Singapore History and Current

SINGAPORE
MATUTO, JENNIFER L.
OCBANIA, CAROLYN ANN D.
Official name: The Republic of Singapore
Continent: Southeast Asia
Capital: Singapore
Motto: Majulah Singapura (Malay) / Onward, Singapore
National Anthem: Majulah Singapura
Population: 5.9 million people (2019)
Currency : Singapore Dollar (S$)
Government : Unitary Dominant-party Parliamentary
Constitutional Republic
RED stands for universal brotherhood and equality of man.
WHITE symbolizes pervading and everlasting purity and virtue.
The CRESCENT MOON represents a young nation on the ascendant
FIVE STARS depict Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace,

progress, justice and equality.
• There were around 1,000 people living in Singapore,
mostly Malays and a few dozen Chinese. By 1869,
due to migration from Malaya and other parts of
Asia, Singapore’s population had reached 100,000.
Many Chinese and Indian immigrants came to
Singapore to work in the rubber plantations and tin
mines, and their descendants later formed the bulk
of Singapore’s population.
• Chinese (76.2% of the citizen population), Malays

(15.0%), and ethnic Indians (7.4%) making up the
majority of the population.
HISTORY OF SINGAPORE
• Ancient / Early History
• British Colonial Era
• Japanese Occupation
• Post-war Period
• Merger with Malaysia
• Republic of Singapore
Ancient / Early History
• 12th century
A Srivijayan prince named Sang Nila Utama found
Temasek.
• 14th century
Kingdom of Singapura rose under the rule of Sultan
Iskandar Shah
Singa-simha = lion
Pura = city
• Kingdom of Singapura became an important port.
Singapore was one of the many trading outposts
serving as an entrepot and supply point for Malay,
Thai, Chinese, Indian and Arab traders.
British Colonial Era
 The Malay archipelago was gradually
taken over by the European colonial
powers.
 The early dominance of the Portuguese

was challenged during 17th century by the
Dutch, who came to control most of the
ports in the region. The Dutch established
a monopoly over the trade within the
archipelago particularly in spices.
 Arrival of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles,
1819
 Making Singapore a British colony, 1824
 Singapore in the Strait Settlements
Japanese Occupation
• World War II
• The Imperial Japanese Army invaded British Malaya,

culminating in the Battle of Singapore.
• Singapore was renamed Syonan-to (昭南島 Shōnan-tō),

meaning "Light of the South".
• Between 5,000 and 25,000 ethnic Chinese people were

killed in the subsequent Sook Ching massacre.
Japanese Occupation
1942
• the British surrendered
1945
• the British repossessed it after the
surrender of Japan. The failure of Britain
to successfully defend Singapore had
destroyed its credibility as infallible ruler in
the eyes of Singaporeans.
Post-war Period
• After the Japanese surrender to the Allies on 15
August 1945, Singapore fell into a brief state of
violence and disorder; looting and revenge-killing
were widespread.
• British troops returned to Singapore to receive

formal surrender of the Japanese forces in the
region on 12 September 1945, and a British
Military Administration was formed to govern the
island until March 1946.
• The decades after the war saw a political
awakening among the local populace and the
rise of anti-colonial and nationalist
sentiments, epitomized by the
slogan Merdeka, or "independence“.
Anti-National Service Riot
The National
Service
Ordinance was
passed, requiring
the registration of
all males between
the ages of 18-20
for part-time
military training.
Chinese Middle Schools Riot
The British envisioned

setting up "national
schools", prioritizing
English-medium
education and
undermining vernacular
education. With that,
Chinese schools were
starved of funding,
resulting in anger and
resentments among the
Chinese students and
teachers. This led to the
rise in anti-colonial
sentiments.
-1955
• First general election
• David Marshall won but resigned after the
British rejected his demand for complete
self-rule
Areas of government Areas of government
under elected local under British ministers:
ministers: • Internal security
• Housing • External defence
• Health • Law
• Trade and industry • Finance
• Education • External affairs
1959
However, strikes, riots and student demonstrations

continued that arouse fears in Singapore.
• Gained partial internal self-government
• The First Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew

• First Prime Minister
• Founding father of
modern Singapore
• He transformed
Singapore from third
world country to first
world country
People Action Party
The Peoples Action Party was formed on 21 November
1954. The founding members of the party comprised
political activists of Singapore and included personalities
such as Lee Kuan Yew, Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee,
C. V. Devan Nair, S. Rajatnam, Abdul Samad Ismail and
Fong Swee Suan. They were mostly lawyers, journalists
and trade unionists by profession.During its formative
years, the main objectives of PAP as laid out in the
party’s manifesto were:
 To seek for the independence of Singapore through
merger with the federation of Malaysia
 To set up democratic-socialist government
 To create multi ethnic society
 To establish a fair and just society
Merger with Malaysia
-1963
• Singapore merges with Malaysia
 Singapore wanted to gain full

independence from the British.
Economic Problems
• Singapore has limited natural resources
• Slow economic growth[ Declining Entrepot Trade]
• High rate of unemployment
In accordance with the agreement, Singapore was
required to abide by a number of conditions to join
Malaysia.
1. Singapore would retain its control on education and

labour. However, defence, external affairs and
internal security would come under the jurisdiction
of the federal government.
2. Singapore would have only 15 seats in the federal
parliament instead of 25 seats as was entitled by the
size of its electorate.
3. Singapore would contribute 40% of its revenue to
the federal government and a common market
would be set up over a period of 12 years.
-1965
• eviction from the federation
• Singapore found itself on its own republic
Republic of Singapore
• Singapore gained independence as the Republic of
Singapore on August 9, 1965 with Lee Kuan Yew and
Yusof bin Ishak as the first prime minister and
president respectively.
• In 1967, the country co-founded the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Republic of Singapore
• During the 1980s, Singapore began to upgrade to
higher-technological industries, such as the wafer
fabrication sector, in order to compete with its
neighbours which now had cheaper labour.
Singapore Changi Airport was opened in 1981
and Singapore Airlines was formed.
• The Port of Singapore became one of the world's

busiest ports and the service and tourism industries
also grew immensely during this period. Singapore
emerged as an important transportation and
logistics hub and a major tourist destination.
GOVERNMENT
Type: Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional
Republic
-Branches:
• Executive
• Legislative
• Judiciary
Legislative
• 87 members are voted in at regular General
Elections in addition:
- there are up to nine nominated members-
appointed by the president
- And up to nine Non-Constituency members of
Parliament-traditionally members of parties that
came closest to winning seats may be
appointed
• 5 year term
• The leader of the political party that
secures the majority of seats in parliament
will be asked by the president to become
prime minister
-Legislative
• Prime Minister
-Head of Government
-Executive
• President
- Head of State
- Elected by the people
- 6 year term
- Appoints cabinet, responsible to Parliament
Judiciary
• Vested in Supreme Court and State Courts

• Chief Justice is the head
• Chief Justice, Judges of Appeal, Judges and
Judicial Commissioners are appointed by the
President on the advice of the Prime Minister
Judiciary
• Within this branch, the Registrar of the

Supreme Court supervises the Legal Service
Officers in the Supreme Court while the
presiding judge of the State Courts leads the
Legal Service Officers in the State Courts are
accountable to the Chief Justice for their
management of the Legal Service Officers.
President : Halimah Yacob Prime Minister: Lee Sien
(September 14, 2017 – Loong (August 12, 2004 –
present) present)
EDUCATION
• The education system in Singapore has been
noted to be one of the best in the world.
• Singapore students excelled in most of the

world education benchmarks in maths,
science and reading.
School in Singapore
• English is language of instruction in all public
schools and all subjects are taught and examined in
English.
• Education takes place in three stages:

1. Primary education (compulsory - 6 years)
2. Secondary education (4 - 5 years)
3. Pre-university education / junior college (2 - 3 years)
• There are four standard subjects taught to all students:
a. English
b. Mathematics
c. Science
d. The mother tongue
• Singaporeans students are consistently the top five

students in the world.
• Singapore government offers many scholarships for

bright students in South East Asia region and also
China Mainland.
* Education for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels
is mostly supported by the state.
* All institutions, private and public, must be registered

with the Ministry of Education.
As alternatives to Pre-U education, however,
courses are offered in other post-secondary
education institutions, including 5
polytechnics and the institutes of technical
education (ITEs).
Singapore has six public universities of

which the National University of Singapore
and Nanyang Technological University are
among the top 20 universities in the world.
Singapore
Management
University is
one of six
autonomous
universities in
the city-state.
TRANSPORTATION
• Transportation is vital and plays an important rolein
modern Singapore.
• There are many modes of transportation in Singapore,
some of them being public bus, taxi and MRT (Mass
Rapid Transit).
• Most agree that MRT is the most useful and convenient
mode of transportation in Singapore because:
 The MRT can take you to a distant place in mere minutes.
 It is convenient as it is affordable and it is comfortable
due to the cooling air-conditioner installed.
 People don't need to worry about traffic
 It is perfectly safe than other public transportation.
1. Chinatown in Singapore
2. Little India
3. Orchard Road
4. Sentosa Island
5. Merlion Park
6. Esplanade
7. Singapore Flyer
8. Helix Bridge
9. Marina Bay Sands Sky park
10. Gardens by the Bay
11. Universal Studios
12. Singapore Zoo
• Mid-Autumn Festival on September
• Marina Bay Singapore Countdown every
December 31.
• Thaipusam on February 3.
• Singapore Garden Festival
• Singapore’s National Day
• Singapore Heritage Fest
• Chinese New Year
• Vesak Day
• Deepavali
• Hari Raya Puasa
• Hari Raya Haji
• Christmas

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SINGAPORE

WHITE symbolizes pervading and everlasting purity and virtue.

The CRESCENT MOON represents a young nation on the ascendant

FIVE STARS depict Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace,

• Chinese (76.2% of the citizen population), Malays

 The early dominance of the Portuguese

• The Imperial Japanese Army invaded British Malaya,

• Singapore was renamed Syonan-to (昭南島 Shōnan-tō),

• Between 5,000 and 25,000 ethnic Chinese people were

• British troops returned to Singapore to receive

The British envisioned

However, strikes, riots and student demonstrations

• Gained partial internal self-government

• The First Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew

 Singapore wanted to gain full

1. Singapore would retain its control on education and

• In 1967, the country co-founded the Association of

• The Port of Singapore became one of the world's

• Vested in Supreme Court and State Courts

• Within this branch, the Registrar of the

• Singapore students excelled in most of the

• Education takes place in three stages:

• Singaporeans students are consistently the top five

• Singapore government offers many scholarships for

* All institutions, private and public, must be registered

Singapore has six public universities of

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