Singapore

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Singapore

• Government/History 354
• Campbell University

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Map of Singapore
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Singapore

• Seceded from Malaysia in 1965.
• Entire country is 270 sq. miles.
• Population is 4.5 million 77 Chinese, 14 Malay
  8 Indian.
• 42 Buddhist.
• Highest standard of living in Asia with a per
  capita GDP of 28,100, 11th highest in world.

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Early History

• Visited by Chinese traveler in 1349. Called it
  Tan-ma-hsi, a haven for pirates.
• As part of Srivijaya later Majaphit was called
  Tumasik.
• The Malays called it Singapura, meaning Lion
  City in Sanskrit.
• Was visited by Parameshwara on the way to
  establishing Malacca.

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Singapore Becomes British

• The modern state of Singapore was founded by
  Thomas Stanford Raffles in 1819 through a treaty
  with the Sultan of Jehore.
• In the Treaty of London (1824), the Dutch ceded
  Malacca to the British and recognized the British
  claim to Singapore.

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Early Colonial Period

• Singapore was administered directly from London
  as part of the Straits Settlements.
• Became self-governing in 1959 with Lee Kuan Yew
  as P.M.
• In 1963, it became part of Malaysia only to
  secede in 1965. The issue was the Bargain.

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Island Realities

• Political separation from Malaysia doesnt make
  Singapore self-sufficient. Economic ties remain.
• Utilities Drinking Water, Natural Gas,
  Electricity.
• Other Necessities Food, Raw Materials, Labor.
• Size and population density dictate certain
  policies.
• Public housing, Public health, Highly competitive
  educational system and employment, Demands for
  social conformity, Ubiquitous strict legal
  structure.
• Location and Free-port status dictate an export
  economy.

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Seeking Direction

• The establishment of Nanyang University in 1955
  symbolized the divergent views of the future of
  Singapore western oriented in language and
  culture vs. the Chinese orientation of Nanyang.
• The Peoples Action Party (PAP) split along
  similar lines in 1961. PAP remained English
  educated and anti-Communist. Barisian Socialis
  (the Socialist Front) emerged as a new party.
• Lee Kuan Yew sought to create a multi-ethnic
  society to avoid the image of a Chinese state.

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Peoples Action Party

• Singapore has functioned as single party state.
  PAP held all seats in the legislature until 1981,
  when J. B. Jeyaretnam of the Workers party won a
  seat. In 1984 1997 two other seats were won by
  non-PAP parties (The Workers Party and the
  Singapore Peoples Party).
• To create a legislative balance, up to nine
  non-constituency members may be appointed from
  opposition parties. These are selected from the
  opposition members who came closest to wining a
  seat.

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Governmental Structure

• Singapore is a city-state, governed by a
  unicameral legislature of 84 seats plus 9
  non-constituency seats. Members are elected for 5
  years by plurality for group representation
  constituency.
• It is headed by a president who is elected by
  popular vote and a prime minister. The cabinet
  includes a Senior Minister (Goh Chok Tong) and a
  Minister Mentor (Lee Kuan Yew).

President Sellapan Ramanathan
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PAP Dominance

• P. M. Lee Kuan Yew has been the dominate figure
  in Singapore politics since 1957. He retired to
  become senior minister in 1990.
• Goh Chok Tong served as P.M. from 1990 to 2004.
• Lee Kuan Yews son, Lee Hsien Loong, became P.M.
  in 2004. Hes an honor graduate of Cambridge and
  Harvard.

Lee Hsien Loong
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Social Engineering

• To avert the deleterious impact of Western
  values, introduced Confucian immune systems
• Starting in 1982, religion courses have been
  introduced into the schools.
• Promoted family values by making adult offspring
  responsible for the maintenance of their parents,
  denied medical benefits to families of female
  civil servants and disallowed subsidized housing
  for unmarried women.
• Encouraged the use of Mandarin Chinese.
• Incentive for well educated mothers to have more
  children (improve the gene pool).

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The Economy

• Singapore has enjoyed growth rates as high as
  11-13 with unemployment as low as 3. Its an
  export economy heavily involved in electronics.
  The U.S. is Singapores top trading partner (1/3
  of sales).
• In 1979, launched its Second Industrial
  Revolution with goal of restructuring and
  diversifying the economy.
• In 1992, initiated a go regional program of
  investments.
• Singapore is Chinas fourth largest investor.
  Lauched the Suzhou Industrial Township Project in
  China.
• Started industrial parks and resorts on Bantam
  Island, Indonesia.
• Launched collaborative projects in Bangalore,
  India.
• Provided expertise to Vietnam (infrastructure)
  Cambodia for a seaport/airport China in
  telecommunications and tourism.

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Foreign Affairs-U.S.

• Relations between Singapore and the U.S. are
  friendly. Singapore views the U.S. as not only a
  major trading partner but a counterbalance to
  China, as well.
• In 1990, an agreement was signed for the U.S.
  Navy to use Sembawang dockyard for repairs and
  the U.S. Air Force to use Paya Lebar airport for
  training. In 1998, Singapores new Changi naval
  facility was added to the agreement.
• The U.S. is the main supplier of defense
  equipment including F-16s. Training for about
  100 Singapore Air Force personnel is regularly
  conducted at Luke AFB.

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Questions

• Q1. When and why did Singapore secede from
  Malaysia?
• A1. 1965 due to dissatisfaction with the bargain.
• Q2. Who founded the modern state of Singapore in
  1819?
• A2. Thomas Stanford Raffles.
• Q3. Who was the first P.M. of Singapore?
• A3. Lee Kuan Yew
• Q4. What proportion of the population in
  Singapore lives in public housing?
• A4. 80 to 90

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More Questions

• Q5.What is group constituency representation
  (GCR)?
• A5. Elections in which teams of 2 or 3
  representatives run from a combined electoral
  district.
• Q6. What is non-constituency representation?
• A6. Appointing candidates who are the closest
  runner ups in an election to seats in the
  legislature.
• Q7. What is the Confucian immune system?
• A7. Through education and legislation combating
  the deleterious effects of Westernization.

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The End