\/a> on April 8, 2025. There were 21 others injured in the fire, including adults aged between 23 and 55, and children aged between six and 10.<\/p>\n Amid the tragedy, migrant workers working nearby risked their own lives<\/a> by climbing ladders to rescue children trapped on the upper floors \u2014 one worker estimated he had saved about 10 children,<\/a> but could not reach three.<\/p>\n The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the following day that fire safety breaches were found<\/a> in the shophouse.<\/p>\n The accused and the victim were reportedly engaged in a long-running dispute over noise.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n On Sept 24, 2025, Nguyen Phuong Tra, a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her 66-year-old neighbour Koh Ah Hwee<\/a> following a long-running dispute over noise.<\/p>\n Koh was accused of killing her outside a unit on the sixth floor of Block 323 Yishun Central<\/a>. Tra\u2019s husband also suffered serious injuries while attempting to stop Koh.<\/p>\n The case drew national attention after it emerged that she had applied for mediation in June 2025, but it did not proceed because Koh allegedly did not respond, sparking discussions about neighbour disputes and conflict resolution.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nPM Lee Hsien Loong passes first General Election as PM<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Scroll to continue reading<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSingapore welcomes the inaugural Formula 1 night race<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Navigating the Great Recession<\/h2>\n
Opening of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Singapore hosts the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games<\/h2>\n
GE2011: The \u2018watershed\u2019 election<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
First HDB flat to be sold for $1 million<\/h2>\n
Little India Riot<\/h2>\n
The passing of founding PM Lee Kuan Yew<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Botanic Gardens named UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Joseph Schooling bags Singapore\u2019s first Olympic gold<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Halimah Yacob becomes Singapore\u2019s first female president<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
The Oxley Road dispute dominates headlines<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
NDP \u2018middle finger kid\u2019 goes viral<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Jewel Changi Airport opens its doors in 2019<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Covid-19 reshapes Singapore \u2014 from Circuit Breaker to a new prime minister<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Parliament repeals Section 377A<\/h2>\n
Deadly turbulence on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Migrant workers lauded as heroes for River Valley fire rescue efforts<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Yishun murder over neighbour noise dispute<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
\n![\"Stomp](\"https:\/\/www.stomp.sg\/assets\/stomp-comment-COLiWNMD.png\")
<\/p>\n