notes!

1. The history of Singapore is usually traced back to the arrival of Sir Thomas Stamford
Raffles. The arrival of Raffles marks a turning point in Singapore history. With the arrival
of Raffles in 1819, Singapore local residents signed an agreement stating that the
British would be allowed to establish a trading post, in return for protection. In 1824 the
British acquired full sovereignty over the island. Singapore became a British colony.
British colonial rule is considered to have laid the foundations of Singapore as it is
known today (Perry et al. 1997). The British started a meticulous city-planning which
included a plan to separate the ethnic communities. This was the foundation of ethnic
areas like Chinatown (Yeoh & Kong 1994). However the Indian community moved away
from their first settlements, and ended up in the Serangoon Road area, an area which
later came to be known as the Little India (Siddique & Shotam 1990)
From the start Singapore was intended to be a British centre for trade in Asia.
Singapore served as a free port serving both Asian and Western private enterprises.
This was done without monopolies, duties or other trade restrictions. Such unrestricted
trade was unknown at that time, and it firmly established Singapore as an important
trading post. Already in the late 19th century Singapore had a large economy based on
trade (Perry et al.1997). According to Park (1998) Singapore was a non-industrial trade
entrepôt. This worked well during the colonial days but led to problems when Singapore
gained independence (Lee 2000).
In 1959 Singapore gained internal self-government. At this point there are several
questions which had to be resolved if Singapore was to survive as an independent city
state. The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, saw little chance of survival if
Singapore was to stand alone as an independent nation (Josey 1980). Singapore joined
the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. With the eviction of Singapore from the federation in
1965, Singapore found itself on its own. Singapore still had British army bases in the
country, providing a form of safety and also a stable income (Lee 2000). But as an
independent nation there were pressing matters to resolve if Singapore was to survive.
World War II and Japanese occupation
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded British Malaya, culminating in
the Battle of Singapore. The British surrendered on 15 February 1942. British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill called the defeat "the worst disaster and largest capitulation
in British history".[24]
Between 5,000 and 25,000 ethnic Chinese people were killed in the
subsequent Sook Ching massacre.[25]
From November 1944 to May 1945, the Allies
conducted an intensive bombing of Singapore. TheJapanese occupied Singapore until
the British repossessed it in September 1945, after the Surrender of Japan.[26]
David
Marshall, pro-independence leader of theLabour Front, won Singapore's first general
election in 1955. He led a delegation to London, but Britain rejected his demand for
complete self-rule. He subsequently resigned to be replaced by Lim Yew Hock, whose

2. policies convinced Britain to grant Singapore full internal self-government for all matters
except defence and foreign affairs.
During the May 1959 elections, the People's Action Party won a landslide victory.
Singapore became an internally self-governing state within the Commonwealth and Lee
Kuan Yew became the country's first Prime Minister.[28]
Governor SirWilliam Allmond
Codrington Goode served as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State), and was
succeeded byYusof bin Ishak, who became the first President of Singapore in
1965.[29]
During the 1950s, Chinese Communists with strong ties to the trade unions
and Chinese schools carried out an armed uprising against the government, leading to
the Malayan Emergency and later, the Communist Insurgency War. The 1954 National
Service Riots, Chinese middle schools riots, andHock Lee bus riots in Singapore were
all linked to these events.
Singapore Culture
Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and interaction
among different races are commonly seen. The pattern of Singapore stems from the
inherent cultural diversity of the island. The immigrants of the past have given the place
a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all of which have
intermingled.
Behind the facade of a modern city, these ethnic races are still evident. The areas for
the different races, which were designated to them by Sir Stamford Raffles, still remain
although the bulk of Singaporeans do think of themselves as Singaporeans, regardless
of race or culture. Each still bears its own unique character.
The old streets of Chinatown can still be seen; the Muslim characteristics are still
conspicuous in Arab Street; and Little India along Serangoon Road still has its distinct
ambience. Furthermore, there are marks of the British colonial influence in the Neo-
Classical buildings all around the city.
Each racial group has its own distinctive religion and there are colorful festivals of
special significance all year round. Although the festivals are special to certain races, it
is nonetheless enjoyed by all.
In Singapore, food is also readily and widely available. There are lots of cuisines to
offer. We have, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian and Western, Italian, Peranakan,
Spanish, French, Thai and even Fusion. It is very common to savour other culture's food
and some of the food can be very intriguing. Indian food are relatively spicier, whereas
Chinese food is less spicier and the Chinese enjoy seafood. Malay cooking uses
coconut milk as their main ingredient, that makes their food very tasty.

3. You can refer to our Eating in Singapore section for a list of recommended food outlets
in Singapore.
Religion in Singapore
Most Singaporeans celebrate the major festivals associated with their respective
religions. The variety of religions is a direct reflection of the diversity of races living
there. The Chinese are predominantly followers of Buddhism, Taoism, Shenism,
Christians, Catholics and some considered as 'free-thinkers' (Those who do not belong
to any religion). Malays have the Muslims and Indians are Hindus. There is a
sizeable number of Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian population.
Religious tolerance is essential in Singapore. In fact, religions often cross racial
boundaries and some even merge in unusual ways in this modern country. Younger
Singaporeans tend to combine a little of the mysteries of the older generation with the
realistic world that they know of today.
Religion is still an integral part of the cosmopolitan Singapore. Many of its most
interesting buildings are religious, be it old temples, modern churches, or exotic
mosques. An understanding of these buildings do play a part in contributing to the
appreciation of their art.
Chinese Temples
Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and ancestral worship are combined into a versatile
mix in Chinese temples.
Followers of the Tao (The Way) adhere to the teachings of the ancient Chinese legend,
Lao Tzu. They are concerned with the balance of the Yin and Yang, which are opposite
forces of heaven and earth, male and female. Feng Shui, literally translated as wind and
water, also originated from Yin and Yang. Ancestral worship is common and the spirits
of the dead, like the gods themselves, are appeased with offerings.
Most Buddhists are of the Mahayana school although there are some from the
Theravada school. In Singapore, the Buddhist faith is linked with Taoism and the
practical doctrine of Confucianism.
Islam
The Malays in Singapore are Muslims. A few of the Indians are also Muslims, but even
more uncommon are the Chinese Muslims.

4. Islam has a fundamental influence in the lives of those who follow the Prophet of Allah,
Muhammad. The religion involves praying five times a day, eating only "halal" food,
fasting during Ramadan, and going to Mecca on the Haj (pilgrimage). Halal food means
food that has been specially prepared as according to the religion's dietary
requirements.
Hinduism
As the Indian immigrants migrate to Singapore, they brought with them Hinduism. The
early temples are still the central points of rituals and festivals, which are held
throughout the year.
Christianity
One will be able to find Christian churches of all denominations in Singapore. They were
actually established with the arrival of various missionaries after the coming of Sir
Stamford Raffles. Together with Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism, Christianity is
considered one of the four main religions today. There is quite a large number of
Christians on the island.
Others
Minority faiths are not forgotten. There are at least two synagogues for the Jews and
Sikhs. The Zoroastrians and Jains are also represented in Singapore.
Language in Singapore
The four official languages of Singapore are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English.
English is the most common language used and is the language which unites
the different ethnic groups. Children are taught in English at school but also learn their
mother tongue to make sure they don't lose contact with their traditions.
2.1 Legislative Branch
The Singapore Parliament has a single House and is modelled
after the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy
where Members of Parliament are voted in at regular General
Elections. The leader of the political party that secures the
majority of seats in Parliament will be asked by the President
to become the Prime Minister (PM). The PM will then select his

5. Ministers from elected MPs to form the Cabinet. When the new
Parliament meets for the first time, the Speaker will be
elected followed by the oath taking of Members. The "life" of
each Parliament is 5 years from the date of its first sitting
after a General Election. General Elections must be held within
3 months of the dissolution of Parliament.
Members of Parliament (MPs) consist of either elected, non-constituency or
nominated Members. The majority of MPs are elected into Parliament at a General
Election on a first-past-the-post basis and represent either Single Member or Group
Representation Constituencies (GRCs). In GRCs, political parties field a team of
between three to six candidates. At least one candidate in the team must belong to a
minority race. This requirement ensures that parties contesting the elections in GRCs
are multi-racial so that minority races will be represented in Parliament. There were
14 GRCs in the 2001 General Election and 9 Single Member constituencies.
The Constitution also provides for the appointment of other MPs not voted in at a
General Election. Up to three Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs)
from the opposition political parties can be appointed. This is to ensure that there
will be a minimum number of opposition representatives in Parliament and that views
other than the Government's can be expressed in Parliament. A constitutional
provision for the appointment of up to nine Nominated Members of Parliament
(NMPs) was made in 1990 to ensure a wide representation of community views in
Parliament. NMPs are appointed by the President of Singapore for a term of two and
a half years on the recommendation of a Special Select Committee of Parliament
chaired by the Speaker. NMPs are not connected to any political parties.
2.2 Executive Branch

6. The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore provides for a
President who is the Head of State. The elected President will
hold office for a fixed term of six years. The President is
empowered to veto government budgets and appointments to
public office. He can also examine the Government's exercise
of its powers under the Internal Security Act and religious
harmony laws, and in investigations into cases of corruption.
The Cabinet is led by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by
the President, as the Member of Parliament who commands
the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament.
On the advice of the Prime Minister, the President appoints
other ministers from among the Members of Parliament to
form the Cabinet.
The Cabinet is responsible for all government policies and the
day-to-day administration of the affairs of state. It is
responsible collectively to Parliament, and comprises the Prime Minister and the
ministers in charge of the ministries of Community Development, Youth and Sports,
Defence, Education, the Environment and Water Resources, Finance, Foreign Affairs,
Health, Home Affairs, Information, Communications and the Arts, Law, Manpower,
National Development, Trade and Industry, and Transport.
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (87 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated
members (NMP) and up to nine Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP);
traditionally, members of parties that came closest to winning seats may be appointed
as NCMPs; NMPs are appointed by the president to ensure that a wide range of
community views are present in Parliament; NMPs are independent and non-partisan
members
elections: last held on 7 May 2011 (next to be held by 2017)

7. The central emblem of the coat of arms is a red shield with five white stars resting
above a white crescent, similar to the crescent and stars used on the Singapore
flag and such other national symbols as the national ensign for civilian ships. Red
symbolises "universal brotherhood and equality of man" and white "pervading and
everlasting purity and virtue". The crescent represents a new moon, which reflects "a
young nation on the ascendant", while the five-pointed stars "stand for the nation's
ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality".[4]
The supporters of the shield are a lion and a tiger: the tiger symbolises the
nation's historical and close connections to Malaysia (which Singapore was a state of
from 1963 to 1965) while the lion represents Singapore itself.[5]
Below the supporters is
a blue ribbon on which the national motto, Majulah Singapura, is written in
gold.[5]
Majulah Singapura is also the title of the national anthem; it means "Onward
Singapore" in Malay, the national language of Singapore.