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Republic of Singapore
新加坡共和国
Republik Singapura
சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு
Motto: ["Majulah Singapura"] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)  (Malay)
"Onward, Singapore"
Anthem: Majulah Singapura
Location of Singapore
Capital
and largest city
Singapore City1
Official languagesEnglish 
Mandarin Chinese 
Tamil 
Malay 
GovernmentParliamentary republic
• President
Sellapan Ramanathan
Lee Hsien Loong
Independence
• Self-government
under the United Kingdom

June 3 1959 [1]
• UDI
August 31 1963
• Merger with Malaysia
September 16 1963
• Separation from Malaysia
August 9 1965
• Water (%)
1.444
Population
• July 2007 estimate
4,553,009 (118th)
• 2000 census
4,117,700
GDP (PPP)2006 estimate
• Total
$145.183 billion (54th)
• Per capita
$32,866.67 (18th)
HDI (2004)Steady 0.916
Error: Invalid HDI value (25th)
CurrencySingapore dollar (SGD)
Time zoneUTC+8 (SST)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+8 (not observed)
Calling code65²
ISO 3166 codeSG
Internet TLD.sg
  1. Singapore is a city-state.
  2. 02 from Malaysia.

Singapore (Malay: Singapura; Chinese: 新加坡, [Xīnjiāpō] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help); Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர், [Ciŋkappūr] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), officially the Republic of Singapore (Malay: Republik Singapura; Chinese: 新加坡共和国; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Gònghéguó; Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு, [Ciŋkappūr Kudiyarasu] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometers (85 miles) north of the Equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At 704.0 km² (272 square miles), it is considered one of the few city-states in the world.

The main island was a fishing village sparsely populated by indigenous Malays and Orang Lauts when it was colonized by the British East India Company in 1819. The British used the position as a tactical trading outpost along the spice route.[1] Occupied by the Japanese Empire during World War II, it reverted to British rule in 1945 and was later part of the merger which established Malaysia in 1963. Two years later, it left the federation and became an independent republic on August 9 1965. The new republic was admitted to the United Nations on September 21 of the same year.

Since gaining independence, Singapore has seen its standard of living rise dramatically. Foreign investment and government-led island-wide industrialization have created a modern economy based on electronics and manufacturing, featuring entrepôt and financial trade centering around the country's strategic location. In terms of GDP per capita, Singapore is the 18th wealthiest country in the world.[2] The geographically small nation has a foreign reserve of S$212 billion (US$139 billion).[3]

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore established the city-state's political system as a representative democracy while the country has official United Nations' recognition as a parliamentary republic. The People's Action Party has won control of Parliament in every election since self-government in 1959.

History

Main article: History of Singapore

Origin of name

The name Singapura is derived from the Malay words [singa] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (lion) and [pura] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (city), which in turn is from the Sanskrit सिंह siṃha and [] Error: {{Lang}}: no text (help) pura.[4] According to the Malay Annals, this name was given by a 14th century Sumatran Malay prince named Sang Nila Utama, who, on alighting the island after a thunderstorm, renamed it Singapura after spotting an auspicious beast identified as a lion.[5]

First settlement

The first records of settlement in Singapore are from the second century AD.[6] The island was an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire and originally bore the Javanese name Temasek ('sea town'). Temasek (Tumasek) rapidly became a significant trading city, but declined in the late 14th century. There are few remnants of old Temasek in Singapore, but archaeologists in Singapore have uncovered evidence of the civilization and other settlements. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Singapore was part of the Sultanate of Johor. During the Malay-Portugal wars in 1613, she was set ablaze by Portuguese troops.[7] The Portuguese subsequently held control in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th, but throughout most of this time the island's population consisted mainly of fishermen.

Statue of Thomas Stamford Raffles by Thomas Woolner, erected at the spot where he first landed at Singapore. He is recognized as the founder of modern Singapore.

On 29 January 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed on the main island. Sighting its potential, Raffles signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on behalf of the British East India Company to develop Singapore as a trading post and settlement, marking the start of the island's modern era. Raffles's deputy, William Farquhar, oversaw a period of growth and ethnic migration. The British India office governed the island in 1858, but Singapore was made a British crown colony, answerable directly to the Crown, in 1867. By 1869, the island boasted a sizeable community of 100,000.[8]

World War II

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya, culminating in the Battle of Singapore. The ill-prepared British were defeated in six days, and surrendered the supposedly impregnable "Bastion of the Empire" to General Tomoyuki Yamashita on 15 February 1942. The Japanese renamed Singapore Shōnantō (昭南島), from Japanese "Shōwa no jidai ni eta minami no shima" ("昭和の時代に得た南の島"), or "southern island obtained in the age of Shōwa", and occupied it until the British repossessed the island on 12 September 1945, a month after the Japanese surrender.[9]

The name Shōnantō was, at the time, romanized as "Syonan-to" or "Syonan", and this is still commonly used today.

Independence

Singapore became a self-governing state in 1959 with Yusof bin Ishak its first Yang di-Pertuan Negara and Lee Kuan Yew its first Prime Minister. Following the 1962 Merger Referendum of Singapore, Singapore joined Malaya, along with Sabah and Sarawak, to form the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, but was expelled two years later after heated ideological conflict between the state's PAP government and the federal Kuala Lumpur government. Singapore officially gained sovereignty on 9 August 1965.[10] Yusof bin Ishak was sworn in as the first President of Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew remained prime minister.

The Downtown Core of Singapore at dusk

The fledgling nation had to be self-sufficient, and faced problems like mass unemployment, housing shortages, and a dearth of land and natural resources. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed widespread unemployment, raised the standard of living, and implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country's economic infrastructure was developed, the threat of racial tension was curbed, and an independent national defence system, centering around compulsory male military service, was created.

In 1990, Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee as Prime Minister. During his tenure, the country tackled the impacts of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2003 SARS outbreak, and terrorist threats posed by the Jemaah Islamiyah group post-September 11. Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the third prime minister in 2004.[11] Amongst his more notable decisions is the plan to open two Integrated Resorts (which include legalised casinos) to attract more foreign tourists.

Politics and government

Main article: Politics of Singapore
See also: Law of Singapore

Singapore is a republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government representing different constituencies. The bulk of the executive powers rests with the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. The office of President of Singapore, historically a ceremonial one, was granted some veto powers as of 1991 for a few key decisions such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of judiciary positions.[12] Although the position is to be elected by popular vote, only the 1993 election has been contested to date. The legislative branch of government is the Parliament.

Parliamentary elections in Singapore are plurality-based for group representation constituencies since the Parliamentary Elections Act was modified in 1991.[13]

Singaporean politics have been dominated by the People's Action Party (PAP) since self-government was attained.[14] In consequence, foreign political analysts and several opposition parties like the Workers' Party of Singapore, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) have argued that Singapore is essentially a one-party state. Many analysts consider Singapore to be more of an illiberal or procedural democracy than a true democracy. The Economist Intelligence Unit lists Singapore as a country with a "hybrid" system comprised of democratic and authoritarian elements.[citation needed] Freedom House ranks the country as "partly free".[15] Though general elections are free from irregularities and vote rigging, the PAP has been criticised for manipulating the political system through its use of censorship, gerrymandering, and civil libel suits against opposition politicians. Francis Seow, the exiled former solicitor-general of Singapore, is a prominent critic. Seow and opposition politicians such as J.B. Jeyaretnam and Chee Soon Juan claim that Singapore courts favour the PAP government, and there is no separation of powers.[16]

Singapore has a highly successful and transparent market economy. Government-linked companies are dominant in various sectors of the local economy, such as media, utilities, and public transport. Singapore has consistently been rated as the least-corrupt country in Asia and amongst the top ten cleanest from corruption in the world by Transparency International.[17]

Although Singapore's laws are inherited from British and British Indian laws, including many elements of English common law, the PAP has also consistently rejected liberal democratic values as "Western." Laws restricting freedom of speech are justified by claims that unrestricted speech may breed disharmony within Singapore's multi-racial, multi-religious society. Some offences can lead to heavy fines or caning, and there are laws which allow capital punishment for first-degree murder and drug trafficking. More recently the PAP government has claimed to relax some of its socially conservative policies and created a "Feedback Unit"[18] to receive comments on some policies and public services.

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography and climate of Singapore

Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself. There are two connections to Johor — the man-made Johor-Singapore Causeway in the north, and the Tuas Second Link in the west. Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore's many smaller islands. The highest natural point of Singapore is Bukit Timah Hill (166 metres, 538 ft).

The urban area used to only be concentrated on the south of Singapore, around the mouth of the Singapore River and what is now the Downtown Core, while the rest of the land was undeveloped tropical rainforest or used for agriculture. Since the 1960s, the government has constructed new residential towns in outlying areas, resulting in an entirely built-up urban landscape. The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the government agency responsible for urban planning.

Singapore has an on-going land reclamation project with earth obtained from its own hills, the sea-bed, and neighbouring countries. As a result, Singapore's land area grew from 581.5 square kilometres (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 699.3 square kilometres (269.1 sq mi) today, and may grow by another 100 square kilometres (38.6 sq mi) by 2030.[19] Many of the smaller islands have been expanded and joined together through land reclamation in order to form larger, more functional islands, such as in the case of Jurong Island.

File:Singapore botanic garden pond.jpg
Singapore Botanical Gardens, a 67.3-hectare (166 acre) botanical garden in Singapore that includes the National Orchid Garden, which has a collection of more than 3,000 species of orchids.

Under the Köppen climate classification system, Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons. Its climate is characterised by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures range from 22°C to 34 °C (72°–93°F). On average, the relative humidity is around 90% in the morning and 60% in the afternoon. During prolonged heavy rain, relative humidity often reaches 100%.[20] The lowest and highest temperatures recorded in its maritime history are 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) and 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) respectively. The highest wind speed recorded is 150 km/h on 26 May, 2007. June and July are the hottest months, while November and December make up the wetter monsoon season. From August to October, there is often haze, sometimes severe enough to prompt public health warnings, due to bushfires in neighbouring Indonesia. Singapore does not observe daylight saving time or a summer time zone change. The length of the day is nearly constant year round due to the country's location near the equator.

About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves.[21] Urbanization has eliminated many areas of former primary rainforest, with the only remaining area of primary rainforest being Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. A variety of parks are maintained with human intervention, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Without natural freshwater rivers and lakes, the primary domestic source of water supply in Singapore is rainfall, collected in reservoirs or catchment areas. Rainfall supplies approximately 50% of Singapore's water; the remainder is imported from Malaysia or obtained from recycled water facilities and desalination plants. More NEWater and desalination plants are being built or proposed to reduce reliance on foreign supply.[22]

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Singapore and Tourism in Singapore
File:SGcurrency.jpg
Singapore banknotes and coins

Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy, which historically revolves around extended entrepot trade. The economy depends heavily on exports refining imported goods, especially in manufacturing. Manufacturing constitutes 28% of Singapore's GDP in 2005.[citation needed] The manufacturing industry is well-diversified into electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences manufacturing. Singapore is the busiest port in the world in terms of tonnage shipped. [23]

Singapore is the world's fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre after London, New York City and Tokyo.[24]


Along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the Four Asian Tigers. Singapore has been rated as the most business-friendly economy in the world, with thousands of foreign expatriates working in multi-national corporations. [25] The city-state also employs thousands of foreign workers from around the world.

Singapore's Central Business District (CBD)

In 2001, a global recession and slump in the technology sector caused the GDP to contract by 2.2%. The Economic Review Committee (ERC), set up in December 2001, recommended several policy changes with a view to revitalising the economy. Singapore has since recovered from the recession, largely due to improvements in the world economy; the Singaporean economy itself grew by 8.3% in 2004 and 6.4% in 2005.[26]

The per capita GDP in 2005 was US$26,833[27] and the unemployment rate was 2.7% in 2006, with[28] 173,000 new jobs being created in 2006, a record high. The economy grew by 7.9% in 2006.[29]

In the first quarter of Year 2007, the economy grew by 6.1% and in the second quarter economic growth was estimated at 8.2%. The economy is expected to expand by 6.0% and 6.2% in the third and fourth quarters of Year 2007 respectively. [30] In Year 2008, economists expects economic growth to be around 5.8%.

As the economy grew at a much faster pace than expected, the government raised the economic growth forecast to 5%-7% instead of the initial 3%-5% for the full year. [31] On July 10 2007, some economists has cited that the government may raise the economic growth forecast for the whole year once again to 6.5%-8% as the economy did extremely well in the second quarter of the year. Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong also had said in an interview in April 2007 that Singapore's economy is expected to grow by at least 5% for the next 5 years.

Orchard Road, as decorated for Christmas, during 2005.

Singapore introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) with an initial rate of 3% on 1 April 1994 substantially increasing government revenue by $1.6 billion and stabilizing government finances.[32] The taxable GST was increased to 4% in 2003 and to 5% in 2004.[33] The GST was further increased to 7% on 1st July 2007.[34] To help Singaporeans cope with the GST tax increase, the government has introduced the GST Offset Package (similar to the Progress Package given out last year) on 14 May 2007. Each citizen would be able to receive an amount of between S$150- S$1,000, depending on the individual salary. A few supermarkets absorbed the cost of the GST increase for selected products on a temporary basis.

Singapore is a popular travel destination, making tourism one of its largest industries. About 9.7 million tourists visited Singapore in 2006.[35] The Singaporean government hopes to have at least 17 million visitor arrivals by 2015. The Orchard Road district is the centre of shopping hub in Singapore. To attract more tourists, the government decided in 2005 to legalise gambling and to allow two Integrated Resorts to be developed at Marina South and Sentosa.[36] Other than the Integrated Resort, about 15 new developments are coming up, which include the Singapore Flyer, which would be the largest ferris wheel in the world, the Gardens by the Bay and a 280-metre Double Helix Bridge connecting tourist attractions in and around Marina Bay. Cuisine has been heavily promoted as an attraction for tourists, with the Singapore Food Festival in July organized annually to celebrate Singapore's cuisine. In 2008, Formula One racing will return when the Singapore Grand Prix will resume, having not been held since 1972. The circuit will be the first night-time race in Formula One's history.

To compete with its many rivals such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore has announced that the city would be transformed into a more vibrant and exciting place with more buzz by lighting up the city completely. The purpose of this is to attract more tourists.

Military

Main articles: Military of Singapore and Total Defence
The Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force, with its members recruited from Nepal, is a counter-terrorism unit. Here, the officers join other members of the local constabulary in the annual Police Day Parade.

The military of Singapore serves primarily as a deterrent to potential invaders of the island as well as to frequently provide humanitarian assistance to other countries including Indonesia and the United States. Singapore has mutual defence pacts with several countries, most notably the Five Power Defence Arrangements. The country subscribes to a philosophy of Total Defence, which identifies five aspects of a holistic national defence.

The military of Singapore includes the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force, collectively known as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) oversees its functioning, with some private companies also playing a supporting role. Singapore requires that all males from 18 to 40 years of age (50 for commissioned officers), except those with certain medical or other exemptions, to become reservists after completing mandatory National Service duty.

The recent rise in unconventional warfare and terrorism has cast increasing emphasis on the non-military aspects of defence. The Gurkha Contingent, part of the Singapore Police Force, is also a counter-terrorist force. In 1991, the hijacking of Singapore Airlines Flight 117 ended in the storming of the aircraft and the subsequent deaths of all four hijackers. A current concern is Jemaah Islamiyah, a militant Islamic group whose plan to attack the Australian High Commission was ultimately foiled in 2001.

Singapore's defence resources have been used in international humanitarian aid missions, including United Nations peacekeeping assignments in Kosovo, Kuwait and East Timor,[37] and participating in the multinational force in Iraq.[38]

Demographics

Population

Built in 1843, the Sri Mariamman Temple is the largest Hindu temple in Singapore. It is also one of the many religious buildings marked as national monuments for their historical value.
Main articles: Demographics of Singapore and Religion in Singapore

Singapore is the second-most densely populated country in the world, not including Macau and Hong Kong, which are parts of the People's Republic of China. While the total population living in Singapore as of June 2006 is about 4.5 million, official demographic breakdowns and statistical analysis are only released for the 3.6 million who are Singaporean citizens and permanent residents (termed 'Singapore Residents').

After two decades of a successful family planning policy, Singapore is now facing the threat of an ageing population with declining birth rates. The government is encouraging Singaporeans to have more children through the provision of financial incentives for the first to fourth child of each family.[39]

In 2006, 38,232 babies were born, compared to around 37,600 in 2005. The number, however, is still not sufficient to maintain the population. Singapore's large number of migrants has kept Singapore's population from declining.[40]

Religion

Singapore is also a multi-religious country. Around 51% of Singaporeans practice Buddhism and Taoism. About 15%, mostly Chinese and Indians, practice Christianity. Muslims constitute 16%, of whom Malays account just over 13%. Smaller minorities practise Sikhism, Hinduism, and others, according to the 2000 census.[41] About 15% of the population have no religious affiliation.

Languages

The national language of Singapore is Malay for historical reasons, and it is used in the national anthem, "Majulah Singapura". The official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. English has been promoted as the country's language of administration since independence, and it is spoken by the majority of the population, especially the young. Public signs and official publications are in English, although there are usually translated versions in the other official languages.

The English used is primarily British English, with some American English influences. The local colloquial dialect of English is Singlish, which has many creole-like characteristics, having incorporated vocabulary and grammar from various Chinese dialects, Malay, and Indian languages. Singlish is spoken commonly on the streets, but the government frowns upon its use in official contexts. The use of English became widespread in Singapore after it was implemented as a first language medium in the education system, and English is the most common language in Singaporean literature.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Singapore
The three tallest buildings in Singapore are located at Raffles Place, namely, from left to right, Republic Plaza, UOB Plaza One and OUB Centre. All three buildings are 280 metres in height.

The architecture of Singapore is varied, reflecting the ethnic build-up of the country. Singapore has several ethnic neighbourhoods, including Chinatown and Little India. These were formed under the Raffles Plan to segregate the immigrants, but now have a more diverse patronage. Many places of worship were also constructed during the colonial era. Sri Mariamman Temple, the Masjid Jamae Mosque and the Church of Gregory the Illuminator are among those that were built during the colonial period. Work is now underway to preserve these religious sites as National Monuments of Singapore.

Due to the lack of available space, few historical buildings remain in the centre of the Central Business District (CBD) of Singapore - the Fullerton Hotel and the previously-moved Lau Pa Sat being some exceptions. However, just outside of Raffles Place, and throughout the rest of the downtown core, there is a large scattering of pre-WWII buildings - some going back nearly as far as Raffles, as with the Empress Place Building, built in 1827.[citation needed] Many classical buildings were destroyed during the post-war decades, up until the 1990s, when things completely changed and the government started very strict programs to conserve the many remaining buildings and whole areas that are of historic and aesthetic value.

Past the shopping malls are streets lined with shophouses. Many other such areas have been gazetted as historic districts. Information can be found at the URA Centre in Maxwell Road, where there are exhibits and several models of the island and its architecture. Singapore has also become a centre for modern, or more correctly, postmodern architecture. Historically, the demand for high-end buildings has been in and around the Central Business District (CBD). After decades of development, the CBD has become an area with many tall office buildings. These buildings comprise the skyline along the coast of Marina Bay and Raffles Place, a famous tourist attraction in Singapore. Plans for tall buildings must be reviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.[42] No building in Singapore may be taller than 280 metres.[43] The three tallest buildings in Singapore, namely Republic Plaza, UOB Plaza One and OUB Centre, are all 280 metres in height.

In addition, some interesting signs of Singapore's colonial past remain in the form of "Black and White Houses". These large houses are situated further away from the CBD and were built in the early to mid 19th century. These homes were built to house the British generals and governors when Britain occupied the country. Later, they became home to many Japanese generals after the fall of Singapore during World War II.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Singapore
Enjoying the Singaporean cuisine. Hawker centres and kopi tiams are well-distributed throughout the country.

Singapore is a mixture of an indigenous Malay population with a third generation Chinese majority, as well as Indian and Arab immigrants with some intermarriages.[44] There also exist significant Eurasian and Peranakan (known also as 'Straits Chinese') communities. Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of cultural diffusion.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Singapore

Singaporean cuisine is also a prime example of diversity and cultural diffusion in Singapore, with a fusion of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Tamil influences. In Singapore's hawker centres, for example, traditionally Malay hawker stalls selling halal food may serve halal versions of traditionally Tamil food. Chinese stalls may introduce Malay ingredients, cooking techniques or entire dishes into their range of catering. This continues to make the cuisine of Singapore significantly rich and a cultural attraction.

Favorite local foods are diverse, ranging from Hainanese chicken rice to Satay. Singaporeans also enjoy a wide variety of seafood including crabs, clams, squid, and oysters. One such dish is stingray barbecued and served on banana leaf and with sambal (chilli).

Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay

Performing arts

See also: Music of Singapore

Since the 1990s, the government has been striving to promote Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, and to transform the country into a cosmopolitan 'gateway between the East and West'.[45] The highlight of these efforts was the construction of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, a centre for performing arts that opened on October 12, 2002.[46]

An annual arts festival is also organised by the National Arts Council that incorporates theatre arts, dance, music and visual arts, among other possibilities.

A first Singapore Biennale took place in 2006 to showcase contemporary art from around the world. The next one will be in 2008 which will feature Southeast Asian works.

Sport and recreation

Main article: Sports in Singapore

Singaporeans participate in a wide variety of sports and recreational activities. Favorite sports include soccer, swimming, badminton, basketball and table tennis. Most people lived in public residential areas that often provide amenities including swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts as well as indoor sport centres that can be used for badminton, table tennis, volleyball among others. As one might expect on an island, watersports are very popular, including sailing, kayaking and waterskiing. Scuba diving is another popular recreation, particularly around the southern island of Pulau Hantu, which is known for its rich coral reefs.

Singaporean sportspersons have performed relatively well in regional as well as international competitions in sports such as table tennis, badminton, bowling, sailing, silat, swimming and water polo. Some athletes such as Li Jiawei and Ronald Susilo have become national celebrities.

Education

Main article: Education in Singapore
Students having assembly in the hall of a Singapore secondary school.

Primary education is compulsory in Singapore since 2000. The literacy rate is one of the highest in Asia, at 95%.[47]

The standard for the school curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education with a mix of private schools and public schools. There is no strict public-private dichotomy: the degree of autonomy, regarding curriculum and student admission, government funding received, and tuition burden on the students is further classified into "government-run", "government-aided", "autonomous", "independent", and "privately-funded".[48] In addition, international schools catered to expatriate students, which sometimes admit local students.

There have also been complaints about excessive educational streaming at a young age; a popular local film, I Not Stupid, highlights the competitiveness of the system and social stigma that students struggling with studies have to face.

After primary education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). After secondary education, a further set of examinations are taken which determine their individual subject mastery and which kind of tertiary education they can pursue, such as junior colleges or Millennia Institute, which provide a 2-year or 3-year pre-university education route to the universities, or polytechnics, where students will graduate with a diploma. There are currently four universities; National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University and SIM University. There are also five polytechnics (Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic) in the country.

In 2004, a programme called Integrated Programme was created to remove the necessity of taking O-level examinations at Secondary 4, for more academically inclined students at certain secondary schools.

Other institutes include a teaching college to train teachers, various management institutes, and vocational education institutes such as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). INSEAD, one of the leading business school in the world, has opened a second campus in Singapore in 2001. In parallel to the original France based campus, it offers MBA and Executive-MBA courses.

In 1999, the Ministry of Education started the Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools (PRIME) to upgrade school buildings, many of which were built over 20 to 30 years ago, in phases at a cost of S$4.5 billion. [49] This programme achieves to provide a better school environment for the students by upgrading school buildings to latest standards. In 2005, the Flexible School Infrastructure (FlexSI) framework was implemented through the building of modular classrooms which can be opened up for larger lectures, and allowing a school's staff members to mould their school's designs to suit the school's unique identity and culture. At the same time, an indoor sports hall will be provided to every school so that schools can carry out physical education lessons in inclement weather.[50]

Transport

Main article: Transport in Singapore

International

Singapore is a major Asian transportation hub, strategically lying on the midpoints of certain sea and air trade routes. The transportation industry comprises over 10% of Singapore's GDP despite an increasingly diversified economy.[citation needed]

The Port of Singapore, managed by port operators PSA International and Jurong Port, was the world's busiest port in 2005 in terms of shipping tonnage handled, at 1.15 billion gross tons, and in terms of containerised traffic, at 23.2 million Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It was also the world's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, coming behind Shanghai with 423 million tons handled. In addition, the Port is the world's busiest for transhipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuelling center.[51]

Singapore is an aviation center, acting as a stopover point for the 'Kangaroo route' between Australasia and Europe. Singapore Changi Airport has a network of 81 airlines connecting Singapore to 179 cities in 57 countries (2005). It has been consistently rated as one of the best international airports by numerous international travel magazines. It was rated as the world's best airport in 2006 by Skytrax, defeating its long time rival, Hong Kong International Airport.[52] The airport currently has two passenger terminals, with a third under construction, and there are plans for a fourth terminal. The national carrier is Singapore Airlines (SIA).

Singapore is linked to Johor, Malaysia via the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Tuas Second Link, as well as a railway operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu of Malaysia, with its southern terminus at Tanjong Pagar railway station. Frequent ferry service to several nearby Indonesian ports also exists.

A C751B train at Eunos MRT Station on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, one of three heavy rail passenger transport lines in Singapore.

Domestic

The domestic transport infrastructure has a well-connected island-wide road transport system which includes a network of expressways. The public road system is served by the nation's bus service and a number of licensed taxi-operating companies.

Since 1987, the heavy rail passenger Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) metro system has been in operation. MRT has been further augmented by the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) light rail system, which provides service to housing estates. The EZ-Link system allows contactless smartcards to serve as stored value tickets for use in the public transport systems.

More than 2.78 million people use the bus network daily, while more than 1.3 million people use either the LRT or MRT as part of their daily routine.[53] Approximately 991,000 people use the taxi services daily.[54] Private vehicle use in the Central Area is discouraged by tolls implemented during hours of heavy road traffic, through an Electronic Road Pricing system. Private vehicle ownership is discouraged using high vehicle taxes and imposing quotas on vehicle purchase.

Major International rankings

Downtown business district taken from East Coast Parkway heading west
Economic
Educational
Political
Social
Transportation

Notes

  1. ^ "Flavours of Singapore". Uniquely Singapore. Singapore Tourism Board. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  2. ^ "List of GDP per capita by country". International Monetary Fund. Singapore is 18th after Luxembourg, Ireland, Norway, United States, Iceland, Hong Kong SAR, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Canada, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Qatar, and Australia.
  3. ^ "KeyStats - Annual Statistics". Statistics Singapore. Singapore Department of Statistics. 2007-03-12.
  4. ^ "Singapore". bartleby.com. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  5. ^ "Early History". Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  6. ^ "Country Studies". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  7. ^ "Singapore - Precolonial Era". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
  8. ^ "Founding of Modern Singapore". Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  9. ^ Ron Taylor. "Fall of Malaya and Singapore". Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  10. ^ "Road to Independence". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  11. ^ "Country profile: Singapore". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  12. ^ "The Presidency in Singapore". Istana website. Retrieved 2005-01-30.
  13. ^ "Parliamentary Elections Act". Singapore Statutes Online. Retrieved 2006-05-08.
  14. ^ Worthington (2002), Mauzy and Milne (2002).
  15. ^ "Country Report: Singapore". Freedom House. 2006.
  16. ^ "Worldwide Press Freedom Index". Retrieved 2006-04-13.
  17. ^ "Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2006". Retrieved 2007-02-03.
  18. ^ "Feedback Unit, Singapore".
  19. ^ "Towards Environmental Sustainability, State of the Environment 2005 Report (PDF)". Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  20. ^ "Climate of Singapore". National Environment Agency, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  21. ^ "Earthtrends country profile" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Clean Water". Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  23. ^ "2006 shipping figures".
  24. ^ "MAS Annual Report 2005/2006".
  25. ^ "Singapore is ranked first in the Doing Business Report 2006 by World Bank". Channel NewsAsia.
  26. ^ "Performance of the Singapore Economy in 2005 (PDF), Ministry of Trade and Industry" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  27. ^ "Per Capita GDP at Current Market Prices". Singapore Department of Statistics. 2006-02-16.
  28. ^ May Wong (1 February 2006). "Singapore's employment hits all-time high of 2.3 m in 2005". Channel NewsAsia.
  29. ^ Dominique Loh (31 December 2006). "Singapore's economy grows by 7.7% in 2006". Channel NewsAsia. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ so (12 June 2007). "GDP growth expected to hit 6.1% in Q2". Channel NewsAsia.
  31. ^ AFP/yy (21 May 2007). "Singapore's GDP forecast revised upwards". Channel NewsAsia.
  32. ^ "FY 1996 Budget, Revenue And Tax Changes". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  33. ^ "Policy Digest: Phased GST increase". December 21, 2002. Retrieved 2006-04-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  34. ^ "GST rate to rise to 7% from July 1". Retrieved 2007-02-15.
  35. ^ "Record Year As Tourism Exceeds 2006 Targets With S$12.4 Billion Tourism Receipts And 9.7 Million Visitor Arrivals". Singapore Tourism Board. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  36. ^ "Proposal to develop Integrated Resorts - Ministerial Statement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 18 April 2005". Channel NewsAsia.
  37. ^ "Peacekeepers :: In the Service of Peace". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  38. ^ "Singapore to send 192 military personnel to Iraq". Agence France Presse. October 27, 2003. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Baby Bonus". Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  40. ^ "Singapore's birth trend outlook remains dismal". Channel NewsAsia.
  41. ^ "Census of Population 2000 by religion, ethnic group, and gender" (PDF). Statistics Singapore. Singapore Department of Statistics. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  42. ^ "Building Height Restriction Map". Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
  43. ^ "Liechtenstein – Singapore: a comparison" (PDF).
  44. ^ In reality, there are very few people in Singapore who can claim to be truly indigenous to the island of Singapore. Other than people who can trace their ancestry to the small number of Orang Laut and Malay fisherfolk living on the island then, the peoples of Singapore {including the Malays} are basically descendants of immigrants who came to Singapore to take advantage of the economic opportunities made available by the founding of modern Singapore by Raffles.
  45. ^ "Renaissance City Report: Culture and the Arts in Renaissance Singapore (Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts)" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  46. ^ "Virtual Tourist: Reviews of Esplanade (Theatres by the Bay)". Retrieved 2006-03-28.
  47. ^ "Singapore in Brief 2006, Singapore Department of Statistics" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  48. ^ "Education System:Secondary". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  49. ^ "Programme For Rebuilding and Improving Existing schools (PRIME)". MOE-PRIME, Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  50. ^ "Eight More Schools to Benefit from Upgrading". Ministry of Education Press Releases. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  51. ^ "Singapore remains world's busiest port". Xinhuanet. 12 January 2006.
  52. ^ "2006 Airport of the Year result". Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  53. ^ "2006 Average Daily Ridership" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  54. ^ "2006 Average Daily Ridership" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-07.

References

  • Diane K. Mauzy & R. S. Milne (2002). Singapore Politics: Under the People's Action Party. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-24653-9.
  • Worthington, Ross (2002). Governance in Singapore. Routledge/Curzon. ISBN 0-7007-1474-X.
  • "Census 2000". Singapore Department of Statistics. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  • "Key Facts & Figures". Ministry of Transport, Singapore. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  • "Nation's History". Singapore Infomap. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  • "MOE-PRIME". Programme For Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools (PRIME). {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  • "Press Releases". Eight More Schools to Benefit from Upgrading. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

This article incorporates public domain text from the websites of Singapore Department of Statistics, United States Department of State, the United States Library of Congress & CIA World Factbook (2004).

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01°22′N 103°48′E / 1.367°N 103.800°E / 1.367; 103.800

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