The following lists events that happened during 1999 in the Republic of Singapore. Incumbents President: Ong Teng Cheong (until 1 September), S. R. Nathan (starting 1 September) Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong Events January January – Delhaize buys up to a 49% stake in Shop N Save, with QAF Limited retaining the rest. 11 January – Powergrid's 400 kV transmission system is commissioned. 21 January – StarHub acquires Cyberway, an ISP. It is rebranded to StarHub Internet on 3 December. 29 January – Construction starts on the Changi Airport Line (CAL), targeted for completion by 2001. February 2 February – Creative Resource, Creative Technology's new headquarters is officially opened in International Business Park. 11 February – The Environmental Pollution Control Act is passed to replace the Clean Air Act, giving the Ministry of the Environment (ENV) more powers to deal with pollution. March 1 March – Channel NewsAsia is launched as a free-to-air news channel. 4 March – Singapore Expo is officially opened, making it the largest meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) venue in Singapore. This comes after some exhibition space in World Trade Centre had to make way for the North East MRT line. 26 March – The Civil Defence Academy is officially opened. 31 March – Lorong Halus Dumping Ground is closed. April 1 April – Semakau landfill begin operations after the closure of the Lorong Halus Dumping Ground. The Building and Construction Authority is formed from a merger of Construction Industry Development Board and Public Works Department's Building Control Division to develop and regulate Singapore's construction industry and ensure safe buildings, with some functions transferred to the Urban Redevelopment Authority. On the same day, PWD Corporation (present-day CPG Corporation) is formed from a corporatisation. The Juvenile Court moves to the Subordinate Courts building. May 11 May – The Ministry of Education announced a new Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing schools (PRIME) to upgrade or rebuild existing schools, ensuring all schools have access to modern and conducive learning environments. 17 May – The Monetary Authority of Singapore announced rules that liberalise commercial banking and help take local banks to new heights. They include a five-year liberalisation programme with new Qualifying Full Bank (QFB) licences, increase the number of restricted banks here and greater flexibility for offshore banks' wholesale business, all local banks having Nominating Committees to strengthen corporate governance and the lifting of 40 percent limit on