May – The first C751B trains are put into operation on the North South and East West lines. 22 May – The Political Donations Act is passed to disallow donations by non-permissible donors and require reporting of large donations in a bid to protect Singapore from foreign interference. 28 May – The Marine Parade Community Building is officially opened, housing a community centre, library and The Necessary Stage under one roof. June 3 June – Snow City is officially opened in partnership with Singapore Science Centre and NTUC Income, allowing Singaporeans to experience snow without travelling out. 5 June – The Ministry of Information and the Arts announced the start of gradual media competition, with MediaCorp allowed to own a newspaper and Singapore Press Holdings allowed to own two TV and two radio channels. MediaCorp will also be awarded a licence to run mobile TV and digital TV services. In addition, the ban on private satellite dishes will be reviewed after Singapore Cable Vision's pay-TV monopoly expires in 2002. 8 June – Singapore Press Holdings launches SPH MediaWorks in preparation for the launch of its TV channels. 9 June – MediaCorp is awarded a licence by the Ministry of Information and the Arts to operate a newspaper. 17 June – The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club's new clubhouse and marina is officially opened. 21 June – The Monetary Authority of Singapore announced several measures to separate financial and non-financial activities of banks and the divestment of non-financial activities, known as the anti-commingling rules. Other measures include having separate management and ownership, a ban on cross shareholding non-financial firms and sharing of bank names. 24 June – Plans were announced to boost Life Sciences in Singapore, including a review of curriculum, the launch of Singapore Genomics Programme (present-day Genome Institute of Singapore) and boosting the R&D fund. July 1 July – CityLink Mall is opened as Singapore's first subterranean mall, which acts as an underpass too. BreadTalk opens its first outlet at Parco Bugis Junction. Since then, it became a multinational company with outlets in 18 territories. 7 July – The National Volunteer Centre (since renamed as National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre) is officially opened to encourage volunteerism in Singapore. 8 July – Construction starts on the first phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, which will serve Central and eastern Singapore. It will be completed by 2008. 12 July –