SINGAPORE: MIRACLE METROPOLIS
Before 1819 Singapore was a pirate hangout population about 1,000
Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore 1819: Raffles, an employee of the East India Company, purchased the island from the nearby Sultan of Johore
Raffles has a famous hotel named for him
British Malaya 1800s to 1963 Britain controlled Singapore and Penang as colonies & controlled the sultanates indirectly through their rulers. Rubber and tin created great fortunes, brought Chinese migrants, and made Singapore an important port
19 th century British colony: A busy port full of crime & disease
Rubber and tin from Malaya were shipped out. The British had a big naval base here
A sailor recalled, You could get ANYTHING there
A lot has changed since then
Feb 1942-Sept 1945: Japanese occupation of the island
In 1963 Singapore joined the new nation of Malaysia
But two years later the Malaysian legislature voted to expel Singapore
Singapore 1965: apparently hopeless A minuscule, over-crowded, hot and humid, multi-racial, multi-cultural, disease filled, crime ridden, swampy island with high unemployment, and without any natural resources or real defenses. Oh, yes, it was threatened by a serious communist insurgency. It is three degrees above the equator on the same latitude as Mogadishu, Guayaquil Ecuador, and Lambarene in Gabon.
Lee Kuan Yew, PM 1965-90 He was the architect of modern Singapore
Pop: 5.5 million. 74% Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian
What did Lee Kuan Yew accomplish? Singapore is clean, no poverty, no homelessness, no begging, little unemployment, kids immunized, long lifespans (84 & 80), good traffic flow, low crime, clean water, low inflation, $50,000 per capita income, tons of millionaires Singapore has bccome an equatorial Switzerland Miracle or pragmatic planning?
Lee Kuan Yew ran since the mid 1950s as leader of the People s Action Party He voluntarily relinquished power in 1990
Westminster type unicameral parliament
People s Action Party won every election since 1959 usually 80%
Lee and his associates have tried to develop an advanced society
attracting foreign investment location, location, location Low business taxes skilled workers transparency in dealings fair legal system Lack of corruption Up-to-date infrastructure political stability
Singapore is one of the most important of the world financial centers
Central Provident Fund: 34% of wages invested
Medisave is a health savings plan; the government helps the destitute
Highest rate of home-ownership in the world around 90 percent
Most live in high-rise apartments subsidized by the government
Orchard Road, arguably the world s most beautiful shopping street
Second only to work, the national pastime is hitting the mall
On February 13, 1989, Mr Anwar Singh got his picture in the Straits Times for not flushing in the Lucky Shopping Center on Orchard Road
Singapore is probably the cleanest city in Asia
Probably illicit drugs wouldn t be a good business to go into
If the action is offensive, it is probably subject to a fine
Singapore maintains a national university
The government nearly redeveloped the entire city. These are preserved
Ethnic quotas in housing Seats in Parliament reserved for minorities Promoting enmity between groups on account of religion or race is punishable by three years in prison.
Industry is diversified
The government owns the airline
Changi Airport: One of the finest in the world
Cars and licenses are enormously expensive. Only 10% have cars
Public transportation is superb
New Towns were created to be livable. 10% of land is open space
Unemployment is usually extremely low. Foreigners are imported to work
Believe it or not The Social Development Unit is ready to match couples. Are these good tips?
A nation of superlatives Where students achieve high Academic scores
One in six households has disposable income of $1 million or more
Primary school is compulsory; all schools are ranked 2 nd or 3 rd in the world in math, science, and reading
Global competitiveness rating
Best financial environment for growing business
One of the world s 5 biggest ports
Singapore maintains a credible national defense force
When Lee retired, he was succeeded by Goh Chok Tong & then Lee Hsien Loong, his son.
Striving toward a better society
Good advice in this country too
No need to get bored in Singapore 27 performing arts venues 24 libraries 45 museums 35 art galleries Beaches Parks Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island draws tourists and Singaporeans to its attractions
Enough spewing for now. time for a break!