2. Foundation
of Singapore
• According to legend
Singapore was founded
centuries ago when a
prince from Sumatra
landed on the island and
saw a lion. He took it as a
good omen and founded a
city called Singapura, which
means lion city.
3. Foundation of Singapore
• Modern Singapore was founded in 1819
by Sir Stamford Raffles (1781-1826).
Raffles became a clerk for the British East
India Company in 1795. He rose rapidly in
the company. In 1805 he was sent to
Penang and in 1811 he was made
Lieutenant Governor of Java.
• Raffles believed the British should
establish a base on the Straits of Melaka
and in 1819 he landed on the island of
Singapore. The island consisted of
swamps and jungle with a small
population but Raffles realized it could be
made into a useful port.
4. Foundation of Singapore
• At that time two men were vying to
become Sultan of the Empire of Johor,
which controlled Singapore. In 1812 the
Sultan died and his two sons quarreled
over the succession. Raffles supported the
older brother Hussein and recognized him
as Sultan. Raffles made a deal with him.
The British East India Company was given
Singapore in return for an annual
payment. In 1824 the Company was given
the island in return for a lump sum of
money
5. When the Suez canal was built in
1869 Singapore became even more
important as a 'gateway' between
Europe and eastern Asia
Many grand buildings were erected
in Singapore in the 19th and early
20th centuries. Among them was the
Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall,
which was built in 1862.
Several temples were built at that
time including the Thian Hock Keng
Temple, which was built in 1842. The
Sri Marimman Temple was first built
in 1823 but it was rebuilt in 1843.
The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was
built in 1855. The Leong San See
Temple was built in 1917. The Sakaya
Muni Buddha Gaya Temple was built
in 1927.
6. Official name Republic of Singapore
Capital Singapore
Official languages English Malay Mandarin Tamil
Demonym Singaporean
Government Unitary parliamentary constitutional
republic
Legislature Parliament
Formation
founding 6 February 1819
Self-government 3 June 1959
Independence from
the United Kingdom
31 August 1963
Merger with Malaysia 16 September 1963
Expulsion from Malaysia 9 August 1965
-population 2013estimate 5,399,200
7. Singapore’s Location
It lies off the southern tip of the Malay
Peninsula and is 137 kilometres (85
mi) north of the equator. Singapore is
separated from Peninsular Malaysia by
the Straits of Johor to the north, and
from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the
Singapore Strait to the south. The
country is highly urbanised, and little
of the original vegetation remains. The
country's territory has consistently
expanded through land reclamation
10. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
• Its constitution establishes representative
democracy as its political system
• Singapore is consistently rated one of the least
corrupt countries in the world.
• Executive power rests with the Cabinet, led by
the Prime Minister, and the President.
• Singapore has penalties that include judicial
corporal punishment in the form of caning for
rape, rioting, vandalism, and some immigration
offences
11. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
President Tony Tan Keng Yam
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
12. ECONOMY
• The currency of Singapore is
the Singapore dollar.
• It attracts a lot of foreign
direct investment because of
its location, corruption-free
environment, skilled work
force, low tax rates and
advanced infrastructure.
• Tourism also forms a large
part of the economy, and
10.2 million tourists visited
the country in 2007
• In 2010 the economy with a
GDP growth of 14.5%
15. WHY:
• Children in spectacles are all too common in Singapore
which has one of the highest prevalence rates of
myopia — an eye condition that affects a person's
ability to see distant objects clearly — in the world. At
least 30 per cent of our Primary One kids have
defective vision (as compared to 12 per cent in Hong
Kong). And as these children progress to upper primary
school, the percentage goes up to 60 per cent.
Professor Donald Tan, Medical Director at the
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) explains:
"Genetically, the Chinese are predisposed to myopia.
So Chinese children who spend hours in near-focus
activities, such as reading, craftwork, playing computer
games and using handheld devices like mobile phones
are at an even higher risk."
17. WHY:
• Singapore has one of the highest incidence of
colorectal cancer in Asia. It is also the most
common cancer here. Dr Choo Su Pin, Senior
Consultant at the Department of Medical
Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore
(NCCS), observes: "Every year, 1,500
Singaporeans are diagnosed with this form of
cancer which affects men and women alike."
Those who are over 45 and have a family history
of colorectal cancer are at a higher risk. However,
less than 10 per cent of colorectal cancers are
due to inherited gene defects, adds Dr Choo.
19. WHY:
• Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease where there is
too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. It is caused by
either the inability of the pancreas to secrete a
hormone called insulin, or the body's inability to use
insulin properly. Dr Goh Su-Yen, Head of the
Department of Endocrinology at Singapore General
Hospital (SGH), says: "In Singapore, nine per cent of the
adult population has diabetes. Studies on diabetes
among the Chinese, Malays and Indians have shown
that the latter two races have a higher incidence of the
condition." Recently, international researchers found
that six genes could trigger type 2 diabetes in people of
South Asian ancestry, like Indians. In fact, they are up
to four times more likely to develop the disease than
Europeans.
21. • WHY: In Singapore, nose cancer is the 6th most
common cancer in males. The cancer is actually known
to occur more frequently in Asia and North Africa than
in the rest of the world. Dr Terence Tan, Senior
Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology,
National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), says: "Nose
cancer mainly affects the Chinese (especially those in
the Cantonese dialect group), and to a lesser extent,
Malays." It affects men more than women, and
typically occurs between the ages 35 and 55. Having a
family member with nose cancer can mean that you
are genetically predisposed to it.
23. WHY:
• Thalassaemia — an inherited blood disorder
that often results in anaemia — is the
commonest genetic condition in Singapore. Dr
Angeline Lai, Head and Senior Consultant,
Genetics Service, Department of Paediatrics,
KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH),
explains: "About 5 per cent of our local
population, or 1 in 20 persons, is a carrier for
thalassaemia, which could be alpha-
thalassaemia, beta-thalassaemia or
haemoglobin E (HbE).
24. Health care in Singapore
• The World Health Organization ranks Singapore's
healthcare system as 6th overall in the world in its
World Health Report
• In general, Singapore has had the lowest infant
mortality rate in the world for the past two decades.
Life expectancy in Singapore is 80 for males and 85 for
females, placing the country 4th in the world for life
expectancy.
• There are fewer than 10 annual deaths from HIV per
100,000 people.
• There is a high level of immunization.
• Adult obesity is below 10%
25. Health care in Singapore: Medicare
• The government's healthcare system is based upon the
"3M" framework. This has three components:
1.Medifund, which provides a safety net for those not
able to otherwise afford healthcare,
2. Medisave, a compulsory health savings scheme
covering about 85% of the population,
3. Medishield, a government-funded health insurance
program.
• Public hospitals in Singapore have autonomy in their
management decisions, and compete for patients. A
subsidy scheme exists for those on low income.
• In 2008, 32% of healthcare was funded by the government.
It accounts for approximately 3.5% of Singapore's GDP.
27. Don’ts in Singapore
Donts
• Do no chew gums, which are banned in Singapore and may get you
arrested. Leave it home before you travel
• Do not litter while in Singapore. Laws are strictly enforced relating to
littering
• Do not smolke in public . Smoking is illegal in enclosed public places (like
resaturants). Dropping a cigarette end in the street or smoking illegaly can
lead to immediate fine.
• Do not get involve in any drugs. Singapore carries a mandatory death
penalty for drug trafficking and harsh penalties for possession and use
within the country.
• Do not discuss religion or politics. Do not make jokes either.
• Do not touch someone’s head. The head is considered sacred.
• Do not show the bottom of your feet or use your foot to point. Feet are
considered dirty
• Do not bring food into the MRT . Offenders will be fined up to S$200.
28. Don’ts in Singapore
• Do not point at someone with your index finger, which is considered rude.
• Do not eat or offer anything with your left hand when with the Muslims
and do not use your left hand when shaking hands with a muslim.
• Do not tip. Tipping is not customary in Singaporeand it’s even frowned
down by the government
• Do not open a gift immdiately in front of the giver. Do not wrap gifts in
white , which is a mourning color.
• Do not, for a Chinese decent , give clocks, handkerchiefs or flowersto as
they are associated with death and funerals
• Do not accept gift immediately . Refuse a gift two or three times before
accepting to show you are not greedy.
• Do not, for a Malay descent, give alcohol or anything made of pigskin, as
Malay are Muslim
• Give the gift upon departing, not arriving
• Do not, for an Indian descen, give alcohol or something made of leather
29. Do’s
• Do address someone using the title of Mr., Mrs., or Miss with the
surname. Do not first names if you are not invited to.
• Do shake hands for a warm greeting, but be aware that Malays will
not always shake hands . Muslims will not shake hands with
opposite sex. Do give a slight bow for older Chinese people.
• Do remove your shoes while entering a private home, a temple or a
mosque
• Do leave a little on the plate when you are finished eating.
• Do stay on the left side of the escalator . The right lane is for all
those people in a rush. Do not drive on the left hand side too.
However, it is most likely that lions never lived on the island, and the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama, who founded and named Singapore, was a tiger
1 singaporean dollar = 34.74 philippine pesos
Medifund: is the financial safety net that all singaporeean , who cannot pay the subsidied medical bill due to extuntiating circumstances, can fall back on. ex
