Presentation for the reporting in our major subj - Comparative Government in SouthEast Asia DISCLAIMER! Had many sources! Not mine!

1. Marrie Angela D. Santiago
Political Science 3

2. SINGAPORE
• Lies off the tip of the Malaysian
peninsula
• An area of 699.4 sq. km.
• A small country, and is categorized as
a city state
• Total population: 5.47 million (2014)

4. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– 1819
• Arrival of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
• Singapore local residents signed an agreement stating
that the British would be allowed to establish a trading
post, in return for protection
• Deep natural harbour and no tariffs on goods landed in
attracted traders: Malays, Bugis, Chinese, Indians, Arabs
and others

5. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– 1824
• British acquired full sovereignty over the island
• Making the land a British colony
• The British started a meticulous city-planning which
included a plan to separate the ethnic communities
– the foundation of ethnic areas like Chinatown

6. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– From the start, SG was intended to be a British
centre for trade in Asia. It 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 the land as an important
trading post.

7. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– During WWII
• the Imperial Japanese Army invaded the land,
culminating in the Battle of Singapore
– 1942
• The British surrendered
– 1945
• the British repossessed it after the Surrender of Japan

8. Victorious Japanese troops marching through Singapore City after
British capitulation at the Battle of Singapore

9. A cheering crowd welcome the return of British forces

10. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– 1955
• first general election
• David Marshall won but resigned after the British
rejected his demand for complete self-rule

11. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– 1959
• gained internal self-government
• there are several questions which had to be resolved if
SG was to survive as an independent city state
• The First Prime Minister: Lee Kuan Yew
– saw little chance of survival if it was to stand alone as an
independent nation

12. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– 1963
• Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia
– 1965
• eviction from the federation
• Singapore found itself on its own Republic of Singapore
– had British army bases in the country, providing a form of
safety and also a stable income

13. Republic of Singapore

14. SINGAPORE
• Why did the Malaysian Parliament expel SG
from the federation?
– 5 reasons
• Economic Reason
– Disagreements over Common Market
• Political Reason
– Different Treatment of Races
– “Malaysian Malaysia” Campaign
– Different Political Ideology
– Political Rivalry between United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) and People’s Action Party (PAP)

15. SINGAPORE
• Why did the Malaysian Parliament expel SG
from the federation?
– Disagreements over Economic Matters
• The Central Gov’t (Malaysia) delayed the setting up of
the Common Market – as Singapore was seen as an
economic rival/competitor
• Led to a decline in the business of Singapore's trade
and this caused SG to be unhappy with Malaya

16. SINGAPORE
• Why did the Malaysian Parliament expel SG
from the federation?
– Different Treatment of Races
• Malaya
– Malays were given special privileges and rights to help them improve
on their standard of living
• Singapore
– Meritocracy for all
» Everyone is equal and is treated equally regardless of race or
religion
• Led to tension and unhappiness bet. SG and the Central
Gov’t

17. SINGAPORE
• Why did the Malaysian Parliament expel SG
from the federation?
– “Malaysian Malaysia” Campaign
• People were accorded equal treatment regardless of
their race
• SG PAP joined Malaysian opposition parties to form the
Malaysian Solidarity Convention
• Malaysia saw this as challenging the CG
• Created tension bet. PAP and UMNO – called for the
arrest of Lee Kuan Yew

18. SINGAPORE
• Why did the Malaysian Parliament expel SG
from the federation?
– Difference in Political Ideology
• Malaya expected SG to follow their political system
Communalism (Malaya) Multiracialism (SG)
Communal Politics – where
political parties were formed
along racial groups
Political parties include
different races

19. SINGAPORE
• Why did the Malaysian Parliament expel SG
from the federation?
– Political Rivalry between PAP and Alliance Party
• Can be seen from the 1963 Singapore Elections, 1964
Federal Elections and the Malaysian Solidarity
Convention whereby both countries competed against
each other politically

20. SINGAPORE
• Brief History
– 1967
• Co-founded ASEAN
• The issue of the first Singapore Dollar
– 1968
• Britain announces its intention to withdraw its armed
forces
– 1971
• The last British military forces withdraw

21. SINGAPORE
• Today, the Port of Singapore is the world’s busiest by tonnage
handled, and is still the trans-shipment point for many Malaysian
imports and exports.
• It has the third largest oil-refining centre, oil being transported by
ship.
• Since the 1960s, it has continued to experience economic growth
through trade, resulting from it’s location .
• The city is a communications and financial services centre.
• The development of good infrastructure, roads, electricity, clean
water and industrial facilities has caused a multiplier effect.
• Tourists visit because it is a chance to experience a part of Asia that
is safe and clean, and markets itself as a ‘shopper’s paradise’.
• More hotels and attractions are being built to accommodate
greater numbers of visitors.

22. • Culture, Religion, and Language
– The immigrants of the past have given the place a mixture
of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all of
which have intermingled
– A cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously
and interaction among different races are commonly seen
– 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.
SINGAPORE

23. • Culture, Religion, and Language
– 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 are Muslims
– Indians are Hindus
SINGAPORE

24. • Culture, Religion, and Language
– The National Flag
SINGAPORE

25. • Culture, Religion, and Language
– 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
SINGAPORE

26. • Government
– Type: Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional
Republic
– Legal system: based on English common law
– Organs:
• Executive
• Legislature
• Judiciary
SINGAPORE

27. • Government
– Legislative
• Singapore Parliament is unicameral
• 87 members are voted in at regular General Elections (MPs) in addition:
– there are up to nine nominated members (NMPs) - appointed by the
president
– and up to nine Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) -
traditionally, members of parties that came closest to winning seats may be
appointed
• 5-year term
• 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
SINGAPORE

28. • Government
– Legislative
• Prime Minister
– Head of Government
– selects his Ministers from elected MPs to form the Cabinet
SINGAPORE

29. • Government
– Executive
• President
– Head of State
– Elected by the people
– 6-year term with no term limits
– Appoints cabinet, responsible to Parliament
SINGAPORE

30. • Government
– Executive
• Cabinet
– comprises the Prime Minister and the ministers in charge of
the ministries of
Community Development Youth and Sports
Defense Education
Environment and Water Resources Finance
Foreign Affairs Health
Home Affairs Information
Communications and the Arts Law
Manpower National Development
Trade and Industry Transport
SINGAPORE

31. • Government
– Judiciary
• Vested in Supreme Court and State Courts
• Chief Justice is the head
• Chief Justice, Judges of Appeal, Judges and Judicial
Commissioners are appointed by the President on the
advice of the Prime Minister
SINGAPORE

32. • Government
– Judiciary
• Within this branch, the Registrar of the Supreme Court
supervises the Legal Service Officers in the Supreme
Court while the Presiding Judge of the State Courts
leads the Legal Service Officers in the State Courts.
Both the Registrar and the Presiding Judge of the State
Courts are accountable to the Chief Justice for their
management of these Legal Service Officers
SINGAPORE

33. • Government
– Judiciary
• The Supreme Court
– made up of
» The Court of Appeal – the final appellate court and the
highest court of the land. It hears civil and criminal
appeals from the High Court
» The High Court - hears appeals from the decisions of
District Courts and Magistrate's Courts in civil and
criminal. It has general supervisory and revisionary
jurisdiction over all subordinate courts in any civil or
criminal matter
SINGAPORE

34. • Government
– Judiciary
• The State Courts
– comprise the District Courts, the Magistrates' Courts, the
Coroners' Courts, the Juvenile Courts and the Small Claims
Tribunals. Within this legal framework, various specialist
courts have been designated to deal with the wide variety of
cases
SINGAPORE