First Singapore team to reach the South Pole

At 4 am (Singapore time) on 31 December 1999, four members of the Antarctica 2000 team successfully reached the South Pole after an arduous 1,125-kilometre trek that had taken nearly two months to complete.^[1]

A week later, at about 6.20 am on 7 January 2000, the remaining four members of the team achieved summit success on the 4,897-metre-high Mount Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica.^[2]

The idea of a Singapore Antarctica quest was conceived by six members of the team that had successfully scaled Mount Everest in May 1998. A press conference was held on 7 January 1999 to announce Singapore’s millennium undertaking to the icy continent. The expedition comprised two parties with the joint goal of reaching two separate locations in Antarctica by 1 January 2000. One group would trek to the South Pole on foot, while the other would ascend the highest point in the polar region. Then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was the expedition’s patron.^[3]

Antarctica 2000 was officially launched at the Istana on 12 March 1999. It was regarded by Goh as “another manifestation of the indomitable spirit of the people in Singapore”.^[4]

Preparations by the South Pole team members include rigorous training five times a week to build strength and stamina, and following a nutritionist-monitored diet high in fat and protein to increase their weight by up to 10 kg each in anticipation of the sustained physical exertion. The team also underwent a four-week mini-training expedition in Greenland, during which team members practised skiing; pulled sledges loaded with 100 kg of food, fuel and tents; and received training on navigation, trekking and rescue techniques.^[5]

Sponsors such as the National Youth Council, Singapore Sports Council, National Geographic Channel, NTUC Income, Tiger Beer and Kingsmen Exclusive Men’s Wear Shop collectively contributed S$820,000 in cash and equipment for the expedition. Generous support also came from the Chilean government, who contributed free hotel accommodation, transport, provision of special high-calorie meals, medical aid, technical advice and storage facility for 1.5 tonnes of equipment, while the team members were travelling through the city of Punta Arenas en route to their starting points in Antarctica.^[6]

Departing Singapore on 15 October 1999, the South Pole team’s Antarctic adventure began on 5 November at the Patriot Hills base camp in Antarctica. With no mechanical devices or canine aid, each person had to lug a fully laden 90-kilogram sledge filled with clothing, fuel and food.^[7]

The Mount Vinson team left Singapore on 10 December 1999. Hampered by bad weather conditions, the team started their ascent of the peak only on 3 January 2000, taking four days to reach the summit.^[8]

The entire eight-member Antarctica 2000 expedition team returned to Singapore on 15 January 2000, and were greeted with congratulatory cheers from a 250-strong crowd of well-wishers and relieved loved ones at Changi Airport.^[9]

The Antarctica 2000 Team comprised the following:^[10]

South Pole team members:
(profile as at 1999)
Khoo Swee Chiow, 34, assistant manager, Singapore Airlines (team leader)
Robert Goh Ee Kiat, 33, senior aeronautical engineer, DSO National Laboratories (co-leader)
David Lim Chee Wai, 29, Outward Bound Singapore instructor
Ang Yau Choon, 32, SAF commando

Mount Vinson Massif team members:
(profile as at 1999)
Mok Ying Jang, 31, doctor (team leader)
Edwin Siew Cheok Wai, 29, senior Outward Bound Singapore instructor
Kuak Nam Jin, 26, Outward Bound Singapore instructor
Lee Ling Yen, 28, physical education and chemistry teacher, Swiss Cottage Secondary School

References
1. Chua, C. H. (2000, January 1). Elated trekkers kiss Pole marker. The Straits Times, p. 60; Chua, C. H. (2000, January 8). Climbers reach top of Antartica. The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. The Straits Times, 8 Jan 2000, p. 3.
3. Chua, C. H. (1999, January 9). Antarctica plan came weeks after Everest. The Straits Times, p. 44; Chua, C. H. (1999, January 9). First Everest, now the Antarctic. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Ministry of Information and the Arts. (1999, March 12). Speech by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the launch of Antarctica 2000 expedition on Friday, 12 March 1999, at the Istana at 7.00pm [Press release]. Retrieved January 7, 2015, from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/
5. Chua, C. H. (1999, April 30). Chilean help for Antartica  team. The Straits Times, p. 60; Chua, C. H. (1999, June 5). Buried alive – almost. The Straits Times, p. 54; Fattening up before big trip. (1999, October 15). The Straits Times, p. 62;  Retrieved from NewspaperSG; The Straits Times, 9 Jan 1999, p. 44.  
6. The Straits Times, 9 Jan 1999, p. 44; The Straits Times, 30 Apr 1999, p. 60; Chua, C. H. (1999, March 12). Team gets Chilean support. The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. The Straits Times, 1 Jan 2000, p. 60; Goodbye S’pore, hello Antarctica. (1999, October 16). The Straits Times, p. 50. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Chua, C. H. (1999, December 11). Mountaineers leave for Mt Vinson. The Straits Times, p. 72; Chua, C. H. (2000, January 4). Antarctica team start climbing pole’s peak. The Straits Times, p. 24; Chua, C. H. (1999, December 21). Bad weather delays Mount Vinson team. The Straits Times, p. 43. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. Koh, B. P., & Kaur, K. (2000, January 16). It’s a sweet homecoming. The Straits Times, p. 28. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. The team: Who goes where. (1999, July 13). The Straits Times, p. 28; Chua, C. H. (1999, March 5). Everest men to lead quest. The Straits Times, p. 50; Chua, C. H. (1999, July 13). Eight make it to Antartica team. The Straits Times, p. 28; Handling the ‘nitty-gritty’. (1999, October 15). The Straits Times, p. 62. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; The Straits Times, 16 Jan 2000, p. 28.