Singapore
From ePedia, the electronic encyclopedia
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 city-state and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, situated on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of the Indonesian Riau Islands. Its coordinates are 1°17.583′N 103°51.333′E, just 137 km north of the Equator. The name Singapore was derived from the Malay word singa (lion), which itself is derived from the Sanskrit word सिंह siMha of the same meaning, and the Malay word "pura", also derived from the Sanskrit word पुर pura (city) [1]. Hence, Singapore is also known as the Lion City. The naming is attributed to a minor prince named Sang Nila Utama, who according to lore, saw a lion as the first living creature on the island and decided to name it Singapura as a result.
Singapore developed from a small Malay fishing village to become a multicultural, major global city with cosmopolitan ideals. It has attracted controversy for some policies it has taken to achieve its development since independence in 1965. Throughout recorded history, it has been possessed by multiple countries and empires and changed hands many times, including being in the possession of the Majapahit Kingdom, Melaka and the Sultanate of Johore in ancient history, the British Empire in the colonial era, Japanese Empire in World War II and Malaysia after merger, until its independence. After independence, rapid government-led industrialisation and open policies inviting foreign investments stimulated rapid economic growth; consequently Singapore is now considered a developed nation.
Presently, Singapore can be politically analysed as a democratic socialist country that has adopted a welfare system, although de facto it has a dominant-party system. The Government perceives Singapore as multiracial, and champions multiracialism as an ideal. The majority of the population is ethnic Chinese, with Malays, ethnic Indians and Eurasians constituting significant minorities. Singapore has few natural resources, so its economy relies on exports of electronics and manufacturing from her port. More than 90% of Singapore's population live in housing estates constructed by the Housing Development Board and nearly half utilise the public transport system daily. As a result of public transport and environmental initiatives by government ministries, Singapore's pollution is mostly isolated from heavy industry located offshore in Jurong Island.
Singapore developed from a small Malay fishing village to become a multicultural, major global city with cosmopolitan ideals. It has attracted controversy for some policies it has taken to achieve its development since independence in 1965. Throughout recorded history, it has been possessed by multiple countries and empires and changed hands many times, including being in the possession of the Majapahit Kingdom, Melaka and the Sultanate of Johore in ancient history, the British Empire in the colonial era, Japanese Empire in World War II and Malaysia after merger, until its independence. After independence, rapid government-led industrialisation and open policies inviting foreign investments stimulated rapid economic growth; consequently Singapore is now considered a developed nation.
Presently, Singapore can be politically analysed as a democratic socialist country that has adopted a welfare system, although de facto it has a dominant-party system. The Government perceives Singapore as multiracial, and champions multiracialism as an ideal. The majority of the population is ethnic Chinese, with Malays, ethnic Indians and Eurasians constituting significant minorities. Singapore has few natural resources, so its economy relies on exports of electronics and manufacturing from her port. More than 90% of Singapore's population live in housing estates constructed by the Housing Development Board and nearly half utilise the public transport system daily. As a result of public transport and environmental initiatives by government ministries, Singapore's pollution is mostly isolated from heavy industry located offshore in Jurong Island.
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