Metrication refers to the process of adopting the metric system of measurement.1 The metric system was introduced in Singapore in the 1970s; prior to that, several systems of measurement were used in Singapore.2
Background
Before the metric system was introduced in Singapore, the imperial system had been widely employed in the public sector, commercial areas and major shopping centres. Traditional measurements – such as the pikul, gantang, chupak, kati and tahil – were also used for certain commodities and the retail trade.3 As the metric system had had become the norm in many countries, including several of Singapore’s major trading partners, Singapore also decided to go metric.4
In December 1968, the Singapore government indicated its intention to adopt the metric system, and the Ministry of Science and Technology was tasked to study the impact of the change.5 In response, the ministry prepared a white paper titled “A Report on a Study of the Proposed Conversion to the Metric System in Singapore”, which was submitted to Parliament on November 1970.6 The paper recommended the implementation of the metric system in phases, starting with the public sector and expanding to the private sector.7 In addition, two bills – the Metrication Bill, which introduced the International System of Units, or Système International d'Unités (SI), pertaining to weights and measures; and the Weights and Measures (Amendment) Bill, which legalised the use of SI units in trade – were passed by Parliament and came into force on 15 February 1971.8
Singapore Metrication Board
The Singapore Metrication Board was formed on 13 December 1970 to guide and stimulate the process of metrication. The board was represented by economic, industrial and professional organisations appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology.9 Singapore adopted the SI metric system, which is based on seven basic units: metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela and mole.10 Supplementary and derived units of the SI were also adopted.11 All government and statutory boards were instructed to convert to the system quickly and comprehensively in order to set pace for the private sector.12 The metrication of the public sector was targeted for completion by the end of 1975. The effects of metrication were far-reaching, extending into many areas of public and commercial life such as transportation, trade, education, the postal service, packaging industries, public utilities, land surveys, retail trade, amongst others.13 Examples of metric conversion included changes to speed limit signs, school textbooks, utility bills, building plans, canned and packaged products, and office supplies.14
Publicity efforts
To educate the general public and industries on the metric system, a series of publicity campaigns and activities were carried out over the years. The Singapore Metrication Board conducted talks on metrication, and held exhibitions to educate the public on the SI units.15 Metrication messages were also broadcast over the radio and television and published in the newspapers.16 To raise awareness, a logo design competition, drama competitions, fashion shows, contests and quizzes were held. The board also produced and distributed collaterals such as posters, pamphlets, brochures, conversion cards and booklets, guidebooks and calendars.17 In August 1972, a month-long campaign was launched at the People’s Park Complex to encourage the public to buy textiles in metres. The following year, a similar campaign was carried out at the Joo Chiat Constituency.18 From 1977, the board organised a Zonal Metric Educational Programme to reach out to housewives in public housing estates.19
Official implementation
On 1 April 1981, the Weights and Measures (Sale of Goods in Metric Units) Order came into operation. The metric system was adopted in phases across industries. Goods such as textiles, groceries, vegetables, meat, meat products, seafood, fruits and others had to be sold in metric units.20
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
1. Customs and Excise Department. (1971). Customs goes metric. Singapore: Customs and Excise Department, p. 1. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152 SIN)
2. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 11. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
3. Ministry of Science and Technology. (1970). Report on a study of the proposed conversion to the metric system in Singapore. Singapore: Government Printers, p. 2. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152 SIN); Organisation of the Singapore Metrication Board. (1973). Paper submitted by the Singapore delegation to the Metrication Conference, London. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 2. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152095957 PAP); Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 11. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
4. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board. p. 12. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
5. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 11. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Ministry of Science and Technology (1970). Report on a study of the proposed conversion to the metric system in Singapore. Singapore: Government Printers, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152 SIN); Singapore Metrication Board. (1971). Annual report 1971. Singapore: The Board, p. 37. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
6. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 12. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Ministry of Science and Technology. (1970); Singapore Metrication Board. (1971). Annual report 1971. Singapore: The Board, p. 37. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
7. Singapore Metrication Board. (1971). Annual report 1971. Singapore: The Board, p. 37. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
8. Singapore Metrication Board. (1972). Annual report 1972. Singapore: The Board, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
9. Singapore Metrication Board. (1972). Annual report 1972. Singapore: The Board, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
10. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 19. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Mesenas, C. (Ed.). (1976). Metric now: [Your guide to metrication in Singapore]. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 23. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152095957 MET)
11. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 19. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
12. Organisation of the Singapore Metrication Board. (1973). Paper submitted by the Singapore delegation to the Metrication Conference, London. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 6. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152095957 PAP); Metric now: [Your guide to metrication in Singapore]. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 23. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152095957 MET)
13. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, pp. 13, 23–28. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Singapore Metrication Board. (1981). Annual report 1980/81. Singapore: The Board, pp. 9, 12. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Organisation of the Singapore Metrication Board. (1973). Paper submitted by the Singapore delegation to the Metrication Conference, London. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, pp. 7–9. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.152095957 PAP)
14. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, pp. 23–24, 27–28, 32. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Singapore Metrication Board. (1981). Annual report 1980/81. Singapore: The Board, p. 9. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
15. Singapore Metrication Board. (1981). Annual report 1980/81. Singapore: The Board, p. 14. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Singapore Metrication Board. (1971). Annual report 1971. Singapore: The Board, p. 39. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 53. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
16. Singapore Metrication Board. (1971). Annual report 1971. Singapore: The Board, p. 39. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
17. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 53. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Singapore Metrication Board. (1974). Annual report 1974. Singapore: The Board, p. 25. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Ian, J. (1976, July 2). Going metric by way of drama. New Nation, p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
18. Singapore Metrication Board. (1976). 3 years of metrication in Singapore, 1971–1973. Singapore: Singapore Metrication Board, p. 53. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
19. Singapore Metrication Board. (1981). Annual report 1980/81. Singapore: The Board, p. 14. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR)
20. Singapore Metrication Board. (1981). Annual report 1980/81. Singapore: The Board, p. 2. (Call no.: RCLOS 389.1520615957 SMBAR); Singapore Metrication Board. (1981, February 20). [Weights and Measures (Sale of Goods in Metric Units) Order 1981] [Press release]. Retrieved from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/; Trade talk. (1981, February 21). The Business Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
The information in this article is valid as at 2017 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
The information on this page and any images that appear here may be used for private research and study purposes only. They may not be copied, altered or amended in any way without first gaining the permission of the copyright holder.
Chia Keng Prison was a medium-security prison located on Yio Chu Kang Road. It housed prisoners who were serving their second stage of detention under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act. ...
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (originally GSIC, now known as GIC) is a private investment company wholly owned by the Government of Singapore. Incorporated on 22 May 1981 under the Companies Act, GIC was set up as the government’s principal investment agent. GIC acts as a fund manager that...
The National Library Building, located at 91 Stamford Road, officially opened on 12 November 1960. Between 1887 and 1960, the National Library had previously occupied the western wing of the Raffles Museum (now the National Museum of Singapore) at Stamford Road. ...
Joseph Aaron Elias (b. 1881, Calcutta, India–d. 16 July 1949, Singapore), also known as Joe Elias, was a successful entrepreneur and well-known personality in Singapore’s Jewish community. He held offices as a justice of peace and municipal commissioner of Singapore. Elias Road and Amber Road were named after his family....
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is a uniformed organisation that provides emergency services to the nation both during peacetime and under crisis. It serves not only as a fire-fighting authority, but also provides first-aid and rescue services, and acts as an educator on fire safety procedures. ...
Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) is a global transportation company established in 1968 as Singapore’s national shipping line. Through the container shipping brand, APL, NOL’s core business activities include all aspects of global cargo container transportation. The shipping carrier is currently owned by the French CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container...
The Singapore Conference Hall is located at 7 Shenton Way. Besides serving as the headquarters of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) from 1965 to 2000, it also witnessed many significant events in Singapore’s history. After extensive renovation works, it was reopened in 2001 as the home of the Singapore...
Yong Nyuk Lin (b. 24 June 1918, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaya–d. 29 June 2012, Singapore) was the minister for education in the first cabinet of the People’s Action Party. He later took on the health and communications portfolios. In these capacities, he increased access to education, sought to establish sustainable...
Lee Chin Koon (b. 1903, Semarang, Indonesia – d. 12 October 1997, Singapore) was a storekeeper and depot manager for the Shell Oil Company, and father of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
Katong Park Hotel, one of Singapore's oldest hotels, was located at 46 Meyer Road. Owned by several people since it was built in 1953, the hotel was previously known by three other names: Embassy Hotel, Hotel Ambassador and Duke Hotel. It was renamed Katong Park Hotel in 1992 before it...