National Issues

in Singapore
P6 NE Quiz
 What you will be learning today:
01 02
Our Heritage: Our Way of Life:
Places and Identity and
People COmmunity

03 04
Our Shared Our Future:
Beliefs: Values Challenges and
and Principles Opportunities

05
Others
 1
Our Heritage:
Places and People

Pioneers and First

Generations
Political Leaders
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• David Marshall is the founder and

president of the Labour Front and
the Workers‘ Party
• He was instrumental in the
negotiations that led to the
independence of Singapore from
the United Kingdom.
David Marshall
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Benjamin Henry Sheares was a

Singaporean politician.
• He was the second President of
Singapore from 1970 to 1981
• He was sworn in as president on
12 August 1970.
• The Benjamin Sheares Bridge,
Sheares Avenue and Sheares
Link are named after him.
Benjamin Henry Sheares
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Nair established the National

Trades Union Congress in 1961.
• He is the third President of
Singapore elected by
the Parliament of Singapore .
• He also served as the commander-
in-chief of the Singapore Armed
Forces from 23 October 1981 to
28 March 1985.
Devan Nair
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Choy was a Singaporean

educator and counsellor who is
regarded as a war heroine in
Singapore.
• Along with her husband, Choy
Khun Heng, she supplied
medicine, money and messages
to prisoners-of-war during World
War II.
Elizabeth Choy
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Goh Keng Swee had many

appointments in his career as a
politician.
• He was instrumental in securing
Singapore’s independence from
Malaysia and the establishment of
the National Service (NS).

Goh Keng Swee

 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Hajjah Fatimah was running a

thriving trading business.
• In the 1840s, she donated land
and money for the construction of
a mosque in Kampong Glam.
• She also built homes for the
needy.

Hajjah Fatimah
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Tan made generous contributions to

charity.
• His most famous gesture was a
donation towards the building of
the Chinese Pauper Hospital in
1844 at Pearl's Hill.
• He also founded Singapore's oldest
temple, Thian Hock Keng
Temple at Telok Ayer Street.
Tan Tock Seng
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• S. Rajaratnam was the first

minister for Foreign Affairs since
Singapore’s independence.
• He contributed immensely to
establishing good relations with
nations of the world.
• One of his legacies in Singapore is
the National Pledge drafted in
1966.
S. Rajaratnam
 Pioneers and First Generation
Political Leaders

• Lim Bo Seng was a war hero who

recruited men for Force 136.
• Force 136 is a special operations
force formed by the British and
Chinese governments in June 1942
to recapture the Japanese-invaded
Malaya.
• His memorial is located at the
Esplanade.
Lim Bo Seng
2
Our way of life:
Identity and
Community
The National Symbols
and Practices in
Singapore
 The National Symbols of Singapore
National Flag
The five stars depict Singapore's ideals
Red stands for
of democracy, peace, progress, justice
universal
and equality.
brotherhood
and equality of
man.

The crescent White

moon symbolises
represents a pervading and
young nation on everlasting
the ascendant. purity and virtue.
 The National Symbols of Singapore
The State Crest

The State Crest serves as a symbol of Singapore’s status as a

self-governing and independent state. It is also known as
the National Coat of Arms.
 The National Symbols of Singapore
The Lion Head Symbol
The mane has five
partings that
represent democracy,
peace, progress,
justice and equality.

The Lion Head symbolises courage, strength and

excellence. The lion's tenacious mien symbolises the nation's
single-minded resolve to face and overcome any challenges.
 The National Symbols of Singapore
National Flower

Vanda Miss Joaquim

On 15 April 1981, Vanda Miss Joaquim was selected

as Singapore's National Flower. It was chosen in particular
for its vibrant colours, hardiness and resilience – qualities
that reflect the Singapore spirit.
Customs, Traditions and Beliefs Practiced
in Singapore
The Malay Community
• Muslim observe fasting in the
month of Ramadan. They must
not eat or drink (among other
things) from dawn to dusk
during this month.
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri is
celebrated after the last break
fast of the month.
 Customs, Traditions and Beliefs Practiced
in Singapore
The Malay Community
• Traditional attire for men is
Baju Melayu and it is
usually accompanied with Songkok
a Samping and a
Songkok.
• Malay women wear the
Baju Kurung or Baju Samping
Kebaya.
 Customs, Traditions and Beliefs Practiced
in Singapore
The Chinese Community

Chinese New Year, Mid Autumn Festival and Seventh

Month Festival are some of the festivals celebrated by the
Chinese in Singapore.
 Customs, Traditions and Beliefs Practiced
in Singapore
The Chinese Community
• According to the legend, Chinese
villagers lit up firecrackers during
Chinese New Year to frighten
away a mythical beast which
terrorised the villagers.
• Taoists burn paper offering and
lay out food offerings during the
Seventh Month Festival.
Customs, Traditions and Beliefs Practiced
in Singapore
The Indian Community
• Indians greet one another by
placing their palms together.
• Deepavali, Thaipusam and
Pongal celebrated by Indians in
Singapore.
• There is a variety of traditional
costumes worn by the Indians.
They include Dhoti for men and
Sari for women.
 Deepavali
• Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights.
• The festival falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in
the Tamil month of Aipasi (mid-October to mid-November).
• It celebrates the triumph of good over evil as well as
light over darkness.
• Lighting of oil lamps during Deepavali is to signify the
importance of knowledge and the removal of ignorance.
 Easter Sunday

• Easter Sunday is celebrated by

Christians as a joyous holiday.
• It represents the fulfillment of the
prophecies of the Old Testament and
the revelation of God's plan for all of
humankind.
• In commemorating the holiday, Easter
Sunday also celebrates the defeat of
death and the hope of salvation.
 Vesak Day

• Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals.

• It marks the importance of three main events in the life of
Buddha-his birth, his enlightenment to become Buddha, and
the day he left his physical body to attain eternal happiness.
 3
Our Shared Beliefs:
Values and Principles

Guiding Principles in
Singapore as A Nation
 Guiding Principles of Governance

1. Leadership is Key
• providing long-term vision, doing what is right rather than
what is popular, being pragmatic and dissolving corruption

2. Reward for Work, Work for Reward

• encouraging self-reliance not welfare, and assigning
people to jobs based on ability and performance
 Guiding Principles of Governance

3. A Stake for Everyone, Opportunities for All

• fostering a sense of belonging through emotional ties and
community participation

4. Anticipate Change, Stay Relevant

• organising government in better ways as well as building
flexibility and adaptability in thinking
 Government Policies to support Racial
Harmony
1. The Ethnic Integration Policy
• to ensure a balanced mix of ethnic groups living in HDB
estates
• common spaces in public housing estates for different
ethnic groups to interact.

2. Bilingualism
• English is Singapore’s working language while the mother
tongue serves to strengthen an individual’s values and
sense of cultural belonging.
 The Home Ownership Scheme

• Launched on 12 February 1964 by the Housing and

Development Board (HDB).
• The home ownership scheme enabled low income Singapore
citizens to buy flats with basic amenities at affordable prices
from the government on a 99-year lease basis.
 Preparing for Emergencies

• Each year Total Defence (TD) Day is commemorated on

the 15th February. It marks Singapore's fall to the
Japanese in 1942.
• There are 6 pillars of defence – Military, Civil, Economic,
Social, Digital, and Psychological Defence.
 Preparing for Emergencies

If a Singaporean is caught up in an attack, Run, Hide, Tell.

4
Our Future:
Challenges and
Opportunities
 Challenges and Changes
1. Ageing Population

• With declining birth rate, Singapore is becoming a

rapidly ageing population.
• There is a smaller number of young able-bodied
Singaporeans to contribute to the growth of our economy
and the defence of our country.
• This has an impact on the local workforce and
Singapore’s defence force.
 Challenges and Changes
1. Ageing Population

https://www.csc.gov.sg/articles/successful-ageing-progressive-governance-and-collaborative-communities
 Challenges and Changes
2. Limited Land Area

• Land is needed for commercial buildings, housing,

transportation, recreation and water catchment.
• To meet the differing needs of the nation, sacrifices have
to be made in some areas.
 Challenges and Changes
3. Water Security

• By 2060, Singapore's total water demand could almost

double, with the non-domestic sector accounting for about
70%. By then, NEWater and desalination will meet up to
85% of Singapore’s future water demand.
 Challenges and Changes
3. Water Security

https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29EE.1943-7870.0001675
 Challenges and Changes
3. Water Security

https://www.pub.gov.sg/watersupply/fournationaltaps/desalinatedwater
 Challenges and Changes
4. Food Security

• Covid-19 is a timely reminder of how fragile Singapore’s

food security is.
• With disruption of food supplies from other countries,
Singapore needed to build its own capabilities and
diversification of its resources.
• While only 10 per cent of Singapore’s food is produced
locally, it aims to become less dependent on other
countries over the course of the next decade.
 Deterrence and Diplomacy
1. ASEAN

• Singapore was one of the founding

members of ASEAN when it was formed
on 8 August 1967.
• Singapore strongly supports ASEAN’s
goal.
• Singapore has contributed to the
establishment of 10 regional free
trade areas.
 Deterrence and Diplomacy
2. United Nations

• Singapore joined the United Nation on 21 September 1965.

• Singapore has worked closely with UN bodies in support of their
work in the region.
 5
Others

Important places and

people of Singaproe
 Stamford Raffles

• Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles is known for

his founding of modern Singapore and
the Straits Settlements.
• He also drew up a town plan for
Singapore as land was needed in different
parts of Singapore for government,
business and residential uses.
 Narayana Pillai

• Narayana Pillai was a social entrepreneur

and businessman.
• He greatly contributed to the Tamil
community in Singapore.
• He was the first Tamil on record to have
arrived in Singapore with Sir Stamford
Raffles in May 1819.
• Pillai established many businesses and
built Singapore's first Hindu temple, the
Sri Mariamman Temple.
 Old Supreme Court

• The Old Supreme Court Building is the

former courthouse of Singapore.
• The building was the last structure in the style
of classical architecture to be built in the
former British colony.
• The building, together with the City Hall, has
been converted into National Gallery
Singapore, which was opened in 2015.
 Bukit Timah Hill

• The name Bukit Timah originated from a

combination of the Temak tree,which
grows in the area, and ‘Bukit’ in Malay for
‘hill’.
• Also, Timah is Malay stands for ‘tin’ – thus
there is a mistaken belief that tin can be
found on the hill.
• Bukit Timah Hill is the highest hill in
Singapore that holds Singapore’s primary
rainforest reserve – Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve.
 Chinatown
In Chinatown, both names, Niu Che Shui (牛车水) in Chinese
and Kreta Ayer in Malay, have the same meaning which is
"bullock cart water“. This is a reference to the carts that used
to store drinking water.
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