So this is the City-State of Singapore lah!
Two sides to every story…
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Geography
* Population: 4,436,000 (2007)
* GDP p c growth: 3.6% p.a. 1990–2005
* Languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, Tamil
* Time: GMT plus 8hr
* Currency: Singapore dollar (S$)
The name ‘Singapore’ derives from the Sanskrit Singa Pura (‘City of the Lion’). Situated in South-East Asia and lying just north of the equator, the Republic of Singapore is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the narrow Johor Straits (1km wide), crossed by a causeway. A number of smaller islands are included within its boundaries and a few kilometres to the south are islands belonging to Indonesia.
Area: Land area 647.5 sq km, including 63 small islands.
Main towns: Singapore (3.60m), Jurong, Bukit Panjang, Serangoon, Katong, Changi
Topography: The land is flat apart from low hills (highest point is Bukit Timah at 163m). In the north-east large areas of swamp have been reclaimed. The island is drained by a number of small streams.
Climate: A hot and humid tropical climate, without defined seasons. Heavy showers November to January.
Environment: The most significant environmental issues are industrial pollution and seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia; and the finite land and freshwater resources to support a very high population density.
Vegetation: Outside conservation areas, much of the natural dense forest and swamp flora have been cleared, although there is extensive planting on any spare ground in urban areas, and Singapore aims to be a ‘garden city state’. To control the impact of industry and urban development, environmental regulations are strict. Forest covers 3% of the land area and there was no significant loss of forest coverage during 1990–2005. Arable land comprises 1.5% of the total land area.
Wildlife: The last tiger was shot in 1932. Most of the animals found in Singapore are confined to the rainforest area of the nature reserves and include the flying lemur, squirrels and the long-tailed macaque. Despite the urbanisation of the country, there are over 300 species of birds.
Transport: There are 3,165km of roads, all paved, with 118 flyovers, the longest of which is the 2.1km Keppel Viaduct. The 42km Pan-Island Expressway is the longest road. Traffic congestion became a major problem and private traffic is rationed. A limited number of permits to put a vehicle on the public roads is auctioned every month, greatly increasing the cost of running a car. Traffic in the central business district is further discouraged by a system of tolls, policed electronically.
The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) connects the city with all residential areas and the international airport, serving more than 40 stations. A railway across the Straits of Johor causeway connects the island with the Peninsular Malaysian railway system and beyond to Thailand.
Singapore has an excellent harbour and is one of the world’s busiest ports. It comprises six terminals, a container port and several deep-water wharves.
Changi International Airport, 20km east of Singapore City, has two terminals. A third terminal is planned to open in 2008.
History
Singapore was known to the Javanese as Temasek (‘Sea Town’) in the late 1300s, when Siam (Thailand) and the Majapahit Empire of Java were contending for control of the Malay Peninsula. In 1390 Prince Parameswara, in flight from Majapahit, briefly set himself up as prince of Temasek, but was driven out and fled to Malacca. In the early 1400s Temasek was ruled by Siam, but the Malacca sultanate soon took control of the island. The Portuguese took Malacca in 1511, and the Malaccan admiral established himself in Temasek, or Singapura, building a capital which he called Johor Lama.
In 1587 the Portuguese took and destroyed Johor Lama. They made another punitive expedition to Singapore in 1613, destroying a town at the river-mouth. The island, henceforth sparsely populated, remained partly the property of the Sultan of Johor, partly that of the Temenggong (the Malay ruler of the island). In 1819 these two rulers, for a financial inducement, permitted Sir Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant Governor of Bencoolen, to establish a British trading post on the island. Raffles was impressed by the magnificent harbour, and the island’s suitable position for both Far East and local trade.
By 1824 Raffles’s move was paying off so well that Britain bought the island from its two rulers. In 1826 it was united with Malacca and Penang as the Straits Settlements, which were made a Crown colony in 1867. In 1869 the Suez Canal was opened, increasing the amount of shipping calling at Singapore. Its prosperity increased further after the 1870s, when Malaysian rubber became one of its important exports.
From the mid-19th century, there was considerable immigration from all over the region. In the early 1920s Britain began constructing a great naval base, suitable for the biggest ships, in the Johor Straits. The base was finished in 1938. From February 1942 until August 1945 Singapore was occupied by the Japanese army. In 1946, separated from the Straits Settlements, Singapore became a colony with a provisional advisory council.
In 1955 Singapore became partially internally self-governing, with a legislative assembly with 25 elected members out of a total membership of 32, and a council of ministers. A speaker presided in the assembly. In 1959 it became a state with its own citizenship and complete internal self-government. The first prime minister was Lee Kuan Yew.
In September 1963 Singapore was incorporated into the Federation of Malaysia. But in August 1965 Singapore left the Federation, by mutual agreement, after months of dispute between it and the federal government, over a variety of issues, including ethnic affairs. On 9 August 1965, Singapore became a separate independent state and joined the Commonwealth. In December 1965, it became a republic with a non-executive president.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) was first elected in 1959 and was continuously in power for the rest of the century, in many elections winning every seat. In 1981 the Workers’ Party won one seat in a by-election. Two opposition members were returned in the 1984 elections, one in 1988, and four in 1991.
During this period, Singapore developed a highly sophisticated economy with extensive social services and one of the world’s highest rates of GNI per capita.
In Singapore 