What is the story behind Singapore?

Singapore Island originally was inhabited by fishermen and pirates, and it served as an outpost for the Sumatran empire of Srīvijaya. In Javanese inscriptions and Chinese records dating to the end of the 14th century, the more-common name of the island is Tumasik, or Temasek, from the Javanese word tasek (“sea”).

Is Singapore still a British colony?

Singapore declared independence from Britain in 1963 and became part of Malaysia. It was a short-lived move however, and in 1965, Singapore became an independent and sovereign state. Its inaugural National Day was held on August 9, 1966, with a parade held at the Padang.

Why did Britain own Singapore?

In 1824 an Anglo-Dutch treaty left Malaya and Singapore in the British sphere, and in August the whole of Singapore Island was ceded to the British for a monetary payment. Two years later Singapore, Penang, and Malacca (Melaka) were combined as the Straits Settlements to form an outlying residency of India.

Why is Singapore its own country?

On 9 August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign state. The separation was the result of deep political and economic differences between the ruling parties of Singapore and Malaysia, which created communal tensions that resulted in racial riots in July and September 1964.

Why do they call it Singapore?

Sometime in the 14th century the name was changed to Singapura, which is now rendered as Singapore in English. Singapura means "Lion City" in Sanskrit, and Sang Nila Utama is usually credited with naming the city, although its actual origin is uncertain.

The Story Rebuilding of Singapore: Part 1

Why Singapore is very famous?

What is Singapore mostly known for? Aside from its postcard-worthy attractions, Singapore is famous for its melting pot of food hubs, tidiness, and shopping centres. Dazzling skyscrapers decorate the skyline, which can be enjoyed by upscale restaurants and bars overlooking the city.

Why did Singapore separate from Malaysia?

On 9 August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign state. The separation was the result of deep political and economic differences between the ruling parties of Singapore and Malaysia.

Why is Singapore so rich?

Singapore became a very rich country by implementing measures such as mandatory allocation of 10% of Singaporeans' salary to a pension fund, creating strategic state-owned companies, limiting the growth of the public service, privatizing loss-making companies, and maintaining a strong currency.

What country controls Singapore?

After being expelled from Malaysia, Singapore became independent as the Republic of Singapore on 9 August 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).

When did the British leave Singapore?

Background. On 18 July 1967, Britain announced that it would withdraw its troops from Singapore by the mid-1970s. Six months later, the deadline was brought forward to 1971. The sudden pullout of British forces presented serious problems to Singapore's defence and economic security.

How did Britain lose Singapore?

Thanks to their advanced tactics and training, the Japanese advanced with incredible speed pushing the unprepared British back to Singapore in a so-called 'bicycle blitzkrieg'. When they crossed the Johore straights and captured the Bukit Timah heights above Singapore itself, Percival was forced to surrender.

Who sold Singapore to the British?

On 6 February 1819, Stamford Raffles, Temenggong Abdu'r Rahman and Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor signed a treaty that gave the British East India Company (EIC) the right to set up a trading post in Singapore.

How did the British treat Singapore?

The Bad. First, the colonial society of Singapore was racist and hierarchical. The whites were first class citizens, the Eurasians were second class citizens and the rest of us were third class citizens. Racism permeated the civil service, the police force, sports and even the social clubs.

Why are there so many British people in Singapore?

Singapore has more than an estimated 50,000 British people. This is mostly due to Singapore being a former British colony and also because of the good trading and business opportunities found there.

Why was Singapore important to the British?

Singapore was the foremost British military base and economic port in South–East Asia and had been of great importance to British interwar defence strategy.

What happened to Singapore after the British left?

Singapore became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. By the 1990s, the country had become one of the world's most prosperous nations, with a highly developed free market economy and strong international trading links.

What are people from Singapore called?

Singaporeans are the citizens and nationals of the sovereign island city-state of Singapore. Singapore is home to a people of a variety of ethno-racial origins, with the city-state itself being a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multi-lingual country.

What are 5 interesting facts about Singapore?

Are things expensive in Singapore?

Singapore is one of the most expensive countries to live in the world. As an expat, your monthly expenses in Singapore are likely to be much higher than elsewhere in the world.

Is everyone in Singapore a millionaire?

S'PORE HAS SECOND HIGHEST PROPORTION OF MILLIONAIRES IN REGION. The report said that currently, Singapore has the second-highest (7.5 per cent) number of millionaire adults based on the percentage share of its population, just after Australia (8 per cent) and ahead of Taiwan (5.9 per cent).

Is there poverty in Singapore?

Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia, where it remains the only one in the region to have recognition as a developed country. It has a high GDP per capita and ranks high on the human development index (HDI). Despite these facts, at least 10% of households in Singapore are low-income and thus in poverty.

How is Singapore so clean?

Singapore has several measures to keep the country clean, from slapping heavier fines on litterbugs to mobilising volunteers to prevent them. On 1st October 1968, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched the first 'Keep Singapore Clean' programme with fines for littering.

How safe is it to travel to Singapore?

Indeed, in 2022 the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranked Singapore *the* safest and most peaceful country in Asia, and ninth overall globally, beaten only by famously peace-loving destinations like Iceland, Denmark and New Zealand.

Is Singapore a communist or democratic country?

Since its independence in 9 August 1965, the country has adopted a parliamentary democracy system. Currently, the government and the cabinet are led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong while President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is the Head of State.

What is the capital of Singapore?

The capital of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore. The country's official languages are Tamil, Malay, Mandarin and English. Malay is the national language, but English is the lingua franca and the language of trade and administration.