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Introduction
Singapore (Listeni/spr/ or /spr/), officially the
Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign city-state and island
country in Southeast Asia. It lies off the southern tip of the
Malay Peninsula and is 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the
equator. The country's territory consists of the lozengeshaped main island, commonly referred to as Singapore
Island in English and PulauUjong in Malay, and more than 60
significantly smaller islets.[8] Singapore is separated from
Peninsular Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to the north, and
from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to the south. The country is highly urbanised, and
little of the original vegetation remains. The country's territory has consistently expanded through land
reclamation.
Figure 1location of singapore(red)

The islands were settled in the second century AD and subsequently belonged to a series of local empires.
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles as a trading post of the East India
Company with permission from the Johor Sultanate. The British obtained sovereignty over the island in
1824, and Singapore became one of the British Straits Settlements in 1826. Occupied by the Japanese
during World War II, Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1963 and united
with other former British territories to form Malaysia, from which it was expelled two years later through
a unanimous act of parliament. Since then, Singapore has developed rapidly, earning recognition as one of
the Four Asian Tigers.
Singapore is one of the world's major commercial hubs, with the fourth-biggest financial centre and one
of the five busiest ports. Its globalised and diversified economy depends heavily on trade, especially
manufacturing, which represented 26 percent of Singapore's GDP in 2005. In terms of purchasing power
parity, Singapore has the third-highest per capita income in the world but one of the world's highest
income inequalities. It places highly in international rankings with regard to education, healthcare, and
economic competitiveness. Just over five million people live in Singapore, of which approximately two
million are foreign-born. While Singapore is diverse, ethnic Asians predominate: 75 percent of the
population is Chinese, with significant minorities of Malays, Indians, and Eurasians. There are four
official languages, English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil, and the country promotes multiculturalism
through a range of official policies.
Singapore is a unitary multiparty parliamentary republic, with a Westminster system of unicameral
parliamentary government. The People's Action Party has won every election since self-government
began in 1959. The dominance of the PAP, coupled with a low level of press freedom and suppressed
civil liberties and political rights, has led to Singapore being classified as a semi-authoritarian regime.
One of the five founding members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore
is also the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, and a member of the East
Asia Summit, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Commonwealth. Singapore's rapid development has
given it significant influence in global affairs, leading some analysts to identify it as a middle
power.[9][10]

Contents
1.

Etymology ......................................................................................................................................... 1

2.

History............................................................................................................................................... 3

3.

Government and politics ................................................................................................................... 5

4.

Geography ......................................................................................................................................... 7

5.

Climate .............................................................................................................................................. 9

6.

Economy ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Pre-independence economy ................................................................................................................ 11
Modern-day economy ......................................................................................................................... 11
Sectors ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Employment and poverty .................................................................................................................... 13

7.

Foreign relations ............................................................................................................................. 15

8.

Military ........................................................................................................................................... 17

9.

Demographics ................................................................................................................................. 19
Religion ............................................................................................................................................... 19
Languages ........................................................................................................................................... 20

10.

Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................... 23

Science and technology....................................................................................................................... 23

Education ............................................................................................................................................ 23
Health .................................................................................................................................................. 24
11.

Culture......................................................................................................................................... 27

Languages, religions, and cultures ...................................................................................................... 27

Attitudes and beliefs ........................................................................................................................... 28
Cuisine ................................................................................................................................................ 29
Arts...................................................................................................................................................... 29
Sport and recreation ............................................................................................................................ 29
Media .................................................................................................................................................. 30
12.

II

Transport ..................................................................................................................................... 31

Table 1.temperature analysis ........................................................................................................................ 9

Table 2.rainfall(in mm) ................................................................................................................................. 9
Table 3.percentage humidity ....................................................................................................................... 10
Table 4.sunshine hours(monthly)................................................................................................................ 10
Table 5.distribution of income classes ........................................................................................................ 13
Table 6.religion ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Table 7.language ......................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 8.Educational attainment of non-student Singaporeans above 15 years old in 2005 ........................ 24
Table 9.searches by singaporeans on smart phones .................................................................................... 27
Table 10.transportion used the most ........................................................................................................... 32

Figure 1location of singapore(red) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I

Figure 2Victorious Japanese troops marching through Singapore City after British capitulation at the
Battle of Singapore ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Figure 3Singapore's Parliament House ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Figure 4Singapore's Old Supreme Court Building --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Figure 5Outline of Singapore and the surrounding islands and waterways --------------------------------------- 7
Figure 6The Port of Singapore, one of the world's five busiest,[63] with the skyline of Singapore in the
background ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Figure 7Skyline of Singapore's Central Business District from the Esplanade --------------------------------- 12
Figure 8Jurong Island hosts the bulk of Singapore's petrochemical industry ----------------------------------- 12
Figure 9Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, the most expensive building in the world ---------------------------- 13
Figure 10Then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Ambassador to the U.S. Chan Heng Chee meet with
Secretary of Defense William Cohen during Lee's visit in 2000\ ------------------------------------------------- 15
Figure 11Republic of Singapore Air Force's F-15SG Strike Eagle (Peace Carvin V) training detachment at
Mountain Home Air Force Base. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Figure 12High-rise HDB flats and condominiums overlooking Bishan Park ----------------------------------- 19
Figure 13The Lee Kong Chian School of Business of the Singapore Management University, one of five
public universities in Singapore ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 23
Figure 14A scene in a street market in Chinatown, Singapore, during the Chinese New Year holidays. - 27
Figure 15The Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator the oldest Christian church in
Singapore --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28
Figure 16Sultan Mosque in Singapore ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29
Figure 17Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated by Singapore's Tamil community ----------------------- 29
Figure 18The Port of Singapore with Sentosa island in the background ----------------------------------------- 31
Figure 19Electronic Road Pricing gantry (road sign) at North Bridge Road ---------- Error! Bookmark not
defined.
Figure 20Ships in the ocean with Singapore visible in the background ------------------------------------------ 32

III

ETYMOLOGY

1. Etymology
Main article: Names of Singapore
The English name of Singapore is derived from the Malay word Singapura (Sanskrit: , literally
Lion City), hence the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. However, it is most likely that
lions never lived on the island, and the beast seen by Sang NilaUtama, who founded and named
Singapore, was a tiger.[11]

HISTORY

2. History
Main article: History of Singapore

Figure 2Victorious Japanese troops

marching through Singapore City after
British capitulation at the Battle of
Singapore

Temasek ('sea town'), a second century outpost of the Sumatran

Srivijaya empire, is the earliest known settlement on Singapore.
The island was part of the Sri Vijaya Empire until it was
invaded by the south Indian Emperor RajendraChola I, of the
Chola Empire, in the 11th century.[12][13] In 1613, Portuguese
raiders burned down the settlement and the island sank into
obscurity for the next two centuries.[14] Nominally, it belonged
to the Johor Sultanate during this period.

In 1819, Thomas Stamford Raffles arrived and signed a treaty

with Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor, on behalf of the British East India Company, to develop the southern
part of Singapore as a British trading post. In 1824, the entire island became a British possession under a
further treaty with the Sultan, as well as the Temenggong.[15] In 1826, Singapore became part of the
Straits Settlements, under the jurisdiction of British India, becoming the regional capital in 1836.[16]
Prior to Raffles' arrival, there were approximately 1,000 people living on the island, mostly indigenous
Malays along with a handful of Chinese.[17] By 1860, the population exceeded 80,000 and more than
half were Chinese. Many immigrants came to work at rubber plantations and, after the 1870s, the island
became a global centre for rubber exports.[15]
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded British Malaya, culminating in the Battle of
Singapore. The British were defeated, surrendering on 15 February 1942. British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill called this "... the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history".[18] The SookChing
massacre of ethnic Chinese after the fall of Singapore claimed between 5,000 and 25,000 lives.[19] The
Japanese occupied Singapore until the British repossessed it in September 1945, after the Surrender of
Japan.[20]
Singapore's first general election in 1955 was won by David Marshall, the pro-independence leader of the
Labour Front. He led a delegation to London to demand complete self-rule but was turned down by the
British. He subsequently resigned and was replaced by Lim Yew Hock, whose policies convinced Britain
to grant Singapore full internal self-government for all matters except defence and foreign affairs.[21]
During the May 1959 elections, the People's Action Party won a landslide victory. Singapore became an
internally self-governing state within the Commonwealth and Lee Kuan Yew became the country's first
Prime Minister.[22] Governor Sir William AllmondCodrington Goode served as the first Yang di-Pertuan
Negara (Head of State), and was succeeded by Yusof bin Ishak, who became the first President of
Singapore in 1965.[23] During the 1950s, Chinese Communists with strong ties to the trade unions and
Chinese schools carried out an armed uprising against the government, leading to the Malayan
Emergency and later, the Communist Insurgency War. The 1954 National Service Riots, Chinese middle
schools riots, and Hock Lee bus riots in Singapore were all linked to these events.[24]
On 31 August 1963, Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom, and joined with the
Federation of Malaya, the Crown Colony of Sarawak and Crown Colony of North Borneo to form the
3

SINGAPORE

new Federation of Malaysia as the result of the 1962 Merger Referendum. Singaporean leaders chose to
join Malaysia primarily due to concerns regarding their limited land size and scarcity of land, water,
markets and natural resources. They also were hoping to enlist the help of the Malaysian government to
combat the internal Communist threat.
However, the two years that Singapore spent as part of Malaysia were filled with strife and bitter
disagreements. The Malaysians insisted on a pro-Bumiputera (Malay for indigenous) society, where
indigenous Malays and tribes were given special rights. The Malaysians were also suspicious of
Singapore's ethnic Chinese population, and worried that Singapore's economic clout would shift the
centre of power from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. There were also linguistic and religious issues. The
Singaporeans, on the other hand, wanted an equal and meritocratic society, a Malaysian Malaysia where
all citizens were given equal rights without regard to indigenous or tribal affiliation or ancestry.
The Malaysian Parliament blocked many progressive bills, bringing Singapore's economic and social
development to a halt. Race riots broke out in Singapore in 1964. After much heated ideological conflicts
between the two governments, in 1965, the Malaysian Parliament voted 126 to 0 to expel Singapore from
Malaysia (the Singaporean delegates were not present and did not vote).[3][25][26] Singapore gained
independence as the Republic of Singapore (remaining within the Commonwealth) on 9 August 1965,[3]
with Yusof bin Ishak as President and Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister. Everyone who was living in
Singapore on the date of independence was offered Singapore citizenship. Race riots broke out once more
in 1969. In 1967, the country co-founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations[27] and in 1970 it
joined the Non-Aligned Movement.
In 1990, Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee as Prime Minister. During his tenure, the country faced the 1997
Asian financial crisis, the 2003 SARS outbreak and terrorist threats posed by Jemaah Islamiyah. In 2004,
Lee HsienLoong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the country's third Prime Minister.[28]

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

3. Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Singapore, Politics of Singapore and Human rights in Singapore
Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a Westminster system
of unicameral parliamentary government representing
constituencies. The country's constitution establishes a
representative democracy as the political system.[29] Freedom
House ranks Singapore as "partly free" in its Freedom in the
World report,[30] and The Economist ranks Singapore as a
"hybrid regime", the third best rank of four, in its "Democracy
Index".[31]
Executive power rests with the Cabinet of Singapore, led by the
Prime Minister and, to a much lesser extent, the President.[23]
The President is elected through a popular vote, and has veto powers over a specific set of executive
decisions, such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of judges, but otherwise occupies a
largely ceremonial post.[32]
Figure 3Singapore's Parliament House

The Parliament serves as the legislative branch of the government.[23] Members of Parliament (MPs)
consist of elected, non-constituency and nominated members. Elected MPs are voted into the Parliament
on a "first-past-the-post" (plurality) basis and represent either single-member or group-representation
constituencies.[33] The People's Action Party has won control of Parliament with large majorities in
every election since self-governance was secured in 1959.[30] Although the elections are clean, there is
no independent electoral authority and the political process is dominated by the PAP, which has strong
influence on the media and the courts hampering opposition campaigning. This has led Freedom House to
regard Singapore as not a proper electoral democracy.[34] Despite this, in the most recent Parliamentary
elections in 2011, the opposition, led by the Workers' Party, increased its representation to six elected
MPs.[35]
The legal system of Singapore is based on English common law,
but with substantial local differences. Trial by jury was abolished
in 1970 so that judicial decisions would rest entirely in the hands
of appointed judges.[36] Singapore has penalties that include
judicial corporal punishment in the form of caning, which may be
imposed for such offenses as rape, rioting, vandalism, and certain
immigration offenses.[37][38] There is a mandatory death penalty
for murder, as well as certain aggravated drug-trafficking and
firearms offenses.[39] Amnesty International has said that some
legal provisions of the Singapore system conflict with the right to
be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that Singapore has
"... possibly the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population".[40] The government has
disputed Amnesty's claims.[41] In a 2008 survey of international business executives, Singapore and
Hong Kong received the top ranking with regard to judicial system quality in Asia.[42] Singapore has
been consistently rated among the least corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International.[43]
Figure 4Singapore's Old Supreme Court
Building

SINGAPORE

In 2011, the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index ranked Singapore among the top countries
surveyed with regard to "Order and Security", "Absence of Corruption", and "Effective Criminal Justice".
However, the country received a much lower ranking for "Freedom of Speech" and "Freedom of
Assembly".[44] All public gatherings of five or more people require police permits, and protests may
legally be held only at the Speakers' Corner.[45]

GEOGRAPHY

4. Geography
Main article: Geography of Singapore
Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island, widely known as Singapore Island, or
PulauUjong in Malay.[46] There are two man-made connections to Johor, Malaysia: the JohorSingapore
Causeway in the north, and the Tuas Second Link in the west. Jurong Island, PulauTekong, PulauUbin
and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore's smaller islands. The highest natural point is Bukit Timah Hill at
166 m (545 ft).[47]
On-going land reclamation projects have increased Singapore's
land area from 581.5 km2 (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 716.1 km2
(276.5 sq mi) presently.[4] The country is projected to grow by
another 100 km2 (40 sq mi) by 2030.[48] Some projects involve
merging smaller islands through land reclamation to form larger,
more functional islands, as has been done with Jurong Island.[49]
Close to 10 percent of Singapore's land has been set aside for
parks and nature reserves, and the network of nature reserves,
parks, park connectors, nature ways, tree-lined roads and other
natural areas have also enhanced the sense of green space in the
city.[50] This is a result of five decades of greening efforts, which
began in 1963, when Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched
Singapores first tree-planting campaign by planting a mempat
Figure 5Outline of Singapore and the
surrounding islands and waterways
tree (Cratoxylumformosum). The aim was to soften the harshness
of urbanisation and improve the quality of life in the city.[51] This
initiative was carried through into the 1970s and 1980s under the Parks and Recreation Department
(PRD), which was renamed the National Parks Board (Abbreviation: NParks) in July 1996.

CLIMATE

5. Climate
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate (Kppen: Af ) with no distinctive seasons, uniform
temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 22 to 35
C (72 to 95 F). Relative humidity averages around 79% in the morning and 73% in the afternoon.[52]
April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January.[53]
From July to October, there is often haze caused by bush fires in neighbouring Indonesia.[54] Although
Singapore does not observe daylight saving time (DST), it follows the GMT+8 time zone, one hour ahead
of the typical zone for its geographical location.[55]
Table 1.temperature analysis

temperature analysis
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

record high
record low
average high
average low
daily mean

Table 2.rainfall(in mm)

rainfall(mm)
300
250
200
150
100

rainfall(mm)

50
0

SINGAPORE

Table 3.percentage humidity

% humidity
87
86
85
84
83

% humidity

82
81
80

Table 4.sunshine hours(monthly)

mean monthly sunshine hours

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

10

december

october

november

september

august

july

may

june

april

march

february

january

mean monthly sunshine

hours

ECONOMY

6. Economy
Main article: Economy of Singapore
Pre-independence economy
Before independence in 1965, Singapore was the capital of the British Straits Settlements, a Crown
Colony. It was also the main British naval base in East Asia.[58] Because it was the main British naval
base in the region and held the Singapore Naval Base, the largest dry dock of its time, Singapore was
commonly described in the press as the 'Gibraltar of the East'.[59] The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
caused a major increase in trade between Europe and Asia, helping Singapore become a major world
trade center, and turning the Port of Singapore into one of the largest and busiest ports in the world.[60]
Prior to 1965, Singapore had a GDP per capita of $511, then the third-highest in East Asia.[61] After
independence, the combination of foreign direct investment and a state-led drive for industrialisation,
based on plans by Goh KengSwee and Albert Winsemius, started the expansion of the country's
economy.[62]
Modern-day economy
The port of Singapore with a large number of shipping containers with the skyline of the city visible in
the background

Today, Singapore has a highly developed market economy, based

historically on extended entrept trade. Along with Hong Kong,
South Korea, and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the original Four
Asian Tigers. The Singaporean economy is known as one of the
freest,[64] most innovative,[65] most competitive,[66] and most
business-friendly.[67] The 2013 Index of Economic Freedom
ranks Singapore as the second freest economy in the world, behind
Figure 6The Port of Singapore, one of the
Hong Kong. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index,
world's five busiest,[63] with the skyline of Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt
Singapore in the background
countries in the world, along with New Zealand and the
Scandinavian countries.
Singapore is the 14th largest exporter and the 15th largest importer in the world. The country has the
highest trade-to-GDP ratio in the world at 407.9 percent, signifying the importance of trade to its
economy. The country is currently the only Asian country to receive AAA credit ratings from all three
major credit rating agencies: Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch.[68][69] Singapore attracts a large
amount of foreign investment as a result of its location, corruption-free environment, skilled workforce,
low tax rates and advanced infrastructure. There are more than 7,000 multinational corporations from the
United States, Japan, and Europe in Singapore. There are also approximately 1,500 companies from
China and a similar number from India. Foreign firms are found in almost all sectors of the country's
economy.[6] Singapore is also the second-largest foreign investor in India.[70] Roughly 44 percent of the
Singaporean workforce is made up of non-Singaporeans.[71] Over ten free-trade agreements have been
signed with other countries and regions.[72] Despite market freedom, Singapore's government operations
have a significant stake in the economy, contributing 22% of the GDP.[73]

11

SINGAPORE

Singapore also possesses the world's eleventh largest foreign reserves,[74] and has one of the highest net
international investment position per capita.[75][76] The currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar,
issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.[77] It is interchangeable with the Brunei dollar.[78]
In recent years, the country has been identified as an increasingly popular tax haven for the wealthy due
to the low tax rate on personal income and tax exemptions on foreign-based income and capital gains.
Australian millionaire retailer Brett Blundy, with an estimated personal wealth worth AU$835 million,
and multi-billionaire Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin are two examples of wealthy individuals who
have settled in Singapore (Blundy in 2013 and Saverin in 2012).[79] Singapore ranked fifth on the Tax
Justice Network's 2013 Financial Secrecy Index of the world's top tax havens, scoring narrowly ahead of
the United States.[80]
Sectors
Singapore is a world leader in several economic areas: The country is the world's fourth leading financial
centre,[81] the world's second largest casino gambling market,[82] one of the world's top three oilrefining centres, the world's largest oil-rig producer, and a major hub for ship repair services.[83][84][85]
The port is one of the five busiest ports in the world.[82] The World Bank has named Singapore as the
easiest place in the world to do business,[82] and ranks Singapore the world's top logistics hub.[86] It is
also the world's fourth largest foreign-exchange trading centre after London, New York City and
Tokyo.[87]
Singapore's economy depends heavily on exports and refining
imported goods, especially in manufacturing,[88] which
constituted 27% of the country's GDP in 2010,[6] and includes
significant electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical
engineering and biomedical sciences sectors. In 2006, Singapore
produced about 10% of the world's foundry wafer output.[89]
Singapore has a diversified economy, a strategy that the
Figure 7Skyline of Singapore's Central
Business District from the Esplanade

government considers vital for its growth and stability despite its

size.[90]
Tourism also forms a large part of the economy, and 10.2 million
tourists visited the country in 2007.[91] To attract more tourists, the
government legalised gambling in 2005 and allowed two casino
resorts (called Integrated Resorts) to be developed.[92] Singapore
also promotes itself as a medical tourism hub: about 200,000
foreigners seek medical care there each year. Singapore medical
services aim to serve at least one million foreign patients annually
and generate USD 3 billion in revenue.[93]

Figure 8Jurong Island hosts the bulk of

Singapore's petrochemical industry

Singapore is an education hub, and many foreign students study in Singapore. More than 80,000
international students studied in Singapore in 2006.[94] Every morning, more than 5,000 Malaysian
students cross the JohorSingapore Causeway thinking that they will receive better education in

12

ECONOMY

Singapore.[95] In 2009, 20% of all students in Singaporean universities were international students. The
students were mainly from ASEAN, China and India.[96]
As a result of the recession in the early 2000s and a slump in the technology sector, Singapore's GDP
contracted by 2.2% in 2001. The Economic Review Committee was set up in December 2001 and
recommended several policy changes to revitalise the economy. Singapore has since recovered, due
largely to improvements in the world economy; the economy grew by 8.3% in 2004, 6.4% in 2005,[97]
and 7.9% in 2006.[98] After a contraction of 0.8% in 2009, the economy recovered in 2010, with GDP
growth of 14.5%.[6] Most work in Singapore is in the service sector, which employed 2,151,400 people
out of 3,102,500 jobs in December 2010. The percentage of unemployed economically active people
above age 15 is about 2%.[99]
Employment and poverty
Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaires, with one out of every six households having
at least one million US dollars in disposable wealth (excluding property, businesses, and luxury goods,
which if included would increase the number of millionaires, as property in Singapore is among the
world's most expensive).[100] Singapore does not have a minimum wage, believing that it would lower
its competitiveness. It also has one of the highest income inequality levels among developed countries,
coming in just behind Hong Kong and in front of the United States.[101][102]
Acute poverty is rare in Singapore; the government has rejected
the idea of a generous welfare system, stating that each generation
must earn and save enough for its entire life cycle. There are,
however, numerous means-tested assistance programs provided by
the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Some of the programs include providing between SGD 400 to
SGD 1000 per month to needy households, free medical care at
Figure 9Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, the
most expensive building in the world

government hospitals, money for children's school fees, rental of

studio apartments and training grants for courses.[103][104][105]

Table 5.distribution of income classes

distribution of income classes

high income
27%

poverty
class
28%

middle class
45%

13

FOREIGN RELATIONS

7. Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Singapore
Singapore's foreign policy is directed at maintaining a secure environment in Southeast Asia as well as
the surrounding territories. An underlying principle is political and economic stability in the region.[72] It
has diplomatic relations with more than 180 other sovereign states.[106] As one of the five founding
members of ASEAN,[107] the country is a strong supporter of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the
ASEAN Investment Area, because Singapore's economic growth is closely linked with the economic
progress of the region as a whole. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the formation of an
ASEAN Economic Community, a step beyond the current AFTA, bringing it closer to a common market.
This idea was agreed to in 2007 for implementation by 2015. Other regional organisations are also
important to Singapore, and it is the host of the APEC Secretariat. Singapore also maintains membership
in other regional organisations, such as AsiaEurope Meeting, the Forum for East Asia-Latin American
Cooperation, the Asian Network of Major Cities 21, and the East Asia Summit.[72] It is also a member of
the Non-Aligned Movement[108] and the Commonwealth.[109]
In general, bilateral relations with other ASEAN members are
strong; however, disagreements have arisen,[72] and relations with
neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have historically sometimes
been very strained and difficult.[110] Malaysia and Singapore
have clashed over the delivery of fresh water to Singapore,[111]
and access of the Singapore Armed Forces to Malaysian
airspace.[110] Border issues exist with both Malaysia and
Indonesia, and both have banned the sale of marine sand to
Singapore over disputes about Singapore's land reclamation.[112]
Some previous disputes have been resolved by the International
Court of Justice. Piracy in the Strait of Malacca has been a cause
of concern for all three countries.[111] Close economic ties exist
with Brunei, and the two share a pegged currency value.[113]
Figure 10Then Senior Minister Lee Kuan
Yew and Ambassador to the U.S. Chan
Heng Chee meet with Secretary of Defense
William Cohen during Lee's visit in 2000\

The first diplomatic contact with China was made in the 1970s, with full diplomatic relations being
established in the 1990s. Since then the two countries have enjoyed a strong relationship, being major
players in strengthening the ASEANChina relationship.[114] Singapore and the United States share a
long-standing and strong relationship, in particular in defence, the economy, health, and education. The
United States was Singapore's third largest trading partner in 2010, behind China (2nd) and Malaysia
(1st).[115] The two countries have a free-trade agreement, and Singapore views its relationship with the
United States as an important counterbalance to China's influence.[116] A Strategic Framework
Agreement between the two signed in 2005 formalises security and defence cooperation.[117] Singapore
has pushed regional counter-terrorism initiatives, with a strong resolve to deal with terrorists inside its
borders. To this end it has given support to the US-led coalition to fight terrorism, with bilateral
cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation initiatives, and joint military exercises.[72]

15

MILITARY

8. Military
Main article: Singapore Armed Forces
The Singaporean military is arguably the most technologically advanced in Southeast Asia.[118] It
comprises the Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, and Republic of Singapore Air Force.[6] It
is seen as the guarantor of the country's independence.[119] The nation's philosophy of defence is one of
diplomacy and deterrence.[120] This principle translates into the culture, involving all citizens in the
country's defence.[121] The government spends 4.9% of the country's GDP on the military,[6] and one
out of every four dollars of government spending is spent on defence.[122]
After its independence, Singapore had two infantry regiments commanded by British officers. This force
was considered too small to provide effective security for the new country, so the development of the
military became a priority.[123] Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971, leaving
behind only a small British, Australian and New Zealand force as a token military presence. The last
British soldier left Singapore in March 1976. New Zealand troops were the last to leave, in 1989.[124]
A great deal of initial support came from Israel,[123] a country
that is not recognised by neighbouring Muslim-majority nations of
Malaysia, Indonesia or Brunei.[125][126][127] The main fear after
independence was an invasion by Malaysia. Israeli Defense Force
(IDF) commanders were tasked with creating the Singapore
Armed Forces (SAF) from scratch, and Israeli instructors were
brought in to train Singaporean soldiers. Military courses were
conducted according to the IDF's format, and Singapore adopted a
system of conscription and reserve service based on the Israeli
model.[123] Singapore still maintains strong security ties with
Israel and is one of the biggest buyers of Israeli arms and weapons
systems.[128] The MATADOR is one example of recent Singapore-Israeli collaboration.[129]
Figure 11Republic of Singapore Air
Force's F-15SG Strike Eagle (Peace
Carvin V) training detachment at
Mountain Home Air Force Base.

The SAF is being developed to respond to a wide range of issues, in both conventional and
unconventional warfare. The Defence Science and Technology Agency is responsible for procuring
resources for the military.[120] The geographic restrictions of Singapore mean that the SAF must plan to
fully repulse an attack, as they can not fall back and re-group. The small size of the population has also
affected the way the SAF has been designed, with a small active force but a large number of
reserves.[121]
Singapore has conscription for all able-bodied males at age 18, except those with a criminal record or who
can prove that their loss would bring hardship to their families. Males who have yet to complete preuniversity education or are awarded the Public Service Commission scholarship can opt to defer their
draft. Though not required to perform military service, the number of women in the SAF has been
increasing: since 1989 they have been allowed to fill military vocations formerly reserved for men. Before
induction into a specific branch of the armed forces, recruits undergo at least 9 weeks of basic military
training.[130]

17

SINGAPORE

Because of the scarcity of open land on the main island, training involving activities such as live firing
and amphibious landings is often carried out on smaller islands, typically barred to civilian access. This
also avoids risk to the main island and the city. However, large-scale drills are considered too dangerous
to be performed in the area, and since 1975 have been performed in Taiwan.[130] Training is also held in
about a dozen other countries. In general, military exercises are held with foreign forces once or twice per
week.[121]
Due to airspace and land constraints, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) maintains a number of
overseas bases in Australia, the United States, and France. The RSAF's 130 Squadron is based in RAAF
Base Pearce, Western Australia,[131] and its 126 Squadron is based in the Oakey Army Aviation Centre,
Queensland.[132] The RSAF has one squadron the 150 Squadron based in Cazaux Air Base in
southern France.[133][134] The RSAF also has a few overseas detachments in the United States, in San
Diego, California, Marana, Arizona, Grand Prairie, Texas and Luke Air Force Base, among
others.[135][136]
The SAF has sent forces to assist in operations outside the country, in areas such as Iraq[137] and
Afghanistan,[138] in both military and civilian roles. In the region, it has helped stabilise East Timor and
has provided aid to Aceh in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The SAF
also helped in relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina.[139] Singapore is part of the Five Power Defence
Arrangements, a military alliance with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[121]

18

DEMOGRAPHICS

9. Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Singapore

Figure 12High-rise HDB flats and

condominiums overlooking Bishan Park

As of mid-2013, the estimated population of Singapore was

5,399,200 people, 3,313,500 (61.37%) of whom were citizens,
while the remaining 2,085,700 (38.63%) were permanent residents
(531,200) or foreign workers/students (1,554,500).[4] 23% of
Singaporean citizens are foreign born. There are about half a
million permanent residents in Singapore in 2012. The resident
population does not take into account the 11 million annual
visitors to Singapore.[140][141]

The median age of Singaporeans is 37, and the average household size is 3.5 persons. Due to scarcity of
land, four out of five Singaporeans live in subsidised, high-rise, public housing apartments known as
Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, after the board responsible for public housing in the
country.[142] Live-in domestic helpers are quite common in Singapore, and there are nearly 200,000
domestic helpers there.[143]
In 2010, three quarters of Singaporean residents live in properties that are equal to or larger than a fourroom HDB flat or in private housing. The rate of home ownership is 87%.[144][145] Mobile phone
penetration rate is extremely high at 1,400 mobile phone subscribers per 1000 people. Around 1 in 10
residents own a car.[141]
The total fertility rate is estimated to be .79 children per woman in 2013, the lowest in the world and well
below the 2.1 needed to replace the population.[146] To overcome this problem, the Singapore
government has been encouraging foreigners to immigrate to Singapore for the past few decades. The
large number of immigrants has kept Singapore's population from declining.[147] Singapore traditionally
has one of the lowest unemployment rates among developed countries. The Singaporean unemployment
rate has not exceeded 4% in the past decade, hitting a high of 3% during the 2009 global financial crisis
and falling to 1.9% in 2011.[148][149]
As of 2009, about 40% of Singapore's residents were foreigners, one of the highest percentage in the
world.[150] The government is considering capping these workers, although it has been recognised that
they are crucial to the country's economy,[151] as foreign workers make up 80% of the construction
industry and up to 50% of the service industry.[152][153]
In 2009, the government census reports that 74% of residents were of Chinese, 13.4% of Malay, and 9%
of Indian descent,[154] while Eurasians and other groups made up 3.2%. Prior to 2010, each person could
register as a member of only one race, by default that of his or her father, therefore, mixed-race persons
were solely grouped under their father's race in government censuses. From 2010 onward, people may
register using a multi-racial classification, in which they may choose one primary race and one secondary
race, but no more than two.[155]
Religion
Main article: Religion in Singapore

19

SINGAPORE

Buddhism is the most widely practised religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population
declaring themselves adherents at the most recent census. The next-most practised religion is Christianity,
followed by Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism. 17% of the population did not have a religious affiliation. The
proportion of Christians, Taoists, and non-religious people increased between 2000 and 2010 by about
3% each, whilst the proportion of Buddhists decreased. Other faiths remained largely stable in their share
of the population.[156] An analysis by the Pew Research Center found Singapore to be the world's most
religiously diverse nation.[158]
Table 6.religion

religion
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%

percentage

There are monasteries and Dharma centres from all three major traditions of Buddhism in Singapore:
Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Most Buddhists in Singapore are Chinese and are of the Mahayana
tradition,[159] with missionaries having come into the country from Taiwan and China for several
decades. However, Thailand's Theravada Buddhism has seen growing popularity among the populace (not
only the Chinese) during the past decade. SokaGakkai International, a Japanese Buddhist organisation, is
practised by many people in Singapore, but mostly by those of Chinese descent. Tibetan Buddhism has
also made slow inroads into the country in recent years.[160]
Languages
Main article: Languages of Singapore
Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil.[162] English is the common
language, and is the language of business, government, and the medium of instruction in
schools.[163][164] Public bodies in Singapore, i.e. the Singapore Public Service (which includes the
Singapore Civil Service and other agencies), conduct their businesses in English, and official documents
written in a non-English official language such as Malay, Chinese or Tamil typically have to be translated
into English to be accepted for submission. The Constitution of Singapore and all laws are written in
English,[165] and translators are required if one wishes to address the Singaporean Courts in a language
other than English.[166][167] However, English is the native tongue for only one-third of all
Singaporeans, with roughly a third of all Singaporean Chinese, a quarter of all Singaporean Malays and
20

DEMOGRAPHICS

half of all Singaporean Indians speaking it as their native tongue. Twenty percent of Singaporeans cannot
read or write in English.[156][168]
Many, but not all, Singaporeans are bilingual in English and another official language, with vastly varying
degrees of fluency. The official languages ranked in terms of literacy amongst Singaporeans are English
(80% literacy), Mandarin (65% literacy), Malay (17% literacy), and Tamil (4% literacy).[156][169]
Singapore English is based on British English,[170] and forms of English spoken in Singapore range from
Standard Singapore English to a pidgin known as "Singlish". Singlish is heavily discouraged by the
government.[171]
Mandarin is the language that is spoken as the native tongue by the greatest number of Singaporeans, half
of them.[161] Singaporean Mandarin is the most common version of Chinese in the country,[172] with
1.2 million using it as their home language. Nearly half a million speak other Chinese dialects, mainly
Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese, as their home language, although the use of these is declining in
favour of Mandarin and English.[173]
Malay was chosen as a national language by the Singaporean government after independence from Britain
in the 1960s to avoid friction with Singapore's neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia which are
Malay-speaking.[174] It has a symbolic, rather than functional purpose.[162][175][176] It is used in the
national anthem "MajulahSingapura",[177] in citations of Singaporean orders and decorations, and in
military commands. Today, in general, Malay is spoken within the Singaporean Malay community, with
only 17% of all Singaporeans literate in Malay[178] and only 12% using it as their native language.[161]
Around 100,000, or 3%, of Singaporeans speak Tamil as their native language.[161] Tamil has official
status in Singapore and there have been no attempts to discourage the use of other Indian languages.[179]
Table 7.language

language
mandarin chinese

english

malay

tamil

3%
12%
52%
33%

21

INFRASTRUCTURE

10. Infrastructure
Science and technology
Internet in Singapore is provided by internet service providers (ISPs) that offer residential service plans of
speeds up to 1 Gbit/s. In Singapore, the rise of Gigabit Networks increased exports and created 80,000
jobs in 2006.[180]
Education
Main article: Education in Singapore
Education for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels is mostly supported by the state. All institutions,
private and public, must be registered with the Ministry of Education.[181] English is the language of
instruction in all public schools,[182] and all subjects are taught and examined in English except for the
"mother tongue" language paper.[183] While the term "mother tongue" in general refers to the first
language internationally, in Singapore's education system, it is used to refer to the second language, as
English is the first language.[184][185] Students who have been abroad for a while, or who struggle with
their "Mother Tongue" language, are allowed to take a simpler syllabus or drop the subject.[186][187]
Education takes place in three stages: primary, secondary, and preuniversity education. Only the primary level is compulsory.
Students begin with six years of primary school, which is made up
of a four-year foundation course and a two-year orientation stage.
The curriculum is focused on the development of English, the
mother tongue, mathematics, and science.[188][189] Secondary
school lasts from four to five years, and is divided between
Special, Express, Normal (Academic), and Normal (Technical)
streams in each school, depending on a student's ability
Figure 13The Lee Kong Chian School of
Business of the Singapore Management
level.[190] The basic coursework breakdown is the same as in the
University, one of five public universities
primary level, although classes are much more specialised.[191]
in Singapore
Pre-university education takes place over two to three years at
senior schools, mostly called Junior Colleges.[192]
Some schools have a degree of freedom in their curriculum and are known as autonomous schools. These
exist from the secondary education level and up.[190]
National examinations are standardised across all schools, with a test taken after each stage. After the first
six years of education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE),[188] which
determines their placement at secondary school. At the end of the secondary stage, GCE "O"-Level exams
are taken; at the end of the following pre-university stage, the GCE "A"-Level exams are taken. Of all
non-student Singaporeans aged 15 and above, 18% have no education qualifications at all while 45% have
the PSLE as their highest qualification; 15% have the GCE 'O' Level as their highest qualification and
14% have a degree.[193]
Singaporean students consistently rank in the top five in the world in the two major international
assessments of mathematics and science knowledge:

23

SINGAPORE

Table 8.Educational attainment of non-student Singaporeans above 15 years old in 2005

Educational attainment of nonstudent Singaporeans above 15 years

old in 2005

no education
primary school
secondary school
post secondary diplomo
degree

Singaporean students were ranked first in the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, and
have been ranked in the top three every year since 1995.[194][195]
Singaporean students were also ranked in the top five in the world in terms of mathematics, science, and
reading in the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment, conducted by the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).[196]
The country's two main public universities the National University of Singapore and Nanyang
Technological University are among the top 50 in the world.[197]
Health
Main article: Healthcare in Singapore
Singapore has a generally efficient healthcare system, even though their health expenditures are relatively
low for developed countries.[198] The World Health Organisation ranks Singapore's healthcare system as
6th overall in the world in its World Health Report.[199] In general, Singapore has had the lowest infant
mortality rate in the world for the past two decades.[141] Life expectancy in Singapore is 80 for males
and 85 for females, placing the country 4th in the world for life expectancy. Almost the whole population
has access to improved water and sanitation facilities. There are fewer than 10 annual deaths from HIV
per 100,000 people. There is a high level of immunisation. Adult obesity is below 10%.[200]
The government's healthcare system is based upon the "3M" framework. This has three components:
Medifund, which provides a safety net for those not able to otherwise afford healthcare, Medisave, a
compulsory health savings scheme covering about 85% of the population, and Medishield, a governmentfunded health insurance program.[198] Public hospitals in Singapore have autonomy in their management
24

DEMOGRAPHICS

decisions, and compete for patients. A subsidy scheme exists for those on low income.[201] In 2008, 32%
of healthcare was funded by the government. It accounts for approximately 3.5% of Singapore's
GDP.[202]

25

CULTURE

11. Culture
Main article: Culture of Singapore
Singapore has one of the lowest rates of drug use in the world. This may be due in part to the country's
very strict drug laws, which include mandatory death sentences for some drug trafficking offenses.
Although these laws have drawn repeated criticism from human rights organizations such as Amnesty
International, Singapore's government has publicly defended them.[203]
Foreigners make up 42% of the population,[150][173] and have a strong influence on Singaporean
culture. The Economist Intelligence Unit in its "Quality-of-Life Index" ranks Singapore as having the best
quality of life in Asia and eleventh overall in the world.[204]
Table 9.searches by singaporeans on smart phones

searches by singaporeans on smart

phones
5%

5%

transport

2%
7%

31%

public amenities

8%
12%

food
14%

16%
ATM,transactions &
payment services
shopping,entertainment
& lifestyle

Languages, religions, and cultures

Sultan Mosque in Singapore
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated by Singapore's Tamil community
Singapore is a very diverse and young country. It has many languages, religions, and cultures for a
country its size.[205]
When Singapore became independent from the United Kingdom in
1963, most of the newly minted Singaporean citizens were
uneducated labourers from Malaysia, China and India. Many of
them were transient labourers who were seeking to make some
money in Singapore and they had no intention of staying for good.
A sizeable minority of middle-class, local-born people, known as
the Peranakans, also existed. With the exception of the Peranakans
(descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants)
Figure 14A scene in a street market in
Chinatown, Singapore, during the Chinese
New Year holidays.

27

SINGAPORE

who pledged their loyalties to Singapore, most of the labourers' loyalties lay with their respective
homelands of Malaysia, China and India.[206][207] After independence, the process of crafting a
Singaporean identity and culture began.
Former Prime Ministers of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, have stated that Singapore
does not fit the traditional description of a nation, calling it a society-in-transition, pointing out the fact
that Singaporeans do not all speak the same language, share the same religion, or have the same
customs.[205][208] Even though English is the first language of the nation, according to the government's
2010 census 20% of Singaporeans, or one in five, are illiterate in English. This is a marked improvement
from 1990 where 40% of Singaporeans were illiterate in English.[209][210]
Unlike many other countries, languages, religions and cultures among Singaporeans are not delineated
according to skin colour or ancestry. Among Chinese Singaporeans, one in five is Christian, another one
in five is atheist, and the rest are mostly Buddhists or Taoists. One-third speak English as their home
language, while half speak Mandarin Chinese. The rest speak other mutually unintelligible Chinese
languages at home.[209] Singaporean Indians are much more religious. Only 1% of them are atheists. Six
in ten are Hindu, two in ten Muslim, and the rest mostly Christian. Four in ten speak English as their
home language, three in ten Tamil, one in ten Malay, and the rest other Indian languages as their home
language.[209]
Each Singaporean's behaviours and attitudes would therefore be influenced by, among many other things,
his or her home language and his religion. Singaporeans who speak English as their native language tend
to lean toward Western culture, while those who speak Chinese languages as their native language tend to
lean toward Chinese culture and Confucianism. Malay-speaking Singaporeans tend to lean toward the
Malay culture, which itself is closely linked to the Islamic culture.
Attitudes and beliefs
Singapore, as a country, in general is conservative socially, but some liberalisation has occurred.[211] At
the national level, meritocracy, where one is judged based on one's ability, is heavily emphasised.[212]
Racial and religious harmony is regarded by the government as a
crucial part of Singapore's success, and played a part in building a
Singaporean identity.[213] Singapore has a reputation as a nanny
state.[214][215] The national flower of Singapore is the Vanda
'Miss Joaquim' named in memory of a Singapore-born Armenian
woman, who discovered the flower in her garden at TanjongPagar
in 1893.[216] Many national symbols such as the Coat of arms of
Singapore and the Lion head symbol of Singapore make use of the
Figure 15The Armenian Church of Saint
Gregory the Illuminator the oldest
Christian church in Singapore

lion, as Singapore is known as the 'Lion City'. Public holidays in

Singapore cover major Chinese, Western, Malay and Indian
festivals.[217]

Singaporean employees work an average of around 45 hours weekly, relatively long compared to many
other nations. Three in four Singaporean employees surveyed stated that they take pride in doing their
work well, and that doing so helps their self-confidence.[218]

28

CULTURE

Cuisine
Main article: Singaporean cuisine
Dining, along with shopping, is said to be the country's national pastime.[219] The focus on food has led
countries like Australia to attract Singaporean tourists with food-based itineraries.[220] The diversity of
food is touted as a reason to visit the country,[221] and the variety of food representing different
ethnicities is seen by the government as a symbol of its multiculturalism.[222] The "national fruit" of
Singapore is the durian.[223]
In popular culture, food items belong to a particular ethnicity, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian food
clearly defined. However, the diversity of cuisine has been increased further by the "hybridisation" of
different styles (e.g., the Peranakan cuisine, a mix of Chinese and Malay cuisine).[221]
Arts
Since the 1990s, the government has been promoting Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, in
particular the performing arts, and to transform the country into a cosmopolitan "gateway between the
East and West".[224] One highlight was the construction of Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, a
performing arts centre opened in October 2002.[225] The national orchestra, Singapore Symphony
Orchestra, plays at the Esplanade. The annual Singapore Arts Festival is organised by the National Arts
Council. The stand-up comedy scene has been growing, with a weekly open mic.[226] Singapore hosted
the 2009 Genee International Ballet Competition, a classical ballet competition promoted by London's
Royal Academy of Dance.[227]
Sport and recreation
Main article: Sport in Singapore
Popular sports include football, basketball, cricket, swimming,
sailing, table tennis and badminton. Most Singaporeans live in
public residential areas (known as "HDB flats", as mentioned
above) near amenities such as public swimming pools, outdoor
basketball courts and indoor sport complexes. Water sports are
popular, including sailing, kayaking and water skiing. Scuba
diving is another popular recreational sport. The Southern island
Figure 17Thaipusam is a Hindu festival
celebrated by Singapore's Tamil
community

of PulauHantu, particularly, is known for its rich coral reefs.[228]

Singapore's football (soccer) league, the S-League, formed in

1994,[229] currently comprises 12 clubs including foreign
teams.[230] The Singapore Slingers, formerly in the Australian National Basketball League, is one of the
inaugural teams in the ASEAN Basketball League, founded in October 2009.[231]
Singapore began hosting a round of the Formula One World Championship, the Singapore Grand Prix, in
2008. The race takes place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and was the inaugural F1 night race,[232]
and the first F1 street race in Asia.[233] The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar

29

Figure 16Sultan Mosque in Singapore

SINGAPORE

through at least 2017, after race organisers signed a contract extension with Formula One Group on the
eve of the 2012 event.[234]
Kranji Racecourse is run by the Singapore Turf Club and hosts multiple weekly meetings and many
important local and international races, notably the prestigious Singapore Airlines International Cup.
Singapore also hosted the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.[235]
Media
Main article: Media of Singapore
Companies linked to the government control much of the domestic media in Singapore.[236] MediaCorp
operates most free-to-air television channels and free-to-air radio stations in Singapore. There are a total
of seven free-to-air TV channels offered by Mediacorp.[237] The channels are Channel 5 (English
channel), Channel News Asia (English channel), Okto (English channel), Channel 8 (Chinese channel),
Channel U (Chinese channel), Suria (Malay channel) and Vasantham (Indian channel).[238] Starhub
Cable Vision (SCV) also offers cable television with channels from all around the world[239] and
Singtel'sMioTV provides an IPTV service.[240] Singapore Press Holdings, a body with close links to the
government, controls most of the newspaper industry in Singapore.[241]
Singapore's media industry has sometimes been criticised for being too regulated and lacking in freedom
by human rights groups such as Freedom House.[236] In 2010, Reporters Without Borders, a Francebased international non-governmental organisation, ranked Singapore 136 out of 178 in its Press Freedom
Index, just below Mexico.[242]
The Media Development Authority regulates Singaporean media, claiming to balance the demand for
choice and protection against offensive and harmful material.[243] Private ownership of TV satellite
dishes is banned.[241] Television is censored, and shows like Sex and the City and Queer as Folk (UK
TV series) are banned. There are 3.4 million users of the internet in Singapore,[241] one of the highest
internet penetration rates in the world. The Singapore government does not engage in widespread
censoring of the internet,[244] but it maintains a list of one hundred websites (mostly pornographic) that
it blocks as a 'symbolic statement of the Singaporean community's stand on harmful and undesirable
content on the Internet'.[245] As the block covers only home internet access, users may still visit the
blocked websites from their office computers.[246]

30

TRANSPORT

12. Transport
Main article: Transport in Singapore

Figure 18The Port of Singapore with Sentosa island in the background

Since Singapore is a small island with a high population density, the number of private cars on the road is
restricted so as to curb pollution and congestion. Car buyers must pay for duties one-and-a-half times the
vehicle's market value, and bid for a Singaporean Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which allows the car
to run on the road for a decade. The cost of the Singaporean certificate of entitlement alone would buy a
Porsche Boxster in the United States. Car prices are generally significantly higher in Singapore than in
other English-speaking countries. [141][247] As with most Commonwealth countries, vehicles on the
road and people walking on the streets keep to the left.[248]
Singaporean residents also travel by foot, bicycles,
bus, taxis and train (MRT or LRT). Two companies
run the public bus and train transport system SBS
Transit and SMRT Corporation. There are six taxi
companies, who together put out over 27,000 taxis
on the road. Taxis are a popular form of public
transport as the fares are relatively cheap compared
to many other developed countries.[249]
Singapore has a road system covering 3,356
kilometres (2,085 mi), which includes 161
kilometres (100 mi) of expressways.[6][250][251]
The Singapore Area Licensing Scheme,
Figure 19Electronic Road Pricing gantry (road sign) at
North Bridge Road
implemented in 1975, became the world's first
congestion pricing scheme, and included other
complementary measures such as stringent car ownership quotas and improvements in mass
transit.[252][253] Upgraded in 1998 and renamed Electronic Road Pricing, the system introduced
electronic toll collection, electronic detection, and video surveillance technology.[254]

31

SINGAPORE

Table 10.transportion used the most

transport
taxis
20%

cars
30%

buses and
trains
50%

Singapore is a major international transport hub in Asia, positioned on many sea and air trade routes. The
Port of Singapore, managed by port operators PSA International and Jurong Port, was the world's secondbusiest port in 2005 in terms of shipping tonnage handled, at 1.15 billion gross tons, and in terms of
containerised traffic, at 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It is also the world's secondbusiest, behind Shanghai, in terms of cargo tonnage with 423 million tons handled. In addition, the port is
the world's busiest for transshipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuellingcentre.[255]
Singapore is an aviation hub for Southeast Asia and a stopover on the Kangaroo Route between Sydney
and London.[256] There are eight airports in the country,[6] and Singapore Changi Airport hosts a
network of 80 airlines connecting Singapore to 200 cities in 68 countries. It has been rated one of the best
international airports by international travel magazines, including being rated as the world's best airport
for the first time in 2006 by Skytrax.[257] The national airlines are Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and
Scoot.[258]

Figure 20Ships in the ocean with Singapore visible in the background

32