Difference between revisions of "Singapore" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
m
m
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox_Country|
+
{{Infobox Country or territory
native_name =''{{lang|ms|Republik Singapura}}''<br />{{lang|zh|新加坡共和国}}<br />{{lang|ta|சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு}} |
+
|native_name             = ''{{lang|ms|Republik Singapura}}''<br/>{{lang|zh|新加坡共和国}}<br/>{{lang|ta|சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு}}
conventional_long_name = Republic of Singapore |
+
|conventional_long_name   = Republic of Singapore
common_name = Singapore |
+
|common_name             = Singapore
image_flag = Flag of Singapore.svg |
+
|image_flag               = Flag of Singapore.svg
image_coat = Singapore coa.png |
+
|image_coat               = Singapore coa.png
symbol_type=Coat of arms |
+
|symbol_type             = Coat of arms
image_map = LocationSingapore.png |
+
|image_map               = LocationSingapore.png
national_motto = {{lang|ms|Majulah Singapura}}<br>([[Malay language|Malay]] for: "Onward, Singapore")|
+
|national_motto           = {{lang|ms|Majulah Singapura}}<br>([[Malay language|Malay]]: "Onward, Singapore")
national_anthem = ''[[Majulah Singapura]]'' |
+
|national_anthem         = ''[[Majulah Singapura]]''
official_languages = [[Malay language|Malay]] ([[national language]]), [[English language|English]], [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] |
+
|official_languages       = [[English language|English]], [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
capital = Singapore <sup>[[#Infobox footnotes|1]]</sup> |latd=1|latm=17|latNS=N|longd=103|longm=51|longEW=E|
+
|capital                 = Singapore<sup>[[#Infobox footnotes|1]]</sup> |latd=1|latm=17|latNS=N|longd=103|longm=51|longEW=E
largest_city = Singapore <sup>[[#Infobox footnotes|1]]</sup> |
+
|largest_city             = Singapore<sup>[[#Infobox footnotes|1]]</sup>
government_type = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary]] [[republic]] |
+
|government_type         = [[Parliamentary republic]]
leader_title1 = [[President of Singapore|President]] |
+
|leader_title1           = [[President of Singapore|President]]
leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]] |
+
|leader_title2           = [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]
leader_name1 = [[Sellapan Ramanathan]] |
+
|leader_name1             = [[Sellapan Ramanathan]]
leader_name2 = [[Lee Hsien Loong ]] |
+
|leader_name2             = [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
area_rank = 190th |
+
|area_rank               = 188th
area_magnitude = 1_E8 |
+
|area_magnitude           = 1_E8
area = 699 |
+
|area                     = 699.4
areami²=270  <!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] —>|
+
|areami²                 = 270  <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
percent_water = 1.444 |
+
|percent_water           = 1.444
population_estimate = 4,326,000 |
+
|population_estimate     = 4,483,900 <!--singstat 13 Dec 2006 : http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/annual/indicators.html—>
population_estimate_year = July 2005 |
+
|population_estimate_year = Dec 2006
population_estimate_rank = 120th |
+
|population_estimate_rank = 117th
population_census_year = 2000 |
+
|population_census_year   = 2000
population_census = 4,117,700 |
+
|population_census       = 4,117,700
population_density = 6,389 |
+
|population_density       = 6,208
population_densitymi² =16,392 <!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] —>|
+
|population_densitymi²   = 16,392 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
population_density_rank= 4th |
+
|population_density_rank = 4th
GDP_PPP_year=2006 |
+
|GDP_PPP_year             = 2006
GDP_PPP = $123.4 billion <!--IMF 2005 http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2006/01/data/dbcoutm.cfm?SD=2005&ED=2006&R1=1&R2=1&CS=3&SS=2&OS=C&DD=0&OUT=1&C=576&S=PPPWGT-PPPPC&RequestTimeout=120&CMP=0&x=10&y=16—> |
+
|GDP_PPP                 = $123.4 billion <!--IMF 2005: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2006/01/data/dbcoutm.cfm?SD=2005&ED=2006&R1=1&R2=1&CS=3&SS=2&OS=C&DD=0&OUT=1&C=576&S=PPPWGT-PPPPC&RequestTimeout=120&CMP=0&x=10&y=16—>
GDP_PPP_rank = 57th |
+
|GDP_PPP_rank             = 57th
GDP_PPP_per_capita = $29,900 |
+
|GDP_PPP_per_capita       = $28,368
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 22nd |
+
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 22nd
HDI_year = 2003 |
+
|HDI_year                 = 2004
HDI = 0.907 |
+
|HDI                     = {{profit}} 0.916
HDI_rank = 25th|
+
|HDI_rank                 = 25th
HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> |
+
|HDI_category             = <font color="#009900">high</font>
sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |
+
|sovereignty_type         = [[Independence]]
established_event1 = Unilateral declaration (from the [[United Kingdom|UK]]) |
+
|established_event1       = Unilateral declaration (from the [[United Kingdom|UK]])
established_event2 = Officially from UK (as a state of Malaysia) |
+
|established_event2       = Officially from UK (as a state of Malaysia)
established_event3 = From [[Malaysia]] |
+
|established_event3       = from [[Malaysia]]
established_date1 = [[August 31]], [[1963]] |
+
|established_date1       = [[August 31]] [[1963]]
established_date2 = [[September 16]], [[1963]] |
+
|established_date2       = [[September 16]] [[1963]]
established_date3 = [[August 9]], [[1965]] |
+
|established_date3       = [[August 9]] [[1965]]
currency = [[Singapore dollar]] |
+
|currency                 = [[Singapore dollar]]
currency_code = SGD |
+
|currency_code           = SGD
time_zone = [[Singapore Standard Time|SST]] |
+
|time_zone               = [[Singapore Standard Time|SST]]
utc_offset = +8 |
+
|utc_offset               = +8
time_zone_DST = Not observed |
+
|time_zone_DST           = ''not observed''
utc_offset_DST = +8 |
+
|utc_offset_DST           = +8
cctld= [[.sg]] |
+
|cctld                   = [[.sg]]
calling_code = 65<sup>2</sup> |
+
|calling_code             = 65<sup>2</sup>
footnotes = <cite id="Infobox_footnotes"> </cite> 1. Singapore is a [[city-state]]. <br>2. 02 when dialling from Malaysia
+
|footnotes               = <cite id="Infobox_footnotes"> </cite> <sup>1</sup> Singapore is a [[city-state]].<br><sup>2</sup> 02 from Malaysia.
 
}}
 
}}
{{portal}}
 
'''Singapore''', formally the '''Republic of Singapore''' ({{lang-ms|''Republik Singapura''}}; [[Simplified Chinese character|Chinese]]: {{lang|zh|新加坡共和国}}, [[Pinyin]]: ''Xīnjiāpō Gònghéguó''; {{lang-ta|சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு}}, {{lang|ta|''Ciŋkappūr Kudiyarasu''}}), is an [[Island nation|island]] [[city-state]] and the smallest country in [[Southeast Asia]]. It is located on the southern tip of the [[Malay Peninsula]], south of the [[Malaysia|Malaysian]] state of [[Johor]], and north of the [[Indonesia|Indonesian]] [[Riau Islands]]. It lies just 137 kilometres (85&nbsp;[[mile]]s) north of the [[Equator]].
 
  
The site of several ancient [[port]] cities and a possession of several empires in its history, Singapore was a [[Malay people|Malay]] [[fishing]] [[village]] when it was colonised by the [[United Kingdom]] in the 19th century. It was further [[Japanese Occupation of Singapore|occupied by the Japanese Empire]] in [[World War II]], and was later part of the merger which established the [[Malaysia|Federation of Malaysia]]. When Singapore acquired independence, having few [[natural resource]]s, it was sociopolitically volatile and economically undeveloped. Foreign investment and rapid government-led [[industrialisation]] has since created an economy which relies on exports of [[electronics]] and [[manufacturing]] primarily from [[Port of Singapore|its port]].  
+
'''Singapore''', officially the '''Republic of Singapore''' ({{lang-ms|''Republik Singapura''}}; [[Simplified Chinese character|Chinese]]: {{lang|zh|新加坡共和国}}, [[Pinyin]]: ''Xīnjiāpō Gònghéguó''; {{lang-ta|சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு}}, {{lang|ta|''Ciŋkappūr Kudiyarasu''}}), is an [[Island nation|island]] [[country]] and the smallest country in [[Southeast Asia]]. It is located on the southern tip of the [[Malay Peninsula]], south of the [[Malaysia]]n state of [[Johor]], and north of the [[Indonesia]]n [[Riau Islands]]. It lies 137 kilometres (85&nbsp;[[mile]]s) north of the [[Equator]].  
  
According to the quality-of-life index assembled by the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]], Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia, and is ranked 11th in the World. <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 Worldwide quality-of-life index | title = Singapore's position in the World in terms of Quality of Life | publisher = [[The Economist]] | accessdate = 2006-8-17}} </ref> In the more well-known [[Human Development Index]] by the [[United Nations]], Singapore holds the 25th place, behind only Japan and Hong Kong in Asia. Measured by [[GDP per capita]], Singapore is the 22nd wealthiest country. The geographically small nation has a foreign reserve of S$197b (US$119b).
+
The site of several ancient [[port]] cities and a possession of several empires in its history, Singapore was a [[Malay people|Malay]] [[fishing]] [[village]] when it was colonised by the [[United Kingdom]] in the 19th century. It was further [[Japanese Occupation of Singapore|occupied by the Japanese Empire]] in [[World War II]], and was later part of the merger which established [[Malaysia]]. When Singapore acquired independence, having few [[natural resource]]s, it was sociopolitically volatile and economically undeveloped. Foreign investment and rapid government-led [[industrialisation]] has since created an economy which relies on exports of [[electronics]] and [[manufacturing]] primarily from [[Port of Singapore|its port]].  
  
More than 90% of Singapore's population lives in [[housing estate]]s constructed by the [[Housing and Development Board|Housing Development Board]] and nearly half uses the [[public transport]] system daily <ref name="dailyridership">{{cite web | url = http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/doc/Stats%20In%20Brief%20(2005).pdf | title = Singapore Land Transport: Statistics In Brief 2005 | publisher = [[Land Transport Authority]] | accessdate = 2005-12-07}} </ref>. As a result of efforts to control motorised traffic, the maintenance of natural greenery, strict regulations on industrial locations and emissions, and other pro-environmental initiatives by the government and the private sector, Singapore has been able to control its pollution levels to well within [[World Health Organization]] standards <ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.mewr.gov.sg/sgp2012/index.html | title = Singapore Green Plan 2012 | publisher = [[Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources]] | accessdate = 2006-08-14}} </ref>. The [[Constitution of Singapore|Constitution of the Republic of Singapore]] established the city-state as a [[representative democracy]]. Singapore initially undertook a [[democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] policy shortly after its independence, adopting a [[welfare economics|welfare]] system. However, the [[Government of Singapore|government]] has since become more conservative than it was at the founding of the republic. Singapore faces criticism for being a reduced democracy because of its [[dominant-party system]] and has attracted controversy for some of its policies.
+
According to the quality-of-life index assembled by the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]], Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia, and is ranked 11th in the world.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 Worldwide quality-of-life index | title = Singapore's position in the World in terms of Quality of Life | publisher = [[The Economist]]|accessdate = 2006-8-17}} </ref> In the [[United Nations]] [[Human Development Index]], Singapore holds the 25th place, behind only [[Japan]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[Israel]] in Asia. Measured by [[GDP per capita]], Singapore is the 22nd wealthiest country. The geographically small nation has a [[foreign exchange reserves|foreign reserve]] of S$197b (US$119b).
  
 +
Eighty-three percent of Singapore's population lives in [[housing estate]]s constructed by the [[Housing and Development Board|Housing Development Board]]<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10221p.nsf/Attachment/AR0405/$file/stats.pdf | title = HDB Annual Report 2004/2005}} </ref> and nearly half use the [[public transport]] system daily.<ref name="dailyridership">{{cite web | url = http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/doc/Stats%20In%20Brief%20(2005).pdf | title = Singapore Land Transport: Statistics In Brief 2005 | publisher = [[Land Transport Authority]] | accessdate = 2005-12-07}} </ref> As a result of efforts to control motorised traffic, the maintenance of natural greenery, strict regulations on industrial locations and emissions, and other pro-environmental initiatives by the government and the private sector, Singapore has been able to control its pollution levels to well within [[World Health Organization]] standards.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.mewr.gov.sg/sgp2012/index.html | title = Singapore Green Plan 2012 | publisher = [[Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources]]|accessdate = 2006-08-14}} </ref> The [[Constitution of Singapore|Constitution of the Republic of Singapore]] established the city-state as a [[representative democracy]].
 
==History==
 
==History==
 +
 
{{main|History of Singapore}}
 
{{main|History of Singapore}}
The name ''Singapore'' is derived from the [[Malay language|Malay]] words {{lang|ms|''singa''}} (lion) and {{lang|ms|''pura''}} (city), which were themselves derived from the [[Sanskrit]] words {{lang|sa|सिंह}} {{IAST|''siṃha''}} and {{lang|sa|पुर}} {{IAST|''pura''}}.<ref> {{cite web |  url = http://www.bartleby.com/61/46/S0424600.html | title = Singapore| publisher = bartleby.com | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }}</ref>. In [[Tamil]], one of the official languages of Singapore, ''Singam'' means Lion and ''Puram'' means City.  Hence, Singapore is also known as the ''Lion City''. The naming is attributed to a [[prince]] named [[Sang Nila Utama]], who according to folklore, was caught in a terrible storm that did not cease until he had thrown his crown into the water. The waters calmed immediately after that, and he sailed to the closest island he could see. The first animal he saw after he had set foot on the island was supposedly a [[lion]]. Therefore, he decided to name the island [[Singapura]].<ref> {{cite web| title = Early History | url = http://www.sg/explore/history.htm | publisher = Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
+
The name ''Singapore'' is derived from the [[Malay language|Malay]] words {{lang|ms|''singa''}} (lion) and {{lang|ms|''pura''}} (city), which were themselves derived from the [[Sanskrit]] words {{lang|sa|सिंह}} {{IAST|''siṃha''}} and {{lang|sa|पुर}} {{IAST|''pura''}}.<ref> {{cite web |  url = http://www.bartleby.com/61/46/S0424600.html | title = Singapore| publisher = bartleby.com|accessdate = 2006-04-14 }}</ref>  In [[Tamil language|Tamil]], one of the official languages of Singapore, ''Singam'' means Lion and ''Puram'' means City.  Hence, Singapore is also known as the ''Lion City''. The naming is attributed to a [[prince]] named [[Sang Nila Utama]], who according to folklore, was caught in a terrible storm that did not cease until he had thrown his crown into the water. The waters calmed immediately after that, and he sailed to the closest island he could see. The first animal he saw after he had set foot on the island was supposedly a [[lion]]. Therefore, he decided to name the island ''Singapura''.<ref> {{cite web| title = Early History | url = http://www.sg/explore/history.htm | publisher = Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }}</ref>
  
The first records of Singapore's existence are in [[China|Chinese]] texts from the 3rd century AD. The island was an outpost of the [[Sumatra]]n [[Srivijaya]] empire and originally bore the [[Javanese]] name ''[[Temasek]]'' (which means sea town). Temasek (Tumasek) rose to become a significant trading city, but subsequently declined. There are few remnants of old Temasek in Singapore, but [[archaeology in Singapore|archaeologists in Singapore]] have uncovered evidence of the civilization, as well as other settlements. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Singapore was a part of the [[Sultanate of Johor|Sultanate of Johore]]. During the Malay-[[Portugal]] wars in 1613, Singapore was set ablaze by Portuguese troops. <ref name="uslcPrecolonial"> {{cite web | title = Singapore - Precolonial Era | url = http://countrystudies.us/singapore/3.htm | publisher = U.S. Library of Congress  | accessdate = 2006-06-18 }} </ref>
+
The first records of Singapore's existence are in [[China|Chinese]] texts from the 3rd century AD. The island was an outpost of the [[Sumatra]]n [[Srivijaya]] empire and originally bore the [[Javanese]] name ''[[Temasek]]'' (which means sea town). Temasek (Tumasek) rose to become a significant trading city, but subsequently declined. There are few remnants of old Temasek in Singapore, but [[archaeology in Singapore|archaeologists in Singapore]] have uncovered evidence of the civilization, as well as other settlements. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Singapore was a part of the [[Sultanate of Johor|Sultanate of Johore]]. During the Malay-[[Portugal]] wars in 1613, Singapore was set ablaze by Portuguese troops.<ref name="uslcPrecolonial"> {{cite web | title = Singapore - Precolonial Era | url = http://countrystudies.us/singapore/3.htm | publisher = U.S. Library of Congress  | accessdate = 2006-06-18 }} </ref>
  
 
[[Image:Stamford Raffles statue.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Statue of [[Thomas Stamford Raffles]] by [[Thomas Woolner]], erected at the spot where he first landed at Singapore. He is recognised as the founder of modern Singapore.]]
 
[[Image:Stamford Raffles statue.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Statue of [[Thomas Stamford Raffles]] by [[Thomas Woolner]], erected at the spot where he first landed at Singapore. He is recognised as the founder of modern Singapore.]]
Line 75: Line 75:
 
In 1819, Sir [[Stamford Raffles|Thomas Stamford Raffles]], an official with the [[British East India Company]], signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johore. He also established Singapore as a trading post and settlement, which saw instant growth and immigration from various ethnic groups. Singapore was later made a [[British overseas territories|crown colony]] by Britain in 1867. After a series of colonial territorial expansions, the British Empire soon raised Singapore's status to that of an [[Entrepôt|entrepot]] town, due to its strategic location along the busy shipping routes connecting [[Europe]] to China.<ref> {{cite web| title = Founding of Modern Singapore | url = http://www.sg/explore/history_founding.htm | publisher = Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
 
In 1819, Sir [[Stamford Raffles|Thomas Stamford Raffles]], an official with the [[British East India Company]], signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johore. He also established Singapore as a trading post and settlement, which saw instant growth and immigration from various ethnic groups. Singapore was later made a [[British overseas territories|crown colony]] by Britain in 1867. After a series of colonial territorial expansions, the British Empire soon raised Singapore's status to that of an [[Entrepôt|entrepot]] town, due to its strategic location along the busy shipping routes connecting [[Europe]] to China.<ref> {{cite web| title = Founding of Modern Singapore | url = http://www.sg/explore/history_founding.htm | publisher = Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
  
During [[World War II]], the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] invaded [[Malaya]] and the surrounding region in the [[Battle of Malaya]], which culminated in the [[Battle of Singapore]]. The British were unprepared and swiftly defeated, despite having more troops. They surrendered to the Japanese on [[15 February]] [[1942]]. The Japanese renamed Singapore to ''Syonan-to'', [[Japanese language|Japanese]] for "Light of the South", and occupied it until the British arrived to repossess the island a month after [[Surrender of Japan|the Japanese surrender]] in September 1945.<ref> {{cite web | author = Ron Taylor | title = Fall of Malaya and Singapore | url = http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/Malaya_and_Singapore/body_index.htm | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
+
During [[World War II]], the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] invaded [[Malaya]] and the surrounding region in the [[Battle of Malaya]], which culminated in the [[Battle of Singapore]]. The British were ill-prepared and swiftly defeated, despite having more troops. They surrendered to the Japanese on [[15 February]] [[1942]]. The Japanese renamed Singapore to ''Shōnan'' (昭南), compounded from Japanese word ''Shō'' ([[Shōwa period|Shōwa]]) and ''nan'' (South), and occupied it until the British arrived a month after [[Surrender of Japan|the Japanese surrender]] to repossess the island on 12 September 1945.<ref> {{cite web | author = Ron Taylor | title = Fall of Malaya and Singapore | url = http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/Malaya_and_Singapore/body_index.htm | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
 +
 
 +
Singapore became a self-governing state in 1959 with [[Yusof bin Ishak]] as its first ''[[Yang di-Pertuan Negara]]'' (literally means "head of state" in [[Malay language|Malay]]) and [[Lee Kuan Yew]] from the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) as its first [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]], after the 1959 elections. Following the [[1962 Merger Referendum of Singapore]], Singapore joined [[Malaysia]] along with [[Malaya]], [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] as a state with [[Autonomous entity|autonomous]] powers in September 1963. [[16 September]], coincidentally, is also [[Lee Kuan Yew]]'s birthday. Singapore was expelled from the federation after [[PAP-UMNO relations|heated ideological conflict]] developed between the state government formed by PAP and the federal government in [[Kuala Lumpur]]. It gained official sovereignty on [[9 August]] [[1965]], which later became Singapore's National Day. Malaysia was the first country to recognise it as an independent nation.<ref> {{cite web| title = Road to Independence | url = http://countrystudies.us/singapore/10.htm | publisher = U.S. Library of Congress|accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref> [[Yusof bin Ishak]] was sworn in as the first [[President of Singapore]] and [[Lee Kuan Yew]] remained as prime minister.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Singapore.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[Downtown Core]] of Singapore at dusk]]
  
Singapore became a self-governing state in 1959 with [[Yusof bin Ishak]] as its first ''[[Yang di-Pertuan Negara]]'' (head of state) and [[Lee Kuan Yew]] from the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) as its first [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]], after the 1959 elections. The [[1962 Merger Referendum of Singapore]] led Singapore joined [[Malaysia]] along with Malaya, [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] as a state with [[Autonomous entity|autonomous]] powers in September 1963. [[16 September]], coincidentally, is also [[Minister Mentor]] [[Lee Kuan Yew]]'s birthday. Singapore was expelled from the federation after [[PAP-UMNO relations|heated ideological conflict]] developed between the state government formed by PAP and the federal government in [[Kuala Lumpur]]. It gained official sovereignty on [[9 August]] [[1965]], which later became Singapore's National Day. Malaysia was the first country to recognise it as an independent nation.<ref> {{cite web| title = Road to Independence | url = http://countrystudies.us/singapore/10.htm | publisher = U.S. Library of Congress | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref> [[Yusof bin Ishak]] was sworn in as the first [[President of Singapore]] and [[Lee Kuan Yew]] remained as prime minister.
+
The fledgling nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced problems including mass [[unemployment]], housing shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as [[petroleum]]. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed 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 eliminated and an independent national defence system was created. Singapore evolved from a [[Developing country|developing nation]] to a [[global city]] with [[developed country|first world status]] towards the end of the 20th century.<ref> {{cite web| title = Country Groups | url = http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~menuPK:64133156~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html|publisher = [[The World Bank]] | accessdate = 2006-05-02 }} </ref>
[[Image:Singapore_skyline.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The skyline of Singapore.]]
 
The fledgling nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced problems including mass [[unemployment]], housing shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as [[petroleum]]. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration immediately curbed unemployment, raised the [[standard of living]] and implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country [[economic]] infrastructure was developed, the threat of racial tension was eliminated and an independent national defence system was created. Singapore evolved from a [[Developing country|developing nation]] to a [[global city]] with [[developed country|first world status]] towards the end of the 20th century.<ref> {{cite web| title = Country Groups | url = http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~menuPK:64133156~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html | publisher = [[The World Bank]] | accessdate = 2006-05-02 }} </ref>
 
  
 
In 1990, [[Goh Chok Tong]] succeeded Lee as Prime Minister. During his tenure, the country tackled the economic impacts of the 1997 [[East Asian financial crisis|Asian financial crisis]] and the 2003 [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]] outbreak, as well as [[War on Terrorism|terrorist threats]] posed by the [[Jemaah Islamiyah|Jemaah Islamiah]] (JI) [[September 11 attacks|post-September 11]] and the [[Bali bombings]]. In 2004 [[Lee Hsien Loong]], the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the third prime minister.<ref> {{cite web| title =  Country profile: Singapore | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1143240.stm | accessdate = 2006-04-14}} </ref>
 
In 1990, [[Goh Chok Tong]] succeeded Lee as Prime Minister. During his tenure, the country tackled the economic impacts of the 1997 [[East Asian financial crisis|Asian financial crisis]] and the 2003 [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]] outbreak, as well as [[War on Terrorism|terrorist threats]] posed by the [[Jemaah Islamiyah|Jemaah Islamiah]] (JI) [[September 11 attacks|post-September 11]] and the [[Bali bombings]]. In 2004 [[Lee Hsien Loong]], the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the third prime minister.<ref> {{cite web| title =  Country profile: Singapore | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1143240.stm | accessdate = 2006-04-14}} </ref>
  
 
==Politics and government==
 
==Politics and government==
 +
 
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series—>
 
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series—>
 
{{main|Politics of Singapore}}
 
{{main|Politics of Singapore}}
[[Image:Singapore_Parliament_House.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Singapore Parliament House.]]
+
[[Image:Singapore_Parliament_House.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Parliament House, Singapore|Parliament House]].]]
Singapore is a [[republic]] with a [[Westminster system]] of a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Parliament|parliamentary government]] representing different [[constituencies of Singapore]]. The bulk of the executive powers rests in the hands of the [[Cabinet of Singapore]], which consists of ministers led by the [[Prime Minister of Singapore]]. The office of the [[President of Singapore]] was, historically, a ceremonial one as [[head of state]], but the [[Constitution of Singapore]] was amended in 1991 to create the position of a popularly elected President and also to grant the President [[veto]] powers in a few key decisions such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of key [[judiciary]] positions.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Presidency in Singapore | work=Istana website | url=http://www.istana.gov.sg/pro.html | accessdate=2005-01-30 }} </ref> The [[Legislature|legislative]] branch of government is the Parliament. [[Parliamentary elections in Singapore]] are [[plurality voting system|plurality-based]] for group representation constituencies since the [[Parliamentary Elections Act]] was modified in 1991. <ref> {{cite web|title=Parliamentary Elections Act|publisher=Singapore Statutes Online|url=http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_getdata.pl?actno=2001-REVED-218&doctitle=PARLIAMENTARY%20ELECTIONS%20ACT%0A&segid=946439076-000003|accessdate=2006-05-08}}</ref>
+
Singapore is a [[republic]] with a [[Westminster system]] of a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Parliament|parliamentary government]] representing different [[constituencies of Singapore]]. The bulk of the executive powers rests in the hands of the [[Cabinet of Singapore]], which consists of ministers led by the [[Prime Minister of Singapore]]. The office of the [[President of Singapore]] was, historically, a ceremonial one as [[head of state]], but the [[Constitution of Singapore]] was amended in 1991 to create the position of a popularly elected President and also to grant the President [[veto]] powers in a few key decisions such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of key [[judiciary]] positions.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Presidency in Singapore | work=Istana website | url=http://www.istana.gov.sg/pro.html| accessdate=2005-01-30 }} </ref> The [[Legislature|legislative]] branch of government is the Parliament. [[Parliamentary elections in Singapore]] are [[plurality voting system|plurality-based]] for group representation constituencies since the [[Parliamentary Elections Act]] was modified in 1991.<ref> {{cite web|title=Parliamentary Elections Act|publisher=Singapore Statutes Online|url=http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_getdata.pl?actno=2001-REVED-218&doctitle=PARLIAMENTARY%20ELECTIONS%20ACT%0A&segid=946439076-000003|accessdate=2006-05-08}}</ref>
  
Singaporean politics have been dominated by the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) since the country's independence in 1965.<ref> {{cite book | author=Worthington, Ross | title=Governance in Singapore | publisher=Routledge/Curzon | year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-7007-1474-X}}</ref> Foreign political analysts and several opposition parties including the [[Workers' Party of Singapore]] and the [[Singapore Democratic Party]] (SDP) have argued that Singapore is a ''[[de facto]]'' [[Single-party state|one-party state]]. Many consider the form of government in Singapore to be closer to [[authoritarianism]] such as [[illiberal democracy]] or [[procedural democracy]] rather than true [[democracy]]. [[Reporters Without Borders]] ranked Singapore 140th out of 167 countries in its 2005 Worldwide Press Freedom Index. It has also been alleged that the PAP employs [[censorship]], [[gerrymandering]] by the [[Elections Department]] and the filing of civil suits against the opposition for [[Slander and libel|libel or slander]] to impede their success. Several former and present members of the opposition, including [[Francis Seow]], [[J.B. Jeyaretnam]] and [[Chee Soon Juan]] perceive the Singaporean courts as favourable towards the government and the PAP due to a lack of [[separation of powers]]. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554
+
Singaporean politics have been dominated by the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) since self-government in 1959.<ref> {{cite book | author=Worthington, Ross | title=Governance in Singapore | publisher=Routledge/Curzon | year=2002|id=ISBN 0-7007-1474-X}}</ref> Foreign political analysts and several opposition parties including the [[Workers' Party of Singapore]], the [[Singapore Democratic Party]] (SDP) and the [[Singapore Democratic Alliance]] (SDA) have argued that Singapore is a ''[[de facto]]'' [[Single-party state|one-party state]]. Many consider the form of government in Singapore to be closer to [[authoritarianism]] such as [[illiberal democracy]] or [[procedural democracy]] rather than true [[democracy]]. [[Reporters Without Borders]] ranked Singapore 146th out of 168 countries in its 2006 Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The ''Economist'' Intelligence Unit listed Singapore as a country with a "hybrid" system with democratic and authoritarian elements. [[Freedom House]] ranks the country as "partly free". Though general elections are free from irregularities and vote rigging, the PAP has been criticised for manipulating the political system. It has been alleged that the PAP employs [[censorship]], [[gerrymandering]] by the [[Elections Department]] and civil [[Slander and libel|libel]] suits against opposition politicians to impede their success. Several political opponents, including [[Francis Seow]], [[J.B. Jeyaretnam]] and [[Chee Soon Juan]] perceive the Singaporean courts as favourable towards the government and the PAP due to a lack of [[separation of powers]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554
| title=Worldwide Press Freedom Index | accessdate=2006-04-13}} </ref> Although no PAP member has ever lost a defamation case in court, there are three cases in which opposition leader [[Chiam See Tong]] sued PAP members for defamation and successfully obtained an out-of-court settlement. <ref> {{cite news| title= Resolution: Singapore Case N SIN/01 - Joshua Jeyaretnam | publisher = Inter-Parliamentary Union | date = 23 March 2002 | url  = http://www.ipu.org/hr-e/170/Sin01.htm }} </ref>
+
| title=Worldwide Press Freedom Index | accessdate=2006-04-13}} </ref>  
  
Singapore has what its government considers to be a highly successful and transparent [[market economy]]. The PAP's policies contain some aspects of [[socialism]]. The [[Housing Development Board]] oversees a large-scale public housing programme and [[education in Singapore]] is a rigorous [[compulsory education|compulsory]] [[public education]] system, and the dominance of government-controlled companies in the local economy. Although dominant in its activities, the government has a clean, [[Political corruption|corruption-free]] image. 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]].<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi | title = Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2005 | accessdate = 2006-04-13 }} </ref>
+
Although no PAP member has ever lost a defamation case in court, there are three cases in which opposition leader [[Chiam See Tong]] sued PAP members for defamation and successfully obtained an out-of-court settlement.<ref> {{cite news| title= Resolution: Singapore Case N SIN/01 - Joshua Jeyaretnam | publisher = Inter-Parliamentary Union | date = 23 March 2002 | url = http://www.ipu.org/hr-e/170/Sin01.htm }} </ref>
  
Although Singapore's laws are inherited from British and [[British India]]n laws, including many elements of [[English common law]], the PAP has also consistently rejected [[liberal democracy|liberal democratic values]], which it typifies as [[Western world|Western]] and states that there should not be a 'one-size-fits-all' solution to a democracy. Laws restricting the [[freedom of speech]] are justified by claims that they are intended to prohibit speech that may breed ill will or cause disharmony within Singapore's multiracial, multi-religious society. For example, in September 2005, three [[blog]]gers were convicted of [[sedition]] for posting [[Racism|racist]] remarks targeting minorities.<ref> {{cite news| title= Third racist blogger sentenced to 24 months supervised probation | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/180127/1/.html | publisher=Channel NewsAsia | date=23 November 2005}} </ref> Some offences can lead to heavy fines or [[caning]] and there are laws which allow [[capital punishment in Singapore]] for [[Murder|first-degree murder]] and [[Illegal drug trade|drug trafficking]]. [[Amnesty International]] has criticised Singapore for having "possibly the highest execution rate in the world" [[per capita]].<ref> {{cite web | title = Amnesty International | work = The death penalty: A hidden toll of executions | url = http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA360012004?open&of=ENG-SGP | accessdate =7 June | accessyear = 2005}} </ref> The Singapore government argued that there is no international consensus on the appropriateness of the death penalty and that Singapore has the [[Sovereignty|sovereign right]] to determine its own judicial system and impose capital punishment for the most serious crimes. <ref>{{cite web|title = The Singapore Government's Response To Amnesty International's Report "Singapore - The Death Penalty: A Hidden Toll Of Executions" | publisher = Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore | url = http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/detailed.jsp?artid=1770&type=3&root=0&parent=0&cat=65 | date = 2004-01-30 }} </ref> However, more recently the PAP government has relaxed some of its [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] policies and created a "Feedback Unit"<ref>[http://app.feedback.gov.sg Feedback Unit, Singapore]</ref> to encourage citizens to share their views on policies and public services.
+
Singapore has what its government considers to be a highly successful and transparent [[market economy]]. The PAP's policies contain some aspects of [[socialism]]. The [[Housing Development Board]] oversees a large-scale public housing programme and [[education in Singapore]] is a rigorous [[compulsory education|compulsory]] [[public education]] system. [[Government-linked companies]] are dominant in various sectors of the local economy, such as the areas of [[media of Singapore|media]], [[Public Utilities Board|utilities]], and [[public transport in Singapore|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]].<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi | title = Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2005 | accessdate = 2006-04-13 }} </ref>
 +
 
 +
Although Singapore's laws are inherited from British and [[British India]]n laws, including many elements of [[English common law]], the PAP has also consistently rejected [[liberal democracy|liberal democratic values]], which it typifies as [[Western world|Western]] and states that there should not be a 'one-size-fits-all' solution to a democracy. Laws restricting the [[freedom of speech]] are justified by claims that they are intended to prohibit speech that may breed ill will or cause disharmony within Singapore's multiracial, multi-religious society. For example, in September 2005, three [[blog]]gers were convicted of [[sedition]] for posting [[Racism|racist]] remarks targeting minorities.<ref> {{cite news| title= Third racist blogger sentenced to 24 months supervised probation | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/180127/1/.html | publisher=Channel NewsAsia | date=23 November 2005}} </ref> Some offences can lead to heavy fines or [[caning]] and there are laws which allow [[capital punishment in Singapore]] for [[Murder|first-degree murder]] and [[Illegal drug trade|drug trafficking]]. [[Amnesty International]] has criticised Singapore for having "possibly the highest execution rate in the world" [[per capita]].<ref> {{cite web | title = Amnesty International | work = The death penalty: A hidden toll of executions | url = http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA360012004?open&of=ENG-SGP | accessdate =7 June | accessyear = 2005}} </ref> The Singapore government argued that there is no international consensus on the appropriateness of the death penalty and that Singapore has the [[Sovereignty|sovereign right]] to determine its own judicial system and impose capital punishment for the most serious crimes.<ref>{{cite web|title = The Singapore Government's Response To Amnesty International's Report "Singapore - The Death Penalty: A Hidden Toll Of Executions" | publisher = Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore | url = http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/detailed.jsp?artid=1770&type=3&root=0&parent=0&cat=65|date = 2004-01-30 }} </ref> However, despite restrictions on public gatherings in Singapore, a small group of activists has organised events in 2005 and 2006 protesting against the country's use of the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web|title = Singapore forum against death penalty | publisher = Asia Death Penalty blog | url = http://asiadeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2006/08/singapore-forum-against-death-penalty.html|date = 2006-08-21}} </ref>
 +
 
 +
More recently the PAP government has relaxed some of its [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] policies and created a "Feedback Unit"<ref>[http://www.reach.gov.sg Feedback Unit, Singapore]</ref> to encourage citizens to share their views on policies and public services.
  
 
{{See also|Law of Singapore}}
 
{{See also|Law of Singapore}}
  
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
 +
 
{{main|Geography and climate of Singapore}}
 
{{main|Geography and climate of Singapore}}
[[Image:Singapore Planning Regions.png|thumb|right|250px|Singapore is divided into 55 [[urban planning areas of Singapore|urban planning areas]], grouped into 5 [[Regions of Singapore|regions]].]]
+
 
[[Image:Singapore botanic garden pond.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Singapore Botanic Gardens]], a 52-hectare (128&nbsp;[[acre]]) botanical garden in Singapore that includes the National Orchid Garden which has a collection of more than 3,000 species of [[orchid]]s.]]
+
<div style="float: right; clear: right; font-size: 8pt; padding:5px; margin-left:20px; border:1px solid #CCC">
[[Image:CentralSingapore.JPG|thumb|right|250px|View of the central part of the city.]]
+
{{Singapore Urban Planning Areas Labelled Map}}
 +
Singapore is divided into 55 [[urban planning areas of Singapore|urban planning areas]], grouped into 5 [[Regions of Singapore|regions]].
 +
</div>
  
 
Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself. There are two connections from Singapore to the Malaysian state of Johor &mdash; a man-made [[causeway]] known as the [[Johor-Singapore Causeway]] to the north, crossing the [[Tebrau Straits]], and [[Malaysia-Singapore Second Link|Tuas Second Link]], a bridge in the western part of Singapore that connects to Johor. [[Jurong Island]], [[Pulau Tekong]], [[Pulau Ubin]] and [[Sentosa]] are the largest of Singapore's many smaller islands. The highest point of Singapore is [[Bukit Timah|Bukit Timah Hill]], with a height of 166 metres (538 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]).
 
Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself. There are two connections from Singapore to the Malaysian state of Johor &mdash; a man-made [[causeway]] known as the [[Johor-Singapore Causeway]] to the north, crossing the [[Tebrau Straits]], and [[Malaysia-Singapore Second Link|Tuas Second Link]], a bridge in the western part of Singapore that connects to Johor. [[Jurong Island]], [[Pulau Tekong]], [[Pulau Ubin]] and [[Sentosa]] are the largest of Singapore's many smaller islands. The highest point of Singapore is [[Bukit Timah|Bukit Timah Hill]], with a height of 166 metres (538 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]).
Line 108: Line 118:
 
The urban area used to be only concentrated on the southern part of Singapore around the mouth of the [[Singapore River]] and what is now the [[Downtown Core]], while the rest of the land was [[tropical rainforest]] or used for [[agriculture]]. Since the 1960s, the government has constructed new towns in outlying areas, resulting in an entirely built-up and urban landscape, although the [[Central Area]], the [[central business district]], remains the densest. The [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]] is a government agency responsible for the [[urban planning in Singapore|urban planning of Singapore]] that concentrates on efficient land use and distribution, as well as transport flow. It has released a [[Development Guide Plan]] which details specific land use for each the 55 [[urban planning areas of Singapore]].  
 
The urban area used to be only concentrated on the southern part of Singapore around the mouth of the [[Singapore River]] and what is now the [[Downtown Core]], while the rest of the land was [[tropical rainforest]] or used for [[agriculture]]. Since the 1960s, the government has constructed new towns in outlying areas, resulting in an entirely built-up and urban landscape, although the [[Central Area]], the [[central business district]], remains the densest. The [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]] is a government agency responsible for the [[urban planning in Singapore|urban planning of Singapore]] that concentrates on efficient land use and distribution, as well as transport flow. It has released a [[Development Guide Plan]] which details specific land use for each the 55 [[urban planning areas of Singapore]].  
  
Singapore has [[land reclamation|reclaimed land]] with earth obtained from its own hills, the seabed and neighbouring countries. As a result, Singapore's land area grew from 581.5 square kilometres (224.5&nbsp;[[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]) in the 1960s to 697.2 square kilometres (269.1&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) today, and may grow by another 100 square kilometres (38.6&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) by 2030.<ref> {{cite web| title = Towards Environmental Sustainability, State of the Environment 2005 Report (PDF)| publisher = Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore  | accessdate = 2006-04-14| url = http://app.nea.gov.sg/counter/nea_soecover.asp }}</ref> About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves.
+
Singapore has [[land reclamation|reclaimed land]] with earth obtained from its own hills, the seabed and neighbouring countries. As a result, Singapore's land area grew from 581.5 square kilometres (224.5&nbsp;[[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]) in the 1960s to 697.2 square kilometres (269.1&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) today, and may grow by another 100 square kilometres (38.6&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) by 2030.<ref> {{cite web| title = Towards Environmental Sustainability, State of the Environment 2005 Report (PDF)| publisher = Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore  | accessdate = 2006-04-14| url = http://app.nea.gov.sg/counter/nea_soecover.asp }}</ref> About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves. 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]].
  
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons, under the [[Köppen climate classification]]. Its climate is characterised by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall. Temperatures range from 22°[[Celsius|C]] to 34 °C (72°&ndash;93°[[Fahrenheit|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%.<ref> {{cite web| title = Climate of Singapore | url = http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1088 | publisher = National Environment Agency, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14}}</ref> The lowest and highest temperature recorded in its maritime history is 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) and 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) respectively. The highest wind speed recorded is 120km/h on July 27, 2001.  
+
[[Image:Singapore botanic garden pond.jpg|thumb|left|240px|[[Singapore Botanic Gardens]], a 67.3-hectare (166&nbsp;[[acre]]) botanical garden in Singapore that includes the National Orchid Garden which has a collection of more than 3,000 species of [[orchid]]s.]]
 +
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons, under the [[Köppen climate classification]]. Its climate is characterised by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall. Temperatures range from 22°[[Celsius|C]] to 34 °C (72°&ndash;93°[[Fahrenheit|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%.<ref> {{cite web| title = Climate of Singapore | url = http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1088 | publisher = National Environment Agency, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14}}</ref> 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 120km/h on [[July 27]], 2001 {{citation needed}}.
  
 
Urbanisation has eliminated many areas of primary rainforest that once existed, with the only remaining area of primary rainforest being [[Bukit Timah Nature Reserve]]. A variety of parks, however, are maintained with human intervention, such as the [[Singapore Botanic Gardens]]. Without natural [[Fresh water|freshwater]] rivers and lakes, the primary domestic source of [[water supply]] in Singapore is [[Precipitation (meteorology)|rainfall]], collected in reservoirs or catchment areas. Rainfall supplies approximately 50% of Singapore's water; the remainder is imported from Malaysia or obtained from [[Reclaimed water|recycled water]] facilities, a product called [[NEWater]] and [[desalination]] plants. More NEWater and desalination plants are being built or proposed to reduce reliance on foreign supply.<ref>{{cite web| title = Clean Water | publisher = Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14| url = http://app.mewr.gov.sg/home.asp?cid=167&nid=167&id=SAS763 }} </ref>
 
Urbanisation has eliminated many areas of primary rainforest that once existed, with the only remaining area of primary rainforest being [[Bukit Timah Nature Reserve]]. A variety of parks, however, are maintained with human intervention, such as the [[Singapore Botanic Gardens]]. Without natural [[Fresh water|freshwater]] rivers and lakes, the primary domestic source of [[water supply]] in Singapore is [[Precipitation (meteorology)|rainfall]], collected in reservoirs or catchment areas. Rainfall supplies approximately 50% of Singapore's water; the remainder is imported from Malaysia or obtained from [[Reclaimed water|recycled water]] facilities, a product called [[NEWater]] and [[desalination]] plants. More NEWater and desalination plants are being built or proposed to reduce reliance on foreign supply.<ref>{{cite web| title = Clean Water | publisher = Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore | accessdate = 2006-04-14| url = http://app.mewr.gov.sg/home.asp?cid=167&nid=167&id=SAS763 }} </ref>
  
 
==Economy==
 
==Economy==
 +
[[Image:SGcurrency.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Singapore banknotes and coins]]
 +
[[Image:Marina bay new IR.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Singapore's Central Business District (CBD), where there is the fourth largest exchange centre in the world. The piece of green land facing the CBD would be half the site of the future Integrated Resort.]]
 +
[[Image:MerlionSentosa.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Singapore's national icon, the Merlion can be seen in the CBD and Sentosa.]]
 +
[[Image:Orchard Road light up Xmas 2005.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Orchard Road is a popular tourist attraction in Singapore. Every year, Orchard Road is brightly lit during Christmas, so that tourists can enjoy the night scene of the streets every night during this period of time.]]
 +
[[Image:Singapore river panorama2.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Panoramic view of the [[Singapore River]]. Once centre of trade and commerce as the [[port of Singapore]] during its colonial times, it is now a tourist spot with numerous bars, pubs, and seafood along the river.]]
 
{{main|Economy of Singapore}}
 
{{main|Economy of Singapore}}
[[Image:Merlion.jpg|250px|right|thumb|The [[Merlion]] is one of the best-known tourist icons of Singapore.]]
+
Singapore has a highly developed [[Market economy|market-based economy]], and is a [[developed nation]]. It ranks 25th on the [[Human Development Index]]<ref> [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_HDI.pdf 2005 UN Human Development Index Report (PDF)]</ref> which measures [[standard of living|standards of living]], and second in the [[Index of Economic Freedom]]. Singapore's [[gross domestic product]] (GDP), per capita, is equal to that of the major European countries.<ref> [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sn.html Singapore's GDP report by ICA - The World Factbook]</ref> Singapore is also the fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre in the world after [[London]], [[New York City]] and [[Tokyo]].<ref> [http://www.mas.gov.sg/annual_report/annual20052006/Index_A/A17_OA&WIP.htm MAS Annual Report 2005/2006]</ref>
[[Image:Lit-up_CBD_from_Raffles_City_-_RGW.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Central Area]] is the [[central business district]] and hub of economic transactions in Singapore, and is also the home of the [[Singapore Exchange]], Asia-Pacific's first de-mutualised and integrated securities and derivatives exchange.]]
+
 
[[Image:SGcurrency.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Singapore Dollar]].]]
+
Singapore has been rated as the most business-friendly economy in the world.  According to a World Bank-IFC report, Singapore beat previous winner [[New Zealand]] for the top spot in the 2005/2006 rankings, while the United States came in third. Within Asia, Hong Kong was Singapore's closest competitor, in fifth place. The economies were evaluated on 10 key parameters that included the ease of starting a business, getting licences, sourcing staff, and enforcing contracts.<ref> [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/228852/1/.html Singapore is ranked first in the Doing Business Report 2006 by World Bank]</ref>
Singapore has a highly developed [[Market economy|market-based economy]], and is a [[developed nation]]. It ranks 25th on the [[Human Development Index]]<ref> [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_HDI.pdf 2005 UN Human Development Index Report (PDF)]</ref> which measures [[standard of living]], and second in the [[Index of Economic Freedom]]. Although Singapore has one of the highest per capita [[gross domestic product]]s (GDP) in the world, domestic demand is relatively low due to the small population. {{fact}} Singapore is also the fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre in the world after [[London]], [[New York]] and [[Tokyo]]<ref> [http://www.mas.gov.sg/annual_report/annual20052006/Index_A/A17_OA&WIP.htm MAS Annual Report 2005/2006]</ref>.
 
  
Singapore has been rated as the best business-friendly economy in the world. According to a World Bank-IFC report, Singapore beats previous winner New Zealand for the top spot in the 2005/2006 rankings while the United States came in third. Within Asia, Hong Kong was Singapore's closest competitor at fifth place. They were evaluated on 10 key parameters that included ease of starting a business, getting licences, sourcing staff, as well as and enforcing contracts. <ref> [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/228852/1/.html Singapore is ranked first in the Doing Business Report 2006 by World Bank] </ref>
+
The city-state also employs thousands of foreign workers from around the world. It requires talent from outside to fill the various jobs the economy is generating, most of which are in the IT and financial sectors. The variety of workers predominantly hired are local Singaporeans, [[India]]ns, [[Malaysian]]s and [[Filipino]]s. The government is aggressively pushing for the permanent assimilation of these foreign workers by offering easier processing time for permanent residency or citizenship.
  
 
The economy depends heavily on exports produced from refining imported goods in a form of extended [[entrepot]] trade, especially in manufacturing. Manufacturing contributes around 28% to GDP in 2005. The manufacturing industry is today well-diversified with electronics, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences manufacturing. Along with [[Hong Kong]], [[South Korea]] and [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], Singapore's fast-paced industrialization earned it a place as one of the four original '[[East Asian Tigers]]'.
 
The economy depends heavily on exports produced from refining imported goods in a form of extended [[entrepot]] trade, especially in manufacturing. Manufacturing contributes around 28% to GDP in 2005. The manufacturing industry is today well-diversified with electronics, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences manufacturing. Along with [[Hong Kong]], [[South Korea]] and [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], Singapore's fast-paced industrialization earned it a place as one of the four original '[[East Asian Tigers]]'.
  
In 2001, a [[Early 2000s recession|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.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://app.mti.gov.sg/data/article/1962/doc/ESS_2005Ann_%20PR.pdf | title = Performance of the Singapore Economy in 2005 (PDF), Ministry of Trade and Industry | accessdate = 2006-04-14}}  </ref> In the long term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path which will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle, as compared to the current export-led model. However, the government is unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. The per capita GDP in 2005 was US$26,833<ref> {{cite web| title =  Per Capita GDP at Current Market Prices | url = http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/hist/gdp.html | publisher = Singapore Department of Statistics| date = 2006-02-16 }} </ref> and the unemployment rate was 2.8% in June 2006, up from 2.5% in January the same year.<ref> {{cite news | title =  Singapore's employment hits all-time high of 2.3 m in 2005  | author= May Wong | publisher = Channel NewsAsia | date = 1 February 2006 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/191175/1/.html }}</ref> 81,500 new jobs were created from January-July 2006, the highest number in a decade within a 6 month period. The economy is expected to grow by 6.9% in the year 2006 as announced by the World Bank, after a strong 9.4% growth in the first half of Year 2006 (Jan-Jul 2006). Initially, Lee Hsien Loong, who is the current Finance and Prime Minister, had only expected growth to be between 3-5% for the whole year.  
+
In 2001, a [[Early 2000s recession|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.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://app.mti.gov.sg/data/article/1962/doc/ESS_2005Ann_%20PR.pdf | title = Performance of the Singapore Economy in 2005 (PDF), Ministry of Trade and Industry | accessdate = 2006-04-14}}  </ref> In the long term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path which will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle, as compared to the current export-led model. However, the government is unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. The per capita GDP in 2005 was US$26,833<ref> {{cite web| title =  Per Capita GDP at Current Market Prices | url = http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/hist/gdp.html | publisher = Singapore Department of Statistics| date = 2006-02-16 }} </ref> and the unemployment rate was 2.7% in 2006, with<ref> {{cite news | title =  Singapore's employment hits all-time high of 2.3 m in 2005  | author= May Wong | publisher = Channel NewsAsia | date = 1 February 2006 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/191175/1/.html }}</ref> 124,000 new jobs being created in the first three quarters of 2006, a record high. The economy grew by 7.7% in Year 2006, higher than originally expected. <ref> {{cite news | title =  Singapore's economy grows by 7.7% in 2006 | author= Dominique Loh | publisher = Channel NewsAsia | date = 31 December 2006 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/250028/1/.html}}</ref> Initially, Lee Hsien Loong, who is the current Finance and Prime Minister, had only expected growth to be between 3-5% for Year 2006. Economic growth is positive this year, as the Prime Minister expects growth to be between 4-6%.
 +
 
 +
On [[5 October]] 2006, the government announced that Singapore has recorded its highest employment rate in 15 years with improvements, particularly, in the hiring of older workers. The Manpower Ministry's Research and Statistics Department said that in June this year, 76 percent of its resident population, aged 25 to 64, were employed. This was up from 73 percent last year and 72 percent in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/234038/1/.html|title=Singapore's emloyment rate the highest in 15 years|accessdate=2006-10-06|year=[[October 6]], [[2006]]}}</ref>
  
Singapore introduced a [[Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) with an initial rate of 3% on [[1 April]] [[1994]]. This has substantially increased government revenue by $1.6 billion, stabilising the government's finances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_1996/revenue.html|title=FY 1996 Budget, Revenue And Tax Changes|accessdate=2006-05-01}}</ref> The government has used revenue from the GST to reorient the economy around services and [[value added]]-goods to reduce dependence on electronics manufacturing. The taxable GST was increased to 4% in 2003 and to 5% in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/pol/pol01d1.asp?id=172|title=Policy Digest: Phased GST increase|accessdate=2006-04-26|year=[[December 21]], [[2002]]}}</ref>
+
Singapore introduced a [[Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) with an initial rate of 3% on [[1 April]] [[1994]]. This has substantially increased government revenue by $1.6 billion, stabilising the government's finances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_1996/revenue.html|title=FY 1996 Budget, Revenue And Tax Changes|accessdate=2006-05-01}}</ref> The government has used revenue from the GST to reorient the economy around services and [[value added]]-goods to reduce dependence on electronics manufacturing. The taxable GST was increased to 4% in 2003 and to 5% in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/pol/pol01d1.asp?id=172|title=Policy Digest: Phased GST increase|accessdate=2006-04-26|year=[[December 21]], [[2002]]}}</ref> The GST could be increased to 7% in 2007.
  
Singapore is a popular travel destination, making [[Tourism in Singapore|tourism]] one of its largest industries. In 2005, a total of 9.05 million tourists visited Singapore. By 2015, Singapore hopes to achieve about 17 million visitor arrivals. In July 2006, a record high of a total of 913,000 visitors arrived in Singapore, mostly due to the [[Great Singapore Sale]]. Much of its attraction can be attributed to its cultural diversity that reflects almost 200 years of colonial history with immigrant cultures originating from Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and Arab ethnicities. The [[Orchard Road]] district, which is dominated by multi-storey shopping centres and hotels, is the centre of tourism in Singapore. Other popular tourist attractions include the [[Singapore Zoo]] and its [[Night Safari]] along with the tourist island of [[Sentosa]]. To attract more tourists, the government decided in 2005 to legalise [[gambling]] and to allow two [[Integrated Resort]]s to be developed at [[Marina South]] and Sentosa.<ref> {{cite web| title = Proposal to develop Integrated Resorts - Ministerial Statement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 18 April 2005| url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/casino/text_pmlee.htm }} </ref> Other than the Integrated Resort, many other new developments are coming up that includes the [[Singapore Flyer]] and [[Gardens by the Bay]]. The government said that there are about 10 developments in Marina Bay currently. There have also been rumours about Singapore being another destination for [[Disneyland]] in the Asia after Hong Kong, and it has been named 'Singapore Disneyland'. The site of this theme park would most likely be at Marina Bay. {{fact}}
+
Singapore is a popular travel destination, making [[Tourism in Singapore|tourism]] one of its largest industries. 8.9 million and 9.5 million tourists visited Singapore in Year 2005 and Year 2006 respectively. Singapore received its nine millionth visitor in 2006 on [[6 December]] [[2006]], a new record for Singapore's tourism industry.<ref> {{cite web|title= Channel NewsAsia 2006-12-06 |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/245628/1/.html}}</ref>. By 2015, Singapore hopes to achieve about 17 million visitor arrivals {{citation needed}}. In July 2006, a record high of a total of 913,000 visitors arrived in Singapore, mostly due to the [[Great Singapore Sale]] {{citation needed}}. Singapore was also the first country in the world to receive its one millionth visitor from [[China]] itself.
  
Food in itself has been heavily promoted as an attraction for [[tourist]]s, and is usually promoted by various initiatives undertaken by the [[Singapore Tourism Board]] or the associations it deals with as one of Singapore's best attractions alongside [[shopping]]. The government organises the [[Singapore Food Festival]] in July annually to celebrate Singapore's cuisine. The multiculturalism of local food, the ready availability of international cuisine, and their wide range in prices to fit all budgets at all times of the day and year helps create a "food paradise" to rival other contenders claiming the same [[moniker]].  
+
The [[Orchard Road]] district, which is dominated by multi-storey shopping centres and hotels, is the centre of tourism in Singapore. Other popular tourist attractions include the [[Singapore Zoo]] and its [[Night Safari]] along with the tourist island of [[Sentosa]]. To attract more tourists, the government decided in 2005 to legalise [[gambling]] and to allow two [[Integrated Resort]]s to be developed at [[Marina South]] and Sentosa.<ref> {{cite web| title = Proposal to develop Integrated Resorts - Ministerial Statement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 18 April 2005| url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/casino/text_pmlee.htm }} </ref> Other than the Integrated Resort, many other new developments are coming up that includes the [[Singapore Flyer]] and [[Gardens by the Bay]].
 +
 
 +
Cuisine has been heavily promoted as an attraction for [[tourist]]s, and is usually promoted by various initiatives undertaken by the [[Singapore Tourism Board]] or the associations it deals with as one of Singapore's best attractions alongside [[shopping]]. The government organises the [[Singapore Food Festival]] in July annually to celebrate Singapore's cuisine. The multiculturalism of local food, the ready availability of international cuisine, and their wide range in prices to fit all budgets at all times of the day and year helps create a "food paradise" to rival other contenders claiming the same [[moniker]].  
 
{{seealso|Tourism in Singapore}}
 
{{seealso|Tourism in Singapore}}
  
 
==Military==
 
==Military==
[[Image:Singapore Gurkha 01.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Gurkha Contingent]] of the [[Singapore Police Force]], with its members recruited from [[Nepal]], is a [[counter-terrorism|counter-terrorist]] force in the country. Here, the officers join local officers in the annual Police Day Parade.]]
+
 
 +
[[Image:Singapore Gurkha 01.jpg|thumb|250px|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.]]
 
{{main|Military of Singapore|Total Defence}}
 
{{main|Military of Singapore|Total Defence}}
 
The military of Singapore serves primarily as a deterrent to potential invaders of the island. Singapore has mutual defence pacts with several countries, most notably the [[Five Power Defence Arrangements]]. Singapore subscribes to a philosophy of [[Total Defence]], in which five aspects of a holistic national defence are identified.  Non-military aspects of total defence include [[Civil defense|civil defence]], which is carried out by the [[Singapore Civil Defence Force]]; 'economic defence', which stresses the need for a robust economy in order to maintain a viable society; 'psychological defence', which calls for a patriotic citizenry willing to do all in the name of its country; and 'social defence', in which the need for a population at harmony with itself and strongly identified with each other is emphasised.
 
The military of Singapore serves primarily as a deterrent to potential invaders of the island. Singapore has mutual defence pacts with several countries, most notably the [[Five Power Defence Arrangements]]. Singapore subscribes to a philosophy of [[Total Defence]], in which five aspects of a holistic national defence are identified.  Non-military aspects of total defence include [[Civil defense|civil defence]], which is carried out by the [[Singapore Civil Defence Force]]; 'economic defence', which stresses the need for a robust economy in order to maintain a viable society; 'psychological defence', which calls for a patriotic citizenry willing to do all in the name of its country; and 'social defence', in which the need for a population at harmony with itself and strongly identified with each other is emphasised.
Line 141: Line 161:
 
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). Various agencies of the [[Ministry of Defence (Singapore)|Ministry of Defence]] (MINDEF) and some private companies also play a supporting role. The military of Singapore is one of the most modern in Asia, with its advanced equipment and high level of training reflecting the continued emphasis of the government on military defence &mdash; military expenditures dominate the annual government budget.
 
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). Various agencies of the [[Ministry of Defence (Singapore)|Ministry of Defence]] (MINDEF) and some private companies also play a supporting role. The military of Singapore is one of the most modern in Asia, with its advanced equipment and high level of training reflecting the continued emphasis of the government on military defence &mdash; military expenditures dominate the annual government budget.
  
The recent rise in [[unconventional warfare]] and [[terrorism]] has cast increasing emphasis upon the non-military aspects of Total Defence. The [[Gurkha Contingent]], which is part of the [[Singapore Police Force]], is also a [[counter-terrorism|counter-terrorist]] force. Singapore's defence resources have been used in international [[humanitarianism|humanitarian]] aid missions, including [[peacekeeping|United Nations peacekeeping]] assignments in [[Kosovo]], [[Kuwait]] and [[East Timor]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/peacekeepers/peacekeepers.htm | title=Peacekeepers :: In the Service of Peace | accessdate=2006-05-01}}</ref> and participating in the [[multinational force in Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Singapore to send 192 military personnel to Iraq  | url = http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/031027af.htm  | date = [[October 27]], [[2003]] | publisher = Agence France Presse}}</ref> One notable incident of terrorism in Singapore prior to its independence, was the [[MacDonald House bombing|bombing of MacDonald House]] during the [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation|Confrontation]] that took place between Malaysia and Indonesia in the early 1960's. More recently, the Shell Oil refinery on Bukom was attacked by members of the [[Japanese Red Army]] and the [[PFLP]] in the [[Laju incident|Laju Incident]] of 1974; and 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 operating in South East Asia known to be responsible for several bombings around the region, as well as planning in 2001 an ultimately foiled [[Singapore embassies attack plot|attack]] on American interests in Singapore.
+
The recent rise in [[unconventional warfare]] and [[terrorism]] has cast increasing emphasis upon the non-military aspects of Total Defence. The [[Gurkha Contingent]], which is part of the [[Singapore Police Force]], is also a [[counter-terrorism|counter-terrorist]] force. Singapore's defence resources have been used in international [[humanitarianism|humanitarian]] aid missions, including [[peacekeeping|United Nations peacekeeping]] assignments in [[Kosovo]], [[Kuwait]] and [[East Timor]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/peacekeepers/peacekeepers.htm | title=Peacekeepers :: In the Service of Peace | accessdate=2006-05-01}}</ref> and participating in the [[multinational force in Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Singapore to send 192 military personnel to Iraq  | url = http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/031027af.htm  | date = [[October 27]], [[2003]]|publisher = Agence France Presse}}</ref> One notable incident of terrorism in Singapore prior to its independence was the [[MacDonald House bombing|bombing of MacDonald House]] during the [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation|Confrontation]] that took place between Malaysia and Indonesia in the early 1960s. More recently, the Shell Oil refinery on [[Pulau Bukom]] was attacked by members of the [[Japanese Red Army]] and the [[PFLP]] in the [[Laju incident|Laju Incident]] of 1974; and 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 operating in South East Asia known to be responsible for several bombings around the region, as well as planning in 2001 an ultimately foiled [[Singapore embassies attack plot|attack]] on American interests in Singapore.
  
==Architecture==
+
==Demographics==
[[Image:Singapore_Skyline.JPG|thumb|right|Skyline of the Central Business District]]
 
{{main|Architecture of Singapore}}
 
The architecture of Singapore is extremely varied and diverse. Due to the lack of available space, few historical buildings remain in the urban areas of Singapore. However, Singapore has become a centre for modern architecture as older buildings are cleared away to make space for newer, larger buildings. 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 business buildings. These buildings comprise the skyline along the coast of Marina Bay and Raffles Place, which is a famous tourist attraction in Singapore. Due to the air restrictions in Singapore, {{fact}} no building in Singapore is to be taller than 280 metres. However, there have been rumours that one of the 3 tallest buildings is 283 metres tall. {{fact}}
 
 
 
A few 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 governers when Britain occupied the country. Later, they became home to many Japanese generals after the "fall of Singapore" during World War 2.
 
  
==Demographics==
 
 
[[Image:Sri Mariamman Temple 2, Dec 05.JPG|thumb|right|250px|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 of Singapore|national monuments]] for their historical value.]]
 
[[Image:Sri Mariamman Temple 2, Dec 05.JPG|thumb|right|250px|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 of Singapore|national monuments]] for their historical value.]]
 
{{main|Demographics of Singapore|Religion in Singapore}}
 
{{main|Demographics of Singapore|Religion in Singapore}}
Singapore is the [[List of countries by population density|second most densely populated independent country in the world]] excluding Macau and Hong Kong which are parts of PRC. Eighty-four percent of Singaporeans live in public housing provided by the [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB).<ref> {{cite web | title =  Sample Household Survey 2003 | publisher = Housing Development Board | accessdate = 2006-04-14 | url = http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/DA75E3EC5C5D86804825705A00200B3E?OpenDocument }} </ref> Its population of 4.35 million (as of June 2005) is racially diverse. [[Chinese in Singapore|Singaporean Chinese]], the majority, account for 76.8% of Singaporeans. [[Malay Singaporean|Singaporean Malays]], who are the indigenous native group of the country, constitute 13.9%, though this number includes many Malay ethnic groups from other parts of the [[Malay archipelago]] including the [[Javanese]], [[Bugis]], [[Baweans]] and [[Minangkabau]]. [[Indian Singaporean]]s are the third largest ethnic group at 7.9%, consisting of several groups&mdash; Indian [[Tamil people|Tamils]] and [[Sri Lankan Tamils]], who form the largest Indian group, and others such as [[Malayali|Malayalees]], [[Punjabi people|Punjabis]] and [[Bengal]]is. The rest are made up of smaller groups such as [[Arab Singaporean]]s, Jews, Thais, Japanese, European and the [[Eurasian Singaporean]] community.<ref> {{cite web| title = Key Indicators of Resident Population by Ethnic Group | url = http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/c2000/indicators.pdf | publisher = Singapore Department of Statistics }} </ref>
+
Singapore is the [[List of countries by population density|second most densely populated independent country in the world]], excluding [[Macau]] and [[Hong Kong]] which are parts of the [[People's Republic of China|PRC]]. Eighty-three percent of Singaporeans live in public housing provided by the [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB]]<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10221p.nsf/Attachment/AR0405/$file/stats.pdf | title = HDB Annual Report 2004/2005}} </ref> The largest group in the population of 4.48 million (as of June 2006) are the [[Chinese in Singapore|Singaporean Chinese]] who account for 76.8% of Singaporeans, making it one of the largest Chinese cities outside of China. Nearby Malaysia is also home to many ethnic Chinese. Singapore is also diverse, with the [[Malay Singaporean|Singaporean Malays]], who are the indigenous native group of the country, constituting 13.9%, though this number includes many Malay ethnic groups from other parts of the [[Malay archipelago]] including the [[Javanese]], [[Bugis]], [[Baweans]] and [[Minangkabau]]. [[Indian Singaporean]]s are the third largest ethnic group at 7.9%, consisting of several groups &mdash; Indian [[Tamil people|Tamils]] and [[Sri Lankan Tamils]], who form the largest Indian group, and others such as [[Malayali|Malayalees]], [[Punjabi people|Punjabis]] and [[Bengal]]is. The rest are made up of smaller groups such as [[Arab Singaporean]]s, Jews, Thais, Japanese, European and the [[Eurasian Singaporean]] community.<ref> {{cite web| title = Key Indicators of Resident Population by Ethnic Group | url = http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/c2000/indicators.pdf | publisher = Singapore Department of Statistics }} </ref>
 +
 
 +
Singapore is also a [[Religion in Singapore|multi-religious country]], due mainly to its location on one of the world's major transportation routes. More than 40% of Singaporeans practice [[Buddhism]]. About 15% practice [[Christianity]] (mostly Chinese and Indians), and 15% profess no religion. [[Islam|Muslims]] (mostly Malays) account for 14%. A smaller minority practices [[Taoism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Baha'i Faith]], and others. {{citation needed}}
 +
 
 +
The government of Singapore has been careful to maintain ethnic harmony after [[racial riots of Singapore|racial riots erupted in the 1960s]]. Racial harmony has been emphasized in all aspects of society, including the [[Education in Singapore|Singaporean education system]], military and housing. So far the policy has been largely successful, and there have been few signs of ethnic tension since the early 1970s. Current issues include the ban on wearing [[hijab|the Islamic headscarf]] in public schools. The national language of Singapore is [[Malay language|Malay]] for historical reasons, and it is used in the national anthem, "[[Majulah Singapura]]". The official languages are [[English language|English]], [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], Malay and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. English has been promoted as the country's language of administration since independence, and it is spoken by the majority of the population. Most public signs and official publications are in English although there are also translated versions in the other official languages. The government has introduced a [[Speak Mandarin Campaign]], 'Hua Yu Cool', to promote Mandarin as a common language among the Chinese.<ref> {{cite web| url = http://www.mandarin.org.sg/smc/history.html?pg=8&mlid=8 | title = History & Background | publisher = Speak Mandarin Campaign.}} </ref>  
  
Singapore is also a multi-religious country, due mainly to its location on one of the world's major transportation routes. More than 40% of Singaporeans profess adherence to [[Buddhism]]. The large percentage may be due to a lack of distinction between Taoism and Buddhism; [[Taoism]], [[Confucianism]], Buddhism, and ancestral worship are merged into one religion by most of the Chinese population. Most Malays are [[Muslim]]. [[Christianity]] in Singapore consists of [[Roman Catholicism]] and various [[Protestant]] denominations, and comprises approximately 14% of the population. Other religions include [[Sikhism]], [[Hinduism]] and the [[Baha'i Faith]] followed mainly by those of Indian descent.<ref> {{cite web| title = Religion, Census 2000 | url = http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/c2000/religion.pdf | publisher = Singapore Department of Statistics }} </ref>
+
After two decades of a successful [[family planning]] policy, Singapore is now facing the threat of an [[aging population]] with declining [[birth rate]]s. The government is encouraging Singaporeans to have more children through the provision of financial incentives for the first to fourth child of each family.<ref> {{cite web| title = Baby Bonus | url = http://www.babybonus.gov.sg/bbss/html/menu/bb1.html#ac_parent02 | publisher = Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
 +
 
 +
==Architecture==
  
The government of Singapore has been careful to maintain ethnic harmony after [[racial riots of Singapore|racial riots erupted in the 1960s]]. Racial harmony has been emphasized in all aspects of society, including the [[Education in Singapore|Singaporean education system]], military and housing. So far the policy has been largely successful, and there have been few signs of ethnic tension since the early 1970s. Current issues include the ban on wearing [[hijab|the Islamic headscarf]] in public schools. The national language of Singapore is [[Malay language|Malay]] for historical reasons, and it is used in the national anthem, "[[Majulah Singapura]]". The official languages are [[English language|English]], [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], Malay and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. English has been promoted as the country's language of administration since independence, and it is spoken by the majority of the population. Most public signs and official publication are in English although there are also translated versions in the other official languages. The government has introduced a [[Speak Mandarin Campaign]]- Hua Yu Cool - to promote Mandarin as a common language among the Chinese. <ref> {{cite web| url = http://www.mandarin.org.sg/smc/history.html?pg=8&mlid=8 | title = History & Background | publisher = Speak Mandarin Campaign.}} </ref>
+
[[Image:Singapore_Skyline.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Skyline of the Central Business District]]
 +
{{main|Architecture of Singapore}}
 +
The architecture of Singapore is extremely varied. Due to the lack of available space, few historical buildings remain in the urban areas of Singapore. However, Singapore has become a centre for modern architecture as older buildings are cleared away to make space for newer, larger buildings. 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 business buildings. These buildings comprise the skyline along the coast of Marina Bay and Raffles Place, which is a famous tourist attraction in Singapore. Due to the air restrictions in Singapore, {{fact}} no building in Singapore is to be taller than 280 metres. The three tallest buildings in Singapore, namely [[Republic Plaza, Singapore|Republic Plaza]], [[UOB Plaza One]] and [[OUB Centre]], are all 280 metres in height.  
  
After two decades of a successful family planning policy, Singapore is now facing the threat of an aging 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.<ref> {{cite web| title = Baby Bonus | url = http://www.babybonus.gov.sg/bbss/html/menu/bb1.html#ac_parent02 | publisher =  Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports | accessdate = 2006-04-14 }} </ref>
+
A few 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==
 
==Culture==
 +
 
{{main|Culture of Singapore}}
 
{{main|Culture of Singapore}}
[[Image:LavendarFC.JPG|thumb|250px|Enjoying [[Cuisine of Singapore|Singaporean cuisine]] is a national pastime. [[Hawker centre]]s and [[kopi tiam]]s are well-distributed throughout the country.]]
+
[[Image:LavendarFC copy.jpg|thumb|250px|Enjoying [[Cuisine of Singapore|Singaporean cuisine]] is a national pastime. [[Hawker centre]]s and [[kopi tiam]]s are well-distributed throughout the country.]]
[[Image:CRW_6124.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The majority of Singaporeans live in planned estates of high-rise, high-density [[Housing and Development Board|HDB]] [[apartment|flats]].]]  
+
[[Image:CRW_6124.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The majority of Singaporeans live in planned estates of high-rise, high-density [[Housing and Development Board|HDB]] [[apartment|flats]].]]  
 
Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam of [[Malays in Singapore|an indigenous Malay]] population with a [[Chinese in Singapore|third generation Chinese]] majority, as well as [[Indian Singaporean|Indian]] and [[Arab Singaporean|Arab]] immigrants with some intermarriages. There also exist [[Eurasian Singaporean|Eurasian]] and ''[[Peranakan]]'' (known also as 'Straits Chinese') communities. Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of [[cultural diffusion]] with its unique combination of these ethnic groups, and this has given Singapore a rich mixture of diversity for its young age. One of the prime examples is in [[Cuisine of Singapore|Singaporean cuisine]], often a cultural attraction for tourists.  
 
Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam of [[Malays in Singapore|an indigenous Malay]] population with a [[Chinese in Singapore|third generation Chinese]] majority, as well as [[Indian Singaporean|Indian]] and [[Arab Singaporean|Arab]] immigrants with some intermarriages. There also exist [[Eurasian Singaporean|Eurasian]] and ''[[Peranakan]]'' (known also as 'Straits Chinese') communities. Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of [[cultural diffusion]] with its unique combination of these ethnic groups, and this has given Singapore a rich mixture of diversity for its young age. One of the prime examples is in [[Cuisine of Singapore|Singaporean cuisine]], often a cultural attraction for tourists.  
  
Line 171: Line 194:
 
Singapore has several ethnic neighbourhoods, including [[Little India, Singapore|Little India]] and [[Chinatown, Singapore|Chinatown]]. These were formed under the [[Raffles Plan of Singapore|Raffles Plan]] to originally segregate the immigrants, but now have a diverse patronage whose main intentions are to either eat or buy something specific to that culture. Many places of worship were also constructed during the colonial era, a practice encouraged by the British to promote religious tolerance. [[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]]. The policy for the primarily commercial ethnic neighbourhoods stands in contrast to the housing policies of the [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB). HDB policies attempt to promote a mix of all races within each housing district in order to foster social cohesion and national loyalty.<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/__48257038002F0DC7.nsf/0/77A56E2D21B93381482571470038C2DC?Open | title=Ethnic Group Eligibility, Housing Development Board InfoWEB | accessdate=2006-04-30}}</ref>
 
Singapore has several ethnic neighbourhoods, including [[Little India, Singapore|Little India]] and [[Chinatown, Singapore|Chinatown]]. These were formed under the [[Raffles Plan of Singapore|Raffles Plan]] to originally segregate the immigrants, but now have a diverse patronage whose main intentions are to either eat or buy something specific to that culture. Many places of worship were also constructed during the colonial era, a practice encouraged by the British to promote religious tolerance. [[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]]. The policy for the primarily commercial ethnic neighbourhoods stands in contrast to the housing policies of the [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB). HDB policies attempt to promote a mix of all races within each housing district in order to foster social cohesion and national loyalty.<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/__48257038002F0DC7.nsf/0/77A56E2D21B93381482571470038C2DC?Open | title=Ethnic Group Eligibility, Housing Development Board InfoWEB | accessdate=2006-04-30}}</ref>
  
Since the 1990s, the government has been striving to promote Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music, and to transform the country into a [[cosmopolitan]] and diverse community at the 'gateway between the East and West'.<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.mica.gov.sg/renaissance/FinalRen.pdf | title=Renaissance City Report: Culture and the Arts in Renaissance Singapore (Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts) | accessdate=2006-05-01}}</ref> 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]]. <ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Singapore/Singapore-1495679/Things_To_Do-Singapore-Esplanade_Theatres_by_the_Bay-BR-1.html | title=Virtual Tourist: Reviews of Esplanade (Theatres by the Bay) | accessdate=2006-03-28}}</ref>{{-}}
+
Since the 1990s, the government has been striving to promote Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music, and to transform the country into a [[cosmopolitan]] and diverse community at the 'gateway between the East and West'.<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.mica.gov.sg/renaissance/FinalRen.pdf | title=Renaissance City Report: Culture and the Arts in Renaissance Singapore (Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts)|accessdate=2006-05-01}}</ref> 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]].<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Singapore/Singapore-1495679/Things_To_Do-Singapore-Esplanade_Theatres_by_the_Bay-BR-1.html | title=Virtual Tourist: Reviews of Esplanade (Theatres by the Bay) | accessdate=2006-03-28}}</ref>{{-}}
 
{{seealso|Sport in Singapore|Cuisine of Singapore}}
 
{{seealso|Sport in Singapore|Cuisine of Singapore}}
  
 
==Education==
 
==Education==
 +
 
{{main|Education in Singapore}}
 
{{main|Education in Singapore}}
 
[[Image:Nh-students.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Students having assembly in the hall of a Singapore [[Education in Singapore#Secondary education|secondary school]].]]
 
[[Image:Nh-students.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Students having assembly in the hall of a Singapore [[Education in Singapore#Secondary education|secondary school]].]]
  
[[primary education|Primary]] education is [[compulsory education|compulsory]] in Singapore and as such the literacy rate is 95%.<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/annual/sib/sib2006.pdf | title=Singapore in Brief 2006, Singapore Department of Statistics | accessdate=2006-05-01 | format=PDF}}</ref>. The standard for the school curriculum is set by the [[Ministry of Education (Singapore)|Ministry of Education]] with a mix of [[private school]]s and [[public school]]s. There is no strict public-private dichotomy: the degree of autonomy in regard to the curriculum and student admission, [[corporate welfare|government funding received]], and [[tuition]] burden upon the students is determined by a more specific classification system that includes classifications such as "government-run", "government-aided", "autonomous", "independent", and "privately-funded". <ref> {{cite web | url= http://www.moe.gov.sg/corporate/secondary_02.htm | title=Education System:Secondary | accessdate=2006-05-01 }}</ref> Some schools have more than one classification. Most of the "private" ( non government ) funded schools in Singapore tend to be "international schools" and are responsible for educating the small percentage of expatriates that are based in Singapore. Some of these schools include the [[United World College of South East Asia|UWCSEA]] ( United World College of South East Asia ), Tanglin Trust School, the Singapore American School and the Overseas Family school.  
+
[[primary education|Primary]] education is [[compulsory education|compulsory]] in Singapore and as such the literacy rate is 95%.<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/annual/sib/sib2006.pdf | title=Singapore in Brief 2006, Singapore Department of Statistics | accessdate=2006-05-01 | format=PDF}}</ref> The standard for the school curriculum is set by the [[Ministry of Education (Singapore)|Ministry of Education]] with a mix of [[private school]]s and [[public school]]s. There is no strict public-private dichotomy: the degree of autonomy in regard to the curriculum and student admission, [[corporate welfare|government funding received]], and [[tuition]] burden upon the students is determined by a more specific classification system that includes classifications such as "government-run", "government-aided", "autonomous", "independent", and "privately-funded".<ref> {{cite web | url= http://www.moe.gov.sg/corporate/secondary_02.htm | title=Education System:Secondary|accessdate=2006-05-01 }}</ref> Some schools have more than one classification. In addition, there are [[international school]]s catered to [[expatriate]] students, though they have some local students.  
  
 
After primary education, students take the [[Primary School Leaving Examination]] (PSLE). Their performance in the examination is the main criteria in determining whether they enter their desired secondary schools.  
 
After primary education, students take the [[Primary School Leaving Examination]] (PSLE). Their performance in the examination is the main criteria in determining whether they enter their desired secondary schools.  
  
There have also been complaints about excessive [[academic elitism|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 secondary education, a further set of examinations are taken which determine which kind of [[Post-secondary education|tertiary education]] they pursue, such as [[junior college]], a precursor for entry into public universities such as [[National University of Singapore]], [[Nanyang Technological University]] and [[Singapore Management University]]. Other post-secondary institutions include [[polytechnic]]s, where students will graduate with a diploma and may choose to move into the workforce or pursue higher education in public universities such as those mentioned above. Other institutes include [[vocational education]] institutes such as the [[Institute of Technical Education]] (ITE).
+
There have also been complaints about excessive [[academic elitism|educational streaming]] at a young age; a popular local film, ''[[I Not Stupid]]'', highlights the competitiveness of the system and [[Rosenthal effect|social stigma]] that students struggling with studies have to face. After secondary education, a further set of examinations are taken which determine which kind of [[Post-secondary education|tertiary education]] they pursue, such as [[junior college]], a precursor for entry into public universities such as [[National University of Singapore]], [[Nanyang Technological University]] and [[Singapore Management University]]. Other post-secondary institutions include [[polytechnic]]s, where students will graduate with a diploma and may choose to move into the workforce or pursue higher education in public universities such as those mentioned above. The polytechnics include [[Temasek Polytechnic]], [[Singapore Polytechnic]], [[Ngee Ann Polytechnic]], [[Nanyang Polytechnic]] and [[Republic Polytechnic]]. Other institutes include a teaching college to train teachers, various management institutes, and [[vocational education]] institutes such as the [[Institute of Technical Education]] (ITE).
 +
 
 +
Singapore students took first place in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 [[TIMSS]] Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. They used Singapore Math Primary Mathematics series. The national textbooks have been adapted into a series which has been successfully marketed in North America as a rival to [[Saxon math]] and an alternative to controversial [[standards-based mathematics]] curricula which many parents complained moved too far away from the sort of traditional basic skills instruction exemplified by Singapore's national curriculum.
  
 
==Transport==
 
==Transport==
 +
 
{{main|Transport in Singapore}}
 
{{main|Transport in Singapore}}
[[Image:Kawasaki c751 eunos.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B Cars|C751B train]] at [[Eunos MRT Station]] on the [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) system, one of three heavy rail passenger transport lines in Singapore.]]
+
[[Image:NS_logo.jpg|thumb|Logo of the '''PTC- Public Transport System''']]
[[Image:Singapore Changi Airport, Control Tower 2, Dec 05.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Singapore's [[Singapore Changi Airport|Changi International Airport]] is one of the largest aviation facilities in Asia, serving 179 cities in 57 countries.]]
+
[[Image:Singapore Changi Airport, Control Tower 2, Dec 05.JPG|thumb|251px|right|Singapore's [[Singapore Changi Airport|Changi International Airport]] is one of the largest aviation facilities in Asia, serving 179 cities in 57 countries.]]
[[Image:Singapore Business district night view.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Esplanade Bridge]] spans across the mouth of the [[Singapore River]] in the [[Central Area]].]]
+
Singapore is a major Asian transportation hub, strategically lying on sea and air trade routes. Its history has been closely tied to the growth of its transportation industry since the establishment of its port. The transportation industry comprises over 10% of Singaporean GDP despite an increasingly diversified economy. 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 with 1.15 billion [[gross ton]]s handled, and in terms of [[container (cargo)|container]]ised traffic, with 23.2 million [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit]]s (TEUs) handled. It was also the world's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, coming behind [[Shanghai]] with 423 million tons handled. In addition, Singapore is the world's busiest hub for transhipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuelling hub.<ref> {{cite news | title = Singapore remains world's busiest port | url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/12/content_4045562.htm | date = 12 January 2006 | publisher = Xinhuanet }} </ref>
 +
 
 +
Singapore is an aviation hub, 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 is one of the top five airports in Asia in terms of passengers handled, with 30 million passengers passing through in 2004. It has been consistently rated as one of the best international airports by numerous international travel magazines. It was also rated as the world's best airport in 2006 by [[Skytrax]], defeating its long time rival, [[Hong Kong International Airport]].<ref> {{cite web | title =2006 Airport of the Year result | accessdate=2006-06-01 | url = http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards-2006/AirportYear-2006.htm }} </ref> A low-cost terminal, the Budget Terminal, which started operation in March 2006<ref> {{cite news | title =  Singapore opens budget air terminal  | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/199976/1/.html | date = 26 March 2006|publisher = Channel NewsAsia }} </ref> and a third passenger terminal now under construction will increase the airport's total annual capacity to 66.7 million passengers by 2008. The national carrier [[Singapore Airlines]] (SIA) is internationally renowned for its service and will be the first airline in the world to fly the new [[Airbus A380]] commercially. 
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Kawasaki c751 eunos.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B Cars|C751B train]] at [[Eunos MRT Station]] on the [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) system, one of three heavy rail passenger transport lines in Singapore.]]
 +
The backbone of domestic transport infrastructure is the [[road transport in Singapore|road transport system]] which includes a [[expressways of Singapore|network of expressways]] that form the arteries between distinct towns and [[regional centre (Singapore)|regional centres]] as laid out in [[urban planning in Singapore|Singapore's urban planning]]. Following a government study assisted by the [[United Nations Development Programme]] which foresaw problems with private transport such as [[traffic congestion]] and [[air pollution]] as the city grew,<ref> {{cite paper | url = http://csur.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ws2004/papers/B2-Fwa.pdf | author = Tien Fang Fwa | title = Sustainable Urban Transportation Planning and Development &mdash; Issues and Challenges for Singapore | date = [[September 4|4 September]] [[2004]]|accessdate= 2006-05-01 |publisher = [[University of Tokyo]] }} </ref> the Land Transport Authority began a series of measures to develop the use of the [[public transport in Singapore|public transport system]] such as improving the [[Bus transport in Singapore|nation's bus service]] and liberalising the hired vehicle market to allow for more taxi operators. Since 1987, the heavy rail passenger [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) [[metro]] system has been in operation. MRT was later augmented by and linked to the [[Light Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Light Rapid Transit]] (LRT) [[light rail]] system, which provides service to several expanses of housing estates. The [[EZ-Link]] system allows contactless [[Smart card|smartcards]] to serve as stored value tickets for use in the public transport systems. More than 2.8 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.<ref name="dailyridership"/> Approximately 900,000 people use the taxi services daily. Private vehicle use in the Central Area is discouraged by tolls implemented through an [[Electronic Road Pricing]] system which operates during hours of heavy road traffic.
 +
 
 +
==International rankings==
 +
;Economic
 +
* [http://www.doingbusiness.org Doing Business project 2006 @ International Finance Corporation, World Bank], ranked 1 out of 175 economies
 +
*[[IMD International]]: [[World Competitiveness Yearbook]] [http://www01.imd.ch/wcy/ 2005], ranked 3 out of 60 economies (countries and regions)
 +
*[[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Report]][http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/gcr2006_rankings.xls 2006-2007 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking], ranked 5 out of 124 economies
 +
*[[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [http://www.atkearney.com/main.taf?p=5,4,1,116 Globalization Index 2005], ranked 1 out of 62 countries
 +
*[[Heritage Foundation]]/[[The Wall Street Journal]]: [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ 2005] [[Index of Economic Freedom]], ranked 2 out of 155 countries [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=Singapore]
 +
*[[The Economist]]: [http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&amp;d=2005 The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005], ranked 11 out of 111 countries
 +
*[[Economist Intelligence Unit]]: [http://www.eiu.com/2006eReadinessRankings 2006 e-readiness rankings], ranked 13 out of 68 economies
 +
*[[Transparency International]]: [[Bribe Payers Index]] [http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/bpi_2006 2006], ranked 12 out of 30 leading exporting economies
 +
 
 +
;Educational
 +
*[[International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement]]: [http://nces.ed.gov/timss/ Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study], ranked 1 out of 46 economies in all four criteria
 +
*[[Educational Testing Service]]: [http://ftp.ets.org/pub/toefl/39781_req.pdf 2003-2004 TOEFL Test Year Data Summary], ranked 4 out of 227 economies
  
Singapore is a major Asian transportation hub, strategically lying on major sea and air trade routes. Its history has been closely tied to the growth of its transportation industry since the establishment of its port. The transportation industry comprises over 10% of Singaporean GDP despite an increasingly diversified economy. 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 with 1.15 billion [[gross ton]]s handled, and in terms of [[container (cargo)|container]]ised traffic, with 23.2 million [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit]]s (TEUs) handled. It was also the world's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, coming behind [[Shanghai]] with 423 million tons handled. In addition, Singapore is the world's busiest hub for transhipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuelling hub.<ref> {{cite news | title = Singapore remains world's busiest port | url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/12/content_4045562.htm | date = 12 January 2006 | publisher = Xinhuanet }} </ref>
+
;Political
 +
*[[Transparency International]]: [http://www.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005.sources.en.html Corruption Perceptions Index 2005], ranked 5 out of 159 countries and economies
 +
* [[Freedom in the World 2006]] ranked Singapore 5 out of 7 for political freedom, and 4 out of 7 for civil liberties (where 1 is the most free), for an overall ranking of &quot;partly free&quot;.
 +
* [[The Economist]]: [http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/DEMOCRACY_INDEX_2007_v3.pdf The World in 2007 - Index of Democracy], ranked 84 out of 167 countries/territories
  
Singapore is a major aviation hub and an important 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 is one of the top five airports in Asia in terms of passengers handled, with 30 million passengers passing through in 2004. It has been consistently rated as one of the best international airports by numerous international travel magazines. It was also rated as the world's best airport in year 2006 by [[Skytrax]], defeating its long time rival, [[Hong Kong International Airport]].<ref> {{cite web | title =2006 Airport of the Year result | accessdate=2006-06-01 | url = http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards-2006/AirportYear-2006.htm }} </ref> A low-cost terminal, the Budget Terminal, which started operation in March 2006<ref> {{cite news | title =  Singapore opens budget air terminal  | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/199976/1/.html | date = 26 March 2006 | publisher = Channel NewsAsia }} </ref> and a third passenger terminal now under construction will increase the airport's total annual capacity to 66.7 million passengers by 2008. The national carrier [[Singapore Airlines]] (SIA) is internationally renowned for its service and will be the first airline in the world to fly the new [[Airbus A380]] commercially. 
+
;Social
 +
*[[United Nations Development Programme]]: [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/ Human Development Index 2004], ranked 25 out of 177 countries
 +
*[[Reporters without borders]]: [[Reporters_Without_Borders#Worldwide_press_freedom_index|Press Freedom Index 2006]], ranked 146 out of 168 countries
 +
*[[Save the Children]]: [http://www.savethechildren.org/mothers/report_2004/images/pdf/SOWM_2004_final.pdf State of the World's Mothers 2004], ranked 16 out of 119 countries (tied with Argentina, Republic of Korea, and Uruguay)
  
The backbone of domestic transport infrastructure is the [[road transport in Singapore|road transport system]] which includes a [[expressways of Singapore|network of expressways]] that form the arteries between distinct towns and [[regional centre (Singapore)|regional centres]] as laid out in [[urban planning in Singapore|Singapore's urban planning]]. Following a government study assisted by the [[United Nations Development Programme]] which foresaw problems with private transport such as [[traffic congestion]] and [[air pollution]] as the city grew, <ref> {{cite paper | url = http://csur.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ws2004/papers/B2-Fwa.pdf | author = Tien Fang Fwa | title = SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT &mdash; Issues and Challenges for Singapore | date = [[September 4|4 September]] [[2004]] | accessdate= 2006-05-01 |publisher = [[University of Tokyo]] }} </ref> the Land Transport Authority began a series of measures to develop the use of the [[public transport in Singapore|public transport system]] such as improving the [[Bus transport in Singapore|nation's bus service]] and liberalising the hired vehicle market to allow for more taxi operators. Since 1987, the heavy rail passenger [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) [[metro]] system has been in operation. MRT was later augmented by and linked to the [[Light Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Light Rapid Transit]] (LRT) [[light rail]] system, which provides service to several expanses of housing estates. The [[EZ-Link]] system allows contactless [[Smart card|smartcards]] to serve as stored value tickets for use in the public transport systems. More than 2.8 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. <ref name="dailyridership"/> Approximately 900,000 people use the taxi services daily. Private vehicle use in the Central Area is discouraged by tolls implemented through an [[Electronic Road Pricing]] system which operates during hours of heavy road traffic.
+
;Transportation
 +
*[[Skytrax]]: [http://www.worldairportawards.com Worlds Best Airports 2006], [[Singapore Changi Airport]] ranked 1 out of 155 airports
 +
*[[American Association of Port Authorities|AAPA]]: [http://www.aapa-ports.org/pdf/WORLD_PORT_RANKINGS_2004.xls World's busiest container ports], ranked 1
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
 
<div class="references-small">
 
<div class="references-small">
 
<!-- essays?  
 
<!-- essays?  
Line 208: Line 264:
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
{{IndicText}}
+
 
{{portal}}
+
{{reflist|2}}
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
+
 
 
<!-- Instructions for adding a footnote: please refer to http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php —>
 
<!-- Instructions for adding a footnote: please refer to http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php —>
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 +
 +
{{ChineseText}}
 
{{sisterlinks|Singapore}}
 
{{sisterlinks|Singapore}}
 
{{commonscat|Singapore}}
 
{{commonscat|Singapore}}
*[http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=1345015&x=103819427&z=11&l=0&m=a WikiSatellite view of Singapore at WikiMapia]
 
*[http://www.sgdi.gov.sg/ Singapore Government Directory Interactive]
 
*[http://www.gov.sg/ Singapore Government Online Portal]
 
*[http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/ Gateway To All Government Services]
 
*[http://www.sg/ Singapore Infomap]
 
*[http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/sgp-summary-eng Amnesty International's 2005 report on Singapore]
 
*[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sn.html CIA World Factbook Entry for Singapore]
 
*[http://www.visitsingapore.com Singapore Tourist Guide]
 
*{{wikitravel}}
 
*[http://tokyoahead.com/main/article.php/singapore More pictures from Singapore]
 
  
[[Image:Singapore river panorama2.JPG|thumb|center|550px|Panoramic view of the [[Singapore River]]. Once centre of trade and commerce as the [[port of Singapore]] during its colonial times, it is now a tourist spot with numerous bars, pubs, and seafood along the river.]]
 
  
{{ASEAN}}
+
===General Information===
{{Asia}}
+
 
 +
* [http://www.sg/ Singapore Infomap]
 +
* [http://www.sgdi.gov.sg/ Singapore Government Directory Interactive]
 +
* [http://www.gov.sg/ Singapore Government Online Portal]
 +
* [http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/ Gateway To All Government Services]
 +
* [http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/sgp-summary-eng Amnesty International's 2005 report on Singapore]
 +
* [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sn.html CIA World Factbook Entry for Singapore]
 +
* [http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/annual/indicators.html Singapore Department of Statistics Annual Data]
 +
 
 +
===Travel===
 +
 
 +
* {{wikitravel}}
 +
* [http://www.visitsingapore.com Singapore Tourist Guide]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Maps===
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=1345015&x=103819427&z=11&l=0&m=a WikiSatellite view of Singapore at WikiMapia]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Photography===
 +
 
 +
* [http://tokyoahead.com/main/article.php/singapore Tokyo Ahead]
 +
* [http://www.choosealex.com/travels/photos/singapore/ ChooseAlex]
 +
 
 
{{Singapore topics}}
 
{{Singapore topics}}
 
{{Singapore ties}}
 
{{Singapore ties}}
 +
{{Southeast Asia}}
 +
 +
{{South China Sea}}
 +
{{ASEAN}}
  
 
{{coor title dm|01|22|N|103|48|E|type:city}}
 
{{coor title dm|01|22|N|103|48|E|type:city}}
  
[[Category:ASEAN member states]]
+
[[Category:ASEAN members]]
 
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
 
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
 
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
 
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
 
[[Category:Former British colonies]]
 
[[Category:Former British colonies]]
[[Category:Island nations]]
+
[[Category:Island countries]]
 
[[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
 
[[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
 
[[Category:Republics]]
 
[[Category:Republics]]
Line 246: Line 321:
 
[[Category:English-speaking countries]]
 
[[Category:English-speaking countries]]
 
[[Category:1965 establishments]]
 
[[Category:1965 establishments]]
 +
[[Category:Chinese-speaking countries and territories]]
  
 
[[af:Singapoer]]
 
[[af:Singapoer]]
 +
[[am:ሲንጋፖር]]
 
[[ar:سنغافورة]]
 
[[ar:سنغافورة]]
 
[[an:Singapur]]
 
[[an:Singapur]]
Line 264: Line 341:
 
[[fa:سنگاپور]]
 
[[fa:سنگاپور]]
 
[[fr:Singapour]]
 
[[fr:Singapour]]
 +
[[frp:Singapor]]
 
[[fy:Singapore]]
 
[[fy:Singapore]]
 
[[gd:Singapore]]
 
[[gd:Singapore]]
Line 285: Line 363:
 
[[li:Singapore]]
 
[[li:Singapore]]
 
[[hu:Szingapúr]]
 
[[hu:Szingapúr]]
[[mr:सिंगापुर]]
+
[[mg:Singapour]]
 +
[[mr:सिंगापूर]]
 
[[ms:Singapura]]
 
[[ms:Singapura]]
 
[[nl:Singapore]]
 
[[nl:Singapore]]
Line 319: Line 398:
 
[[zh-yue:新加坡]]
 
[[zh-yue:新加坡]]
 
[[zh:新加坡]]
 
[[zh:新加坡]]
{{credit|77283142}}
+
 
 +
{{credit|99406203}}

Revision as of 19:24, 11 January 2007

Republik Singapura
新加坡共和国
சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு

Republic of Singapore
Flag of Singapore Coat of arms of Singapore
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Majulah Singapura
(Malay: "Onward, Singapore")
Anthem: Majulah Singapura
Location of Singapore
Capital
(and largest city)
Singapore1
1°17′N 103°51′E
Official languages English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Government Parliamentary republic
 - President Sellapan Ramanathan
 - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Independence  
 - Unilateral declaration (from the UK) August 31 1963 
 - Officially from UK (as a state of Malaysia) September 16 1963 
 - from Malaysia August 9 1965 
Area
 - Total 699.4 km² (188th)
270 sq mi 
 - Water (%) 1.444
Population
 - Dec 2006 estimate 4,483,900
 - 2000 census 4,117,700
 - Density 6,208/km²
16,392/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate
 - Total $123.4 billion
 - Per capita $28,368
HDI  (2004) Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 0.916 (high)
Currency Singapore dollar (SGD)
Time zone SST (UTC+8)
 - Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+8)
Internet TLD .sg
Calling code +652
1 Singapore is a city-state.
2 02 from Malaysia.

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore (Malay: 'Republik Singapura'; Chinese: 新加坡共和国, Pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Gònghéguó; Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு, Ciŋkappūr Kudiyarasu), is an island country and the smallest country in Southeast Asia. It is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, south of the Malaysian state of Johor, and north of the Indonesian Riau Islands. It lies 137 kilometres (85 miles) north of the Equator.

The site of several ancient port cities and a possession of several empires in its history, Singapore was a Malay fishing village when it was colonised by the United Kingdom in the 19th century. It was further occupied by the Japanese Empire in World War II, and was later part of the merger which established Malaysia. When Singapore acquired independence, having few natural resources, it was sociopolitically volatile and economically undeveloped. Foreign investment and rapid government-led industrialisation has since created an economy which relies on exports of electronics and manufacturing primarily from its port.

According to the quality-of-life index assembled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia, and is ranked 11th in the world.[1] In the United Nations Human Development Index, Singapore holds the 25th place, behind only Japan, Hong Kong, and Israel in Asia. Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is the 22nd wealthiest country. The geographically small nation has a foreign reserve of S$197b (US$119b).

Eighty-three percent of Singapore's population lives in housing estates constructed by the Housing Development Board[2] and nearly half use the public transport system daily.[3] As a result of efforts to control motorised traffic, the maintenance of natural greenery, strict regulations on industrial locations and emissions, and other pro-environmental initiatives by the government and the private sector, Singapore has been able to control its pollution levels to well within World Health Organization standards.[4] The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore established the city-state as a representative democracy.

History

The name Singapore is derived from the Malay words singa (lion) and pura (city), which were themselves derived from the Sanskrit words सिंह siṃha and पुर pura.[5] In Tamil, one of the official languages of Singapore, Singam means Lion and Puram means City. Hence, Singapore is also known as the Lion City. The naming is attributed to a prince named Sang Nila Utama, who according to folklore, was caught in a terrible storm that did not cease until he had thrown his crown into the water. The waters calmed immediately after that, and he sailed to the closest island he could see. The first animal he saw after he had set foot on the island was supposedly a lion. Therefore, he decided to name the island Singapura.[6]

The first records of Singapore's existence are in Chinese texts from the 3rd century AD. The island was an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire and originally bore the Javanese name Temasek (which means sea town). Temasek (Tumasek) rose to become a significant trading city, but subsequently declined. There are few remnants of old Temasek in Singapore, but archaeologists in Singapore have uncovered evidence of the civilization, as well as other settlements. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Singapore was a part of the Sultanate of Johore. During the Malay-Portugal wars in 1613, Singapore was set ablaze by Portuguese troops.[7]

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

In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, an official with the British East India Company, signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johore. He also established Singapore as a trading post and settlement, which saw instant growth and immigration from various ethnic groups. Singapore was later made a crown colony by Britain in 1867. After a series of colonial territorial expansions, the British Empire soon raised Singapore's status to that of an entrepot town, due to its strategic location along the busy shipping routes connecting Europe to China.[8]

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya and the surrounding region in the Battle of Malaya, which culminated in the Battle of Singapore. The British were ill-prepared and swiftly defeated, despite having more troops. They surrendered to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. The Japanese renamed Singapore to Shōnan (昭南), compounded from Japanese word Shō (Shōwa) and nan (South), and occupied it until the British arrived a month after the Japanese surrender to repossess the island on 12 September 1945.[9]

Singapore became a self-governing state in 1959 with Yusof bin Ishak as its first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (literally means "head of state" in Malay) and Lee Kuan Yew from the People's Action Party (PAP) as its first Prime Minister, after the 1959 elections. Following the 1962 Merger Referendum of Singapore, Singapore joined Malaysia along with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak as a state with autonomous powers in September 1963. 16 September, coincidentally, is also Lee Kuan Yew's birthday. Singapore was expelled from the federation after heated ideological conflict developed between the state government formed by PAP and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur. It gained official sovereignty on 9 August 1965, which later became Singapore's National Day. Malaysia was the first country to recognise it as an independent nation.[10] Yusof bin Ishak was sworn in as the first President of Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew remained as prime minister.

File:Singapore.jpg
The Downtown Core of Singapore at dusk

The fledgling nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced problems including mass unemployment, housing shortages and lack of land and natural resources such as petroleum. During Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed 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 eliminated and an independent national defence system was created. Singapore evolved from a developing nation to a global city with first world status towards the end of the 20th century.[11]

In 1990, Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee as Prime Minister. During his tenure, the country tackled the economic impacts of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2003 SARS outbreak, as well as terrorist threats posed by the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) post-September 11 and the Bali bombings. In 2004 Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the third prime minister.[12]

Politics and government

Singapore is a republic with a Westminster system of a unicameral parliamentary government representing different constituencies of Singapore. The bulk of the executive powers rests in the hands of the Cabinet of Singapore, which consists of ministers led by the Prime Minister of Singapore. The office of the President of Singapore was, historically, a ceremonial one as head of state, but the Constitution of Singapore was amended in 1991 to create the position of a popularly elected President and also to grant the President veto powers in a few key decisions such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of key judiciary positions.[13] 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.[14]

Singaporean politics have been dominated by the People's Action Party (PAP) since self-government in 1959.[15] Foreign political analysts and several opposition parties including the Workers' Party of Singapore, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) have argued that Singapore is a de facto one-party state. Many consider the form of government in Singapore to be closer to authoritarianism such as illiberal democracy or procedural democracy rather than true democracy. Reporters Without Borders ranked Singapore 146th out of 168 countries in its 2006 Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The Economist Intelligence Unit listed Singapore as a country with a "hybrid" system with democratic and authoritarian elements. Freedom House ranks the country as "partly free". Though general elections are free from irregularities and vote rigging, the PAP has been criticised for manipulating the political system. It has been alleged that the PAP employs censorship, gerrymandering by the Elections Department and civil libel suits against opposition politicians to impede their success. Several political opponents, including Francis Seow, J.B. Jeyaretnam and Chee Soon Juan perceive the Singaporean courts as favourable towards the government and the PAP due to a lack of separation of powers.[16]

Although no PAP member has ever lost a defamation case in court, there are three cases in which opposition leader Chiam See Tong sued PAP members for defamation and successfully obtained an out-of-court settlement.[17]

Singapore has what its government considers to be a highly successful and transparent market economy. The PAP's policies contain some aspects of socialism. The Housing Development Board oversees a large-scale public housing programme and education in Singapore is a rigorous compulsory public education system. Government-linked companies are dominant in various sectors of the local economy, such as the areas of 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.[18]

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, which it typifies as Western and states that there should not be a 'one-size-fits-all' solution to a democracy. Laws restricting the freedom of speech are justified by claims that they are intended to prohibit speech that may breed ill will or cause disharmony within Singapore's multiracial, multi-religious society. For example, in September 2005, three bloggers were convicted of sedition for posting racist remarks targeting minorities.[19] Some offences can lead to heavy fines or caning and there are laws which allow capital punishment in Singapore for first-degree murder and drug trafficking. Amnesty International has criticised Singapore for having "possibly the highest execution rate in the world" per capita.[20] The Singapore government argued that there is no international consensus on the appropriateness of the death penalty and that Singapore has the sovereign right to determine its own judicial system and impose capital punishment for the most serious crimes.[21] However, despite restrictions on public gatherings in Singapore, a small group of activists has organised events in 2005 and 2006 protesting against the country's use of the death penalty.[22]

More recently the PAP government has relaxed some of its socially conservative policies and created a "Feedback Unit"[23] to encourage citizens to share their views on policies and public services.


Geography

Template:Singapore Urban Planning Areas Labelled Map Singapore is divided into 55 urban planning areas, grouped into 5 regions.

Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself. There are two connections from Singapore to the Malaysian state of Johor — a man-made causeway known as the Johor-Singapore Causeway to the north, crossing the Tebrau Straits, and Tuas Second Link, a bridge in the western part of Singapore that connects to Johor. Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore's many smaller islands. The highest point of Singapore is Bukit Timah Hill, with a height of 166 metres (538 ft).

The urban area used to be only concentrated on the southern part of Singapore around the mouth of the Singapore River and what is now the Downtown Core, while the rest of the land was tropical rainforest or used for agriculture. Since the 1960s, the government has constructed new towns in outlying areas, resulting in an entirely built-up and urban landscape, although the Central Area, the central business district, remains the densest. The Urban Redevelopment Authority is a government agency responsible for the urban planning of Singapore that concentrates on efficient land use and distribution, as well as transport flow. It has released a Development Guide Plan which details specific land use for each the 55 urban planning areas of Singapore.

Singapore has reclaimed land with earth obtained from its own hills, the seabed and neighbouring countries. As a result, Singapore's land area grew from 581.5 square kilometres (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 697.2 square kilometres (269.1 sq mi) today, and may grow by another 100 square kilometres (38.6 sq mi) by 2030.[24] About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves. 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 Botanic 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.

Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons, under the Köppen climate classification. 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%.[25] 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 120km/h on July 27, 2001 [citation needed].

Urbanisation has eliminated many areas of primary rainforest that once existed, with the only remaining area of primary rainforest being Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. A variety of parks, however, 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, a product called NEWater and desalination plants. More NEWater and desalination plants are being built or proposed to reduce reliance on foreign supply.[26]

Economy

File:SGcurrency.jpg
Singapore banknotes and coins
Singapore's Central Business District (CBD), where there is the fourth largest exchange centre in the world. The piece of green land facing the CBD would be half the site of the future Integrated Resort.
Singapore's national icon, the Merlion can be seen in the CBD and Sentosa.
Orchard Road is a popular tourist attraction in Singapore. Every year, Orchard Road is brightly lit during Christmas, so that tourists can enjoy the night scene of the streets every night during this period of time.
Panoramic view of the Singapore River. Once centre of trade and commerce as the port of Singapore during its colonial times, it is now a tourist spot with numerous bars, pubs, and seafood along the river.

Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy, and is a developed nation. It ranks 25th on the Human Development Index[27] which measures standards of living, and second in the Index of Economic Freedom. Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP), per capita, is equal to that of the major European countries.[28] Singapore is also the fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre in the world after London, New York City and Tokyo.[29]

Singapore has been rated as the most business-friendly economy in the world. According to a World Bank-IFC report, Singapore beat previous winner New Zealand for the top spot in the 2005/2006 rankings, while the United States came in third. Within Asia, Hong Kong was Singapore's closest competitor, in fifth place. The economies were evaluated on 10 key parameters that included the ease of starting a business, getting licences, sourcing staff, and enforcing contracts.[30]

The city-state also employs thousands of foreign workers from around the world. It requires talent from outside to fill the various jobs the economy is generating, most of which are in the IT and financial sectors. The variety of workers predominantly hired are local Singaporeans, Indians, Malaysians and Filipinos. The government is aggressively pushing for the permanent assimilation of these foreign workers by offering easier processing time for permanent residency or citizenship.

The economy depends heavily on exports produced from refining imported goods in a form of extended entrepot trade, especially in manufacturing. Manufacturing contributes around 28% to GDP in 2005. The manufacturing industry is today well-diversified with electronics, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences manufacturing. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, Singapore's fast-paced industrialization earned it a place as one of the four original 'East Asian Tigers'.

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.[31] In the long term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path which will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle, as compared to the current export-led model. However, the government is unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. The per capita GDP in 2005 was US$26,833[32] and the unemployment rate was 2.7% in 2006, with[33] 124,000 new jobs being created in the first three quarters of 2006, a record high. The economy grew by 7.7% in Year 2006, higher than originally expected. [34] Initially, Lee Hsien Loong, who is the current Finance and Prime Minister, had only expected growth to be between 3-5% for Year 2006. Economic growth is positive this year, as the Prime Minister expects growth to be between 4-6%.

On 5 October 2006, the government announced that Singapore has recorded its highest employment rate in 15 years with improvements, particularly, in the hiring of older workers. The Manpower Ministry's Research and Statistics Department said that in June this year, 76 percent of its resident population, aged 25 to 64, were employed. This was up from 73 percent last year and 72 percent in 2004.[35]

Singapore introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) with an initial rate of 3% on 1 April 1994. This has substantially increased government revenue by $1.6 billion, stabilising the government's finances.[36] The government has used revenue from the GST to reorient the economy around services and value added-goods to reduce dependence on electronics manufacturing. The taxable GST was increased to 4% in 2003 and to 5% in 2004.[37] The GST could be increased to 7% in 2007.

Singapore is a popular travel destination, making tourism one of its largest industries. 8.9 million and 9.5 million tourists visited Singapore in Year 2005 and Year 2006 respectively. Singapore received its nine millionth visitor in 2006 on 6 December 2006, a new record for Singapore's tourism industry.[38]. By 2015, Singapore hopes to achieve about 17 million visitor arrivals [citation needed]. In July 2006, a record high of a total of 913,000 visitors arrived in Singapore, mostly due to the Great Singapore Sale [citation needed]. Singapore was also the first country in the world to receive its one millionth visitor from China itself.

The Orchard Road district, which is dominated by multi-storey shopping centres and hotels, is the centre of tourism in Singapore. Other popular tourist attractions include the Singapore Zoo and its Night Safari along with the tourist island of Sentosa. 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.[39] Other than the Integrated Resort, many other new developments are coming up that includes the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay.

Cuisine has been heavily promoted as an attraction for tourists, and is usually promoted by various initiatives undertaken by the Singapore Tourism Board or the associations it deals with as one of Singapore's best attractions alongside shopping. The government organises the Singapore Food Festival in July annually to celebrate Singapore's cuisine. The multiculturalism of local food, the ready availability of international cuisine, and their wide range in prices to fit all budgets at all times of the day and year helps create a "food paradise" to rival other contenders claiming the same moniker.


Military

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. Singapore has mutual defence pacts with several countries, most notably the Five Power Defence Arrangements. Singapore subscribes to a philosophy of Total Defence, in which five aspects of a holistic national defence are identified. Non-military aspects of total defence include civil defence, which is carried out by the Singapore Civil Defence Force; 'economic defence', which stresses the need for a robust economy in order to maintain a viable society; 'psychological defence', which calls for a patriotic citizenry willing to do all in the name of its country; and 'social defence', in which the need for a population at harmony with itself and strongly identified with each other is emphasised.

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). Various agencies of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and some private companies also play a supporting role. The military of Singapore is one of the most modern in Asia, with its advanced equipment and high level of training reflecting the continued emphasis of the government on military defence — military expenditures dominate the annual government budget.

The recent rise in unconventional warfare and terrorism has cast increasing emphasis upon the non-military aspects of Total Defence. The Gurkha Contingent, which is part of the Singapore Police Force, is also a counter-terrorist force. Singapore's defence resources have been used in international humanitarian aid missions, including United Nations peacekeeping assignments in Kosovo, Kuwait and East Timor,[40] and participating in the multinational force in Iraq.[41] One notable incident of terrorism in Singapore prior to its independence was the bombing of MacDonald House during the Confrontation that took place between Malaysia and Indonesia in the early 1960s. More recently, the Shell Oil refinery on Pulau Bukom was attacked by members of the Japanese Red Army and the PFLP in the Laju Incident of 1974; and 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 operating in South East Asia known to be responsible for several bombings around the region, as well as planning in 2001 an ultimately foiled attack on American interests in Singapore.

Demographics

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.

Singapore is the second most densely populated independent country in the world, excluding Macau and Hong Kong which are parts of the PRC. Eighty-three percent of Singaporeans live in public housing provided by the Housing and Development Board (HDB]][42] The largest group in the population of 4.48 million (as of June 2006) are the Singaporean Chinese who account for 76.8% of Singaporeans, making it one of the largest Chinese cities outside of China. Nearby Malaysia is also home to many ethnic Chinese. Singapore is also diverse, with the Singaporean Malays, who are the indigenous native group of the country, constituting 13.9%, though this number includes many Malay ethnic groups from other parts of the Malay archipelago including the Javanese, Bugis, Baweans and Minangkabau. Indian Singaporeans are the third largest ethnic group at 7.9%, consisting of several groups — Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils, who form the largest Indian group, and others such as Malayalees, Punjabis and Bengalis. The rest are made up of smaller groups such as Arab Singaporeans, Jews, Thais, Japanese, European and the Eurasian Singaporean community.[43]

Singapore is also a multi-religious country, due mainly to its location on one of the world's major transportation routes. More than 40% of Singaporeans practice Buddhism. About 15% practice Christianity (mostly Chinese and Indians), and 15% profess no religion. Muslims (mostly Malays) account for 14%. A smaller minority practices Taoism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Baha'i Faith, and others. [citation needed]

The government of Singapore has been careful to maintain ethnic harmony after racial riots erupted in the 1960s. Racial harmony has been emphasized in all aspects of society, including the Singaporean education system, military and housing. So far the policy has been largely successful, and there have been few signs of ethnic tension since the early 1970s. Current issues include the ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf in public schools. 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. Most public signs and official publications are in English although there are also translated versions in the other official languages. The government has introduced a Speak Mandarin Campaign, 'Hua Yu Cool', to promote Mandarin as a common language among the Chinese.[44]

After two decades of a successful family planning policy, Singapore is now facing the threat of an aging 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.[45]

Architecture

File:Singapore Skyline.JPG
Skyline of the Central Business District

The architecture of Singapore is extremely varied. Due to the lack of available space, few historical buildings remain in the urban areas of Singapore. However, Singapore has become a centre for modern architecture as older buildings are cleared away to make space for newer, larger buildings. 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 business buildings. These buildings comprise the skyline along the coast of Marina Bay and Raffles Place, which is a famous tourist attraction in Singapore. Due to the air restrictions in Singapore, [citation needed] no building in Singapore is to be taller than 280 metres. The three tallest buildings in Singapore, namely Republic Plaza, UOB Plaza One and OUB Centre, are all 280 metres in height.

A few 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

Enjoying Singaporean cuisine is a national pastime. Hawker centres and kopi tiams are well-distributed throughout the country.
The majority of Singaporeans live in planned estates of high-rise, high-density HDB flats.

Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam of an indigenous Malay population with a third generation Chinese majority, as well as Indian and Arab immigrants with some intermarriages. There also exist Eurasian and Peranakan (known also as 'Straits Chinese') communities. Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of cultural diffusion with its unique combination of these ethnic groups, and this has given Singapore a rich mixture of diversity for its young age. One of the prime examples is in Singaporean cuisine, often a cultural attraction for tourists.

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. 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.

Singapore has several ethnic neighbourhoods, including Little India and Chinatown. These were formed under the Raffles Plan to originally segregate the immigrants, but now have a diverse patronage whose main intentions are to either eat or buy something specific to that culture. Many places of worship were also constructed during the colonial era, a practice encouraged by the British to promote religious tolerance. 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. The policy for the primarily commercial ethnic neighbourhoods stands in contrast to the housing policies of the Housing and Development Board (HDB). HDB policies attempt to promote a mix of all races within each housing district in order to foster social cohesion and national loyalty.[46]

Since the 1990s, the government has been striving to promote Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music, and to transform the country into a cosmopolitan and diverse community at the 'gateway between the East and West'.[47] 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.[48]


Education

File:Nh-students.JPG
Students having assembly in the hall of a Singapore secondary school.

Primary education is compulsory in Singapore and as such the literacy rate is 95%.[49] 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 in regard to the curriculum and student admission, government funding received, and tuition burden upon the students is determined by a more specific classification system that includes classifications such as "government-run", "government-aided", "autonomous", "independent", and "privately-funded".[50] Some schools have more than one classification. In addition, there are international schools catered to expatriate students, though they have some local students.

After primary education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). Their performance in the examination is the main criteria in determining whether they enter their desired secondary schools.

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 secondary education, a further set of examinations are taken which determine which kind of tertiary education they pursue, such as junior college, a precursor for entry into public universities such as National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University. Other post-secondary institutions include polytechnics, where students will graduate with a diploma and may choose to move into the workforce or pursue higher education in public universities such as those mentioned above. The polytechnics include Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic. Other institutes include a teaching college to train teachers, various management institutes, and vocational education institutes such as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

Singapore students took first place in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 TIMSS Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. They used Singapore Math Primary Mathematics series. The national textbooks have been adapted into a series which has been successfully marketed in North America as a rival to Saxon math and an alternative to controversial standards-based mathematics curricula which many parents complained moved too far away from the sort of traditional basic skills instruction exemplified by Singapore's national curriculum.

Transport

File:NS logo.jpg
Logo of the PTC- Public Transport System
File:Singapore Changi Airport, Control Tower 2, Dec 05.JPG
Singapore's Changi International Airport is one of the largest aviation facilities in Asia, serving 179 cities in 57 countries.

Singapore is a major Asian transportation hub, strategically lying on sea and air trade routes. Its history has been closely tied to the growth of its transportation industry since the establishment of its port. The transportation industry comprises over 10% of Singaporean GDP despite an increasingly diversified economy. 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 with 1.15 billion gross tons handled, and in terms of containerised traffic, with 23.2 million Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled. It was also the world's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, coming behind Shanghai with 423 million tons handled. In addition, Singapore is the world's busiest hub for transhipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuelling hub.[51]

Singapore is an aviation hub, 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 is one of the top five airports in Asia in terms of passengers handled, with 30 million passengers passing through in 2004. It has been consistently rated as one of the best international airports by numerous international travel magazines. It was also rated as the world's best airport in 2006 by Skytrax, defeating its long time rival, Hong Kong International Airport.[52] A low-cost terminal, the Budget Terminal, which started operation in March 2006[53] and a third passenger terminal now under construction will increase the airport's total annual capacity to 66.7 million passengers by 2008. The national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) is internationally renowned for its service and will be the first airline in the world to fly the new Airbus A380 commercially.

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

The backbone of domestic transport infrastructure is the road transport system which includes a network of expressways that form the arteries between distinct towns and regional centres as laid out in Singapore's urban planning. Following a government study assisted by the United Nations Development Programme which foresaw problems with private transport such as traffic congestion and air pollution as the city grew,[54] the Land Transport Authority began a series of measures to develop the use of the public transport system such as improving the nation's bus service and liberalising the hired vehicle market to allow for more taxi operators. Since 1987, the heavy rail passenger Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) metro system has been in operation. MRT was later augmented by and linked to the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) light rail system, which provides service to several expanses of housing estates. The EZ-Link system allows contactless smartcards to serve as stored value tickets for use in the public transport systems. More than 2.8 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.[3] Approximately 900,000 people use the taxi services daily. Private vehicle use in the Central Area is discouraged by tolls implemented through an Electronic Road Pricing system which operates during hours of heavy road traffic.

International rankings

Economic
Educational
Political
Social
Transportation

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Notes

  1. Worldwide quality-of-life index Singapore's position in the World in terms of Quality of Life. The Economist. Retrieved 2006-8-17.
  2. HDB Annual Report 2004/2005.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Singapore Land Transport: Statistics In Brief 2005. Land Transport Authority. Retrieved 2005-12-07.
  4. Singapore Green Plan 2012. Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
  5. Singapore. bartleby.com. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  6. Early History. Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  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 2006-04-14.
  10. Road to Independence. U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  11. Country Groups. The World Bank. Retrieved 2006-05-02.
  12. Country profile: Singapore. BBC News. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  13. The Presidency in Singapore. Istana website. Retrieved 2005-01-30.
  14. Parliamentary Elections Act. Singapore Statutes Online. Retrieved 2006-05-08.
  15. Worthington, Ross (2002). Governance in Singapore. Routledge/Curzon. ISBN 0-7007-1474-X. 
  16. Worldwide Press Freedom Index. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
  17. "Resolution: Singapore Case N SIN/01 - Joshua Jeyaretnam", Inter-Parliamentary Union, 23 March 2002.
  18. Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2005. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
  19. "Third racist blogger sentenced to 24 months supervised probation", Channel NewsAsia, 23 November 2005.
  20. Amnesty International. The death penalty: A hidden toll of executions. Retrieved 7 June, 2005.
  21. The Singapore Government's Response To Amnesty International's Report "Singapore - The Death Penalty: A Hidden Toll Of Executions". Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore (2004-01-30).
  22. Singapore forum against death penalty. Asia Death Penalty blog (2006-08-21).
  23. Feedback Unit, Singapore
  24. Towards Environmental Sustainability, State of the Environment 2005 Report (PDF). Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  25. Climate of Singapore. National Environment Agency, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  26. Clean Water. Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  27. 2005 UN Human Development Index Report (PDF)
  28. Singapore's GDP report by ICA - The World Factbook
  29. MAS Annual Report 2005/2006
  30. Singapore is ranked first in the Doing Business Report 2006 by World Bank
  31. Performance of the Singapore Economy in 2005 (PDF), Ministry of Trade and Industry. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  32. Per Capita GDP at Current Market Prices. Singapore Department of Statistics (2006-02-16).
  33. May Wong. "Singapore's employment hits all-time high of 2.3 m in 2005", Channel NewsAsia, 1 February 2006.
  34. Dominique Loh. "Singapore's economy grows by 7.7% in 2006", Channel NewsAsia, 31 December 2006.
  35. Singapore's emloyment rate the highest in 15 years (October 6, 2006). Retrieved 2006-10-06.
  36. FY 1996 Budget, Revenue And Tax Changes. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  37. Policy Digest: Phased GST increase (December 21, 2002). Retrieved 2006-04-26.
  38. Channel NewsAsia 2006-12-06.
  39. Proposal to develop Integrated Resorts - Ministerial Statement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 18 April 2005.
  40. Peacekeepers :: In the Service of Peace. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  41. "Singapore to send 192 military personnel to Iraq", Agence France Presse, October 27, 2003.
  42. HDB Annual Report 2004/2005.
  43. Key Indicators of Resident Population by Ethnic Group. Singapore Department of Statistics.
  44. History & Background. Speak Mandarin Campaign..
  45. Baby Bonus. Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  46. Ethnic Group Eligibility, Housing Development Board InfoWEB. Retrieved 2006-04-30.
  47. Renaissance City Report: Culture and the Arts in Renaissance Singapore (Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts). Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  48. Virtual Tourist: Reviews of Esplanade (Theatres by the Bay). Retrieved 2006-03-28.
  49. Singapore in Brief 2006, Singapore Department of Statistics (PDF). Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  50. Education System:Secondary. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  51. "Singapore remains world's busiest port", Xinhuanet, 12 January 2006.
  52. 2006 Airport of the Year result. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  53. "Singapore opens budget air terminal", Channel NewsAsia, 26 March 2006.
  54. Tien Fang Fwa (4 September 2004). "Sustainable Urban Transportation Planning and Development — Issues and Challenges for Singapore". University of Tokyo. Retrieved 2006-05-01.


External links

Zhongwen.png This article contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.
Commons-logo.svg
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


General Information

Travel


Maps


Photography

Template:Singapore topics Template:Singapore ties

Template:ASEAN

Coordinates: 01°22′N 103°48′E

af:Singapoer am:ሲንጋፖር ar:سنغافورة an:Singapur ast:Singapur zh-min-nan:Sin-ka-pho bg:Сингапур ca:Singapur cs:Singapur da:Singapore de:Singapur et:Singapur el:Σιγκαπούρη es:Singapur eo:Singapuro eu:Singapur fa:سنگاپور fr:Singapour frp:Singapor fy:Singapore gd:Singapore gl:Singapur - 新加坡 ko:싱가포르 hi:सिंगापुर hr:Singapur io:Singapur ilo:Singapore id:Singapura is:Singapúr it:Singapore he:סינגפור ka:სინგაპური kw:Singapour ku:Singapûr la:Singapura lv:Singapūra lb:Singapur lt:Singapūras li:Singapore hu:Szingapúr mg:Singapour mr:सिंगापूर ms:Singapura nl:Singapore ja:シンガポール no:Singapore nn:Singapore oc:Singapor ug:سىنگاپور pam:Singapore nds:Singapur pl:Singapur pt:Singapura ro:Singapore ru:Сингапур sm:Sigapoa sq:Singapori scn:Singapura simple:Singapore sk:Singapur (štát) sl:Singapur sr:Сингапур sh:Singapore fi:Singapore sv:Singapore tl:Singapore ta:சிங்கப்பூர் th:ประเทศสิงคโปร์ vi:Singapore tg:Сингапур tr:Singapur uk:Сінґапур vo:Singapurän zh-yue:新加坡 zh:新加坡

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.