Political History of Singapore

UP DILIMAN POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS •

04.05.2019
- Introduction
- European Arrivals
- Japanese Occupation
- Governance
- Merger with Malaya

Overview
- Separation from
Malaysia
- Economic Success
- Leaders
- Diplomatic Relations
- Problems and Concerns
Introduction
Heraldry, Symbols, and Meaning

Flag ● Red: universal brotherhood and

equality of man;

● White: pervading and everlasting

purity and virtue

● Stars: ideals of democracy,

peace, progress, justice and
equality

● White crescent moon: depicts the

young nation of Singapore on the
rise
Heraldry, Symbols, and Meaning

Coat of Arms

● Tiger symbolises the current

state and honours its cultural
links with Malaysia

● Lion represents Singapore

● "Majulah Singapura", which is

Malay for "Onward Singapore"
Heraldry, Symbols, and Meaning
Merlion

● body symbolises Singapore's

humble beginnings as a fishing
village when it was called
Temasek, meaning 'sea town' in
Old Javanese

● head represents Singapore's

original name, Singapura, or
'lion city' in Malay
Heraldry, Symbols, and Meaning

Vanda Miss Joaquim

● vibrant colours, hardiness

and resilience – qualities
that reflect the Singapore
spirit
Basic demographic
Basic socio-political/cultural demographic

Ethnic Groups
● 74.3% Chinese

● 13.3% Malay

● 9.1% Indian

● 3.3% other
Basic socio-political/cultural demographic

Religion
● 33% Buddhism ● 11% Taoism and

● 19% Christianity folk religion

● 18% Irreligious ● 5.0% Hinduism

● 14% Islam ● 1% other

 Geography

- 721.5 sq km Singapore is about 417

- Population: 5.612 times smaller than
million (2017) Philippines!
Early History
Mao Kun map showing Singapore and part of the east coast of the Malay peninsula. Temasek (early
Singapore; "淡馬錫) is marked at the top left corner
1025

Rajendra Chola
● Of Chola Empire

● Conquered Temasek
1299 - 1398

Sang Nila Utama

● Prince from Palembang

● Landed on “Temasek” (place

surrounded by the sea)

● Saw a lion and named the

island Singapura (simhah-
pura - lion city)
1414

Parameswara
● Sultanate of
Malacca
European Arrivals
Portuguese Sir Stamford Singapore
Malacca Raffles’ arrival becomes a
British colony

1511 1641 1.29.1819 2.6.1819 8.2.1824

Dutch Control Signing of treaty between

Sultan Hussein of Johor,
Temenggong Abdul Rahman and
Sir Stamford Raffles.
Sir Stamford 1. Established Singapore as a

Raffles bustling port, a zone of

free trade and free
immigration policies

2. Religious tolerance

3. Enlightenment Period
inspired Raffles to
design/plan Singapore:
“energy, purity,
encouragement”
Japanese Invasion
 British
officers
surrender to
Japanese
troops at
Singapore,
Feb. 15, 1942

Dec 08, 1941: Malaya

Dates: Feb 15, 1942 - Singapore (1942-45): Shonan “light of
the south”
 Purging of Chinese “Sook Ching Massacre”

25,000 - 50,000 young Chinese men killed -> Post War: Chinese moral claim on
Singapore

The Sook Ching Centre

Changi Beach Massacre
Monument at Hong Lim
Monument[edit]
Complex in Chinatown
Governance
 1st "limited Lim Yew Hock 3rd general
elections" held takes over as elections: Lee Kuan
Chief Minister Yew - prime minister

3.20.1948 4.2.1955 1.29.1819 Mar. 1959 5.30.1959

2nd general elections (limited self

government): David Saul Marshall Hock successfully gains full
self-government for Singapore

Strides to Self-governance
People’s Action Party (PAP)

● Nov 1954 - formation of PAP

● Goal: Self government

● Hock Lee Bus Riots (May 12, 1955)

○ Highlight left wing of party

○ Communism became illegal

Lee Kuan Yew 1. Background: ethnic
Chinese descent, LSE -
Cambridge law graduate

2. Strategy for elections:

Chinese masses economic
interests

3. Released leftist
prisoners: Lin Chin
Siong
 Barisan Socialist Party

biggest opposition party in

Singapore in the 1960s and the 1980s
Merger with Malaysia
Motivations

1. Difficulty as an independent state

2. Lack of natural resources
3. Malayan trade tariffs
 Malaysia Agreement
is signed (Malaya,
Referendum Singapore, Race Riots
Sarawak, Sabah)

9.1.1962 2.2.1963 7.9.1963 8.31.1963 1964

Operation Coldstone declaration of de facto

independence from Britain

Merger
Operation Coldstone (Feb 2, 1963)

- code name for a covert security

operation carried out in
Singapore
- Tunku Abdul Rahman’s condition
for merger
- 100+ left wing radicals arrested
- Lin Chin Siong exiled
1964 race riots in Singapore

Ideological differences
between PAP and UMNO (United
Malays National Organisation)
= racial antagonization
between Malays and Chinese

July 21: Muhammad’s birthday -

Malay processions

Sept 3: Malay trishaw rider

killed
LKY weeps in national tv, announcing the separation from Malaysia
Separation from Malaysia
 1.Economic uncertainty
Problems
2.Defense

1966 Citizens’ Militia Army

- entire male population compulsory national service and training

1968 Withdrawal of the British from its

military bases in Singapore
Economic Success
Foundations

Foreign Investments
60s Chinese Cultural Revolution - drove Western investments to
Singapore

- Low taxes, cheap wages, trained workforce

- Labor laws: restriction of right to strike

70s: circuit boards and silicon chip

80s: leading producer of electronics

Foundations

Singaporean Companies
Government provided subsidies (biotech industries) and owned
companies (Singapore Airlines); revenue from airport, ports
Social Housing - 80% of population
Leaders
Post - LKY
Goh Chok Tong (2nd Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (3rd Prime Minister
of Singapore (1990-2004)) of Singapore (1994-current))

○ “Kinder, gentler, society, open political culture” ○ Allegations of nepotism

Diplomatic Relations
 117th member of 104th member of World Trade
the United IMF and WB Organisation
Nations

9.21.1965 10.15.1965 8.3.1966 8.8.1967 1995

23rd member of the

Commonwealth Joined ASEAN as one of its
founding members

Memberships
 Indonesia & Singapore

Past: Konfrontasi - MacDonald House Bombing (03/10/1965)

Current: 1967 peace treaty, 1973 symbolic visit
 UK & Singapore

Past: Crown Colony

Now: Defense agreements, trading partners, investments,
educational partnerships
 Japan & Singapore

Past: invasion
Now: heavy mutual trade, financial reparations
 Malaysia & Singapore

Past: Federation, territorial disputes

Now: annual Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat, port and
aviation disputes, price of water
Problems and Concerns
 Domination of
Social Control
PAP
- restriction of basic
1. Lawsuits to opposition
rights to freedom of
2. Support never dropped
expression,
below 60%
association, and
peaceful assembly
Other Parties:
- Recent: Fake News Law
Singapore People's Party,
Reform Party, and the
Appeasement:
Democratic Progressive
‘Speakers’ Corner’
Party (DPP)
Observations/Conclusion

● Economic success vs freedom

and rights

● Strategic maneuvers to
ensure economic and
political power
Thank you!