December 1 December – Magnetic-stripe cards for use on Singapore's public transport system are completely phased out, completing the switchover to EZ-Link cards. 5 December – A gender-quota for admission of medical school students will be abolished from the 2003 batch, allowing men and women to pursue medicine as they wish. 21 December – The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Transport announced that an air marshals unit will be stationed in Singapore Airlines and SilkAir for security, with the first stationed in 2003. 27 December – Two police officers, on normal supervisory rounds from the Changi Neighbourhood Police Centre of Bedok division were killed when their patrol car was overrun from the rear by a large garbage truck along Tanah Merah Ferry Road. 30 December – The Integrated Programme is announced, allowing students to proceed directly to Junior Colleges without taking the O Level exams. The scheme takes its first students in 2004. Deaths 8 February – Ong Teng Cheong, former president of Singapore (b. 1936). 23 April – Gopal Baratham, neurosurgeon, writer (b. 1935). 18 July – Lee Siew Choh, former Barisan Sosialis leader and first Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) (b. 1917). 27 August – Brother Joseph McNally, arts pioneer, founder of LASALLE College of the Arts (b. 1923). 10 September – Kuo Pao Kun, theatre director (b. 1939). Low Ing Sing, Mandarin drama and theatre pioneer (b. 1924). References Years of the 21st century in Singapore Singapore Singapore 2000s in Singapore