HISTORY TIMELINE

1299- Singaporean Prince from Palembong, founded Singapore. One day, while he was
sailing and hunting, he saw the Island of Temasek. Unfortunately, the ship got caught
in a storm which urged him to throw their cargo and the King’s crown overboard. After
he did, the sea became calm. While hunting, the Prince saw a strange creature called
Singa which means Lion. From then, he decided to build a city named Pura.
Eventually, he combined it and formed “Singapura”

1819 - Sir Stamford Raffles of British East India Company establishes trading post on
Singapore island.

1826 - Singapore became a British colony of the Straits Settlements along with
Malacca and Penang.

1832 - Singapore becomes capital of Straits Settlements where the port attracts
thousands of migrants from China, India and other parts of Asia.

1941 - World War II began. Japan bombs Singapore.

1942 - Singapore falls to Japan, which renames it Syonan , which means Light of the
South.

1945 - Singapore became under British military administration and Japan was defeated.

1946 - Singapore becomes a separate crown colony.

1959 - Self-government attained with Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister.

1967 - Singapore became a founding member of Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (Asean).

2003 - Singapore becomes first Asian nation to sign free-trade deal with US.

2019 January - Singapore celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the foundation of modern
Singapore by Stamford Raffles.
TRADITION, CUSTOMS, AND RITUALS

1. While meeting a Singaporean formally or informally, make sure to shake hands

firmly with all, even when departing. A slight bow while shaking hands is
considered respectful.
2. Take off the shoes before entering anyone's house. Also, remember to take them
off before visiting any temple or mosque.
3. Make sure never to pinpoint someone or something with a finger, just raise your
hand for indication.
4. Gender discrimination is a legal offence in Singapore; thus, take care not to
disrespect anyone.
5. Tipping is not customary in Singapore. Most of the restaurants add a 10%
service charge in the bill, in which case, tipping is generally discouraged. Avoid
tipping at hawker centers and food courts. Tipping is also completely prohibited
at the Changi Airport.
Rituals
Encoffin Service

This ritual during funeral service is done by placing items inside the casket such as the
incense and Kor Chee (the safe money), to be used by the deceased on his/her journey
to the other world.

Placing of pearl/jade in the mouth

This act signifies that the deceased can be born again with a better life.

Offering of Food

This belief during funeral service signifies that whether spirit or human, both are equal
beings. However, food to be offered must be vegetarian-friendly only.

Red String

For visitors, an auspicious practice during funeral service, wait for it to come off
naturally, but must remove it before entering home.

Burning of Paper Beside Coffin

This serves as an entry pass to go smoothly to the netherworld, where the paper is to
be burnt piece by piece.
Fine City: General Offenses

Singapore has its own set of rules and regulations, which heavily criminalizes
many actions which are considered petty crimes or no-offense acts in most other
countries. The general offenses of Singapore are:

1. Possession of chewing gum or trying to bring them into the country without a
doctor’s prescription.
2. Urinating or spitting in public.
3. Littering on the roads instead of using the dustbin.
4. Do not touch anyone's head, as it is considered sacred by many. On the
contrary, the feet are regarded as dirty, so do not point them directly at someone.
5. They have no issue with standing in a queue for something that is good. For
them, it is much a waste of time and a hassle to not be in a queue.

FAMILY VALUES (VIDEOS FROM D INTERNET)

● The concepts of group, harmony, and mutual security are more important than
that of the individual.
● The family is the center of the social structure and emphasizes unity, loyalty and
respect for the elderly. (internet)
● The term, 'family' generally includes extended family and close friends who are
treated as family members. (Boy/Gardener)
● Respect for the elderly and seeing the family as the place one goes to for
support, both help retain core values in this island nation. (internet)
● Referring to middle-aged and elderly people as 'Uncle' or 'Auntie', as it is seen
as a sign of respect in Singapore.
CULTURE
1.Religion/s

• Singaporeans are generally spiritual. According to the General Household Survey of

2015. Singapore is the world's most religiously diverse country, with ten officially
recognized faiths. However, there are only five major religions followed in the Lion City
today, and they are the...

1. Buddhism (33.2 percent of their population)

— Singapore's largest religious community. Buddhism is divided into three major

branches, which are as follows:
● Theravada is the oldest and most widely practiced denomination, and it was
brought to Singapore by Thais, Burmese, and Sri Lankans.
● Mahayana- began with early Chinese immigration and is the primary practice of
Singapore's Chinese community.
● Vajrayana- originates in Tibet and is mostly practiced by the Tibetan people.
The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is a well-known Buddhist
temple in Singapore. One of the greatest Mahayana Buddhist temples established to
disseminate Buddhism in the mid-twentieth century.
2. Christianity (18.7%)

- It is home to about one-fifth of Singapore's population and has grown in

popularity throughout the years. The Armenian Church, which was established in
1835, is Singapore's oldest Christian church.
3. Islam (14.0%)
- Singapore was a part of Malaysia until its independence in 1965, which is why
the Singaporean government recognizes persons of indigenous Malay ancestry
as indigenous Singaporeans, while also granting Muslims special religious
liberties. Furthermore, Masjid Sultan, one of Singapore's most spectacular
 mosques, was established in 1824 for Sultan Hussein Shah, the first sultan of
Singapore.
4. Taoism (10.0%)

- They believed in honoring ancestors and being compassionate towards others.

- The oldest Taoist temple in Singapore is the Thian Hock Keng Temple, which
was designed and built in 1842 by Chinese craftsmen.

5. Hinduism (5.0%)
Hinduism, which is mostly practiced by the ethnically Indian population (5.0%), was
brought to Singapore by migrant laborers from India in the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries. When the laborers arrived, they built temples devoted to various deities,
eventually becoming the settlement known as Little India. The Sri Mariamman Temple is
Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. This temple is one of the most important places of
devotion for Hindus all around the world.

Other segments of the population are non-religious, which has been steadily increasing
over the previous decade, notably among adolescents. In 2015, 18.5 percent of
Singaporeans were estimated to have no religious connection, being between the ages
of 15 and 44. Atheists, agnostics, humanists, and skeptics are within this group.
2.Language
Malay

Singapore's national song is sung in Malay, which was the national language prior to
British colonization.
Mandarin

Because the majority of Singaporeans have Chinese ancestors, Mandarin is the legally
recognized language. It is worth noting that the majority of persons who speak Mandarin
are Chinese Singaporeans.
Tamil

Because a portion of Singapore's population originated from southern India, Tamil is the
official Indian language of Singapore and is commonly spoken in Indian households.

English

It is the predominant language used in business and acts as a lingua franca for the
country's ethnically varied people. In reality, Singaporeans are the world's fifth best non-
native English speakers.

2.1 Greetings
Singapore has three primary ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, and Indian. The three have
different greetings.
Man greeting Man – The Chinese are at ease with a gentle handshake, which is
occasionally followed by a touch on the arm. Malay males will employ a handshake as
well as the salam alaikum (peace be upon you) with a modest bow. The handshake and
the namaste are both used by Indian males. The most popular type of greeting is a
handshake. They are typically moderate and short in duration.
Woman greeting Woman- Chinese ladies are content with a brief handshake or a nod of
acknowledgement. Malay women will use the handshake, although a simple salaam or
head bow will be sufficient most of the time. The handshake and the namaste are both
used by Indian women.
Greetings between Men & Women- While handshakes are a frequent form of welcome,
a simple nod or small bow will suffice most of the time. Wait for the ladies to make the
first move with all three ethnicities. The vast majority of Muslim men and women do not
touch in public.
 ● As with the other groups, the elderly or the person with the most status is
introduced first.
2.2 Prominent Words
Did you know that people in Singapore tend to reduce their words in order to be
concise and straightforward in a conversation? They are unable to understand someone
who speaks for an extended period of time.
For example:
See how= let’s see how it goes
So how= so how does it work?
Your head! = are you out of your mind? Don’t be stupid
Ask you ah = I want to ask u something
To continue, you should also know the differences between Lah, Lor, Leh, Meh.

All of these are discourse particles that appear at the conclusion of sentences. Each
one serves a particular function, and it is determined by tone, grammar, and context.

Example: “Just do it like that lah” (Here, “lah” has a sense of exasperation, but can also
be used as a finality.)

“I’ve got no choice, So I just did it lor.” (Here, “lor” is used to express acceptance or
resignation.)

“I didn’t know you had to do it like that leh.” (Here, “leh” is used to show uncertainty, a
little more doubtful compared to “lah”.)

“Really, meh? You have to do it like that?” (Here, “meh” is used with a rhetorical
question to serve disbelief without actually being shocked or surprised.)
2.3 Comm. Style
Non-Verbal Communication
Singaporeans are quite sensitive to things like titles and eye contact. As a result,
while speaking with others, be prepared to address them by family name with the use of
a title, and avoid gazing or staring since it is regarded as intimidating and unpleasant
● Singaporeans are social creatures who rely on facial expressions, tone of voice,
and posture to determine how others are feeling.
● They frequently trust nonverbal cues more than spoken cues.
● They communicate in a subtle, indirect, and implicit manner.
● They imply a point rather than making a straightforward declaration since doing
so may lead the other person to lose face.
● Instead of saying 'no,' they can say, 'I will try,' or 'I'll see what I can do.' This
allows both the person making the request and the one declining it to save face
and keep their relationship harmonious.
● Singaporean communication relies heavily on silence.
● Pausing before answering a question implies that they have given the question
significant thought and have carefully evaluated their response.
● They are confused by Western culture's ability to react to a question quickly and
believe it demonstrates thoughtlessness and disrespectful behavior.
CLOTHING
1. Baju Kurung- Baju Kurung is a traditional costume as well as the national dress of Singapore
and Malaysia. This traditional dress became fashionable in the late 19th century by Sultan Abu
Bakar of Johar. In more conservative states like Northern Malaysia, the Baju Kurung is worn
with a headscarf or tudung.
- Malay women usually wore Buju Kurung on Fridays to show a sign of respect for the traditional
costume.

2. Baju Melayu- the male version of Baju Kurung, is a baggy shirt with long sleeves and is worn
with long trousers. Usually, a Sampin (three quarter or even full sarong style garment) goes with
this traditional dress which is wrapped around the mid-body section from the stomach area, and
it goes down to the knee or even lower.
- Its use is usually restricted to Fridays at mosques
.
3. Cheongsam- also called as Qipao portrays the duality of modern wear as well as revives the
traditional culture and identity.It is a perfect wear for the tropical climate and it is worn for a
portion of the wedding day.

ARTS AND CRAFTS:

ARTS
1. Literature
In every literary work a glimpse of multicultural society is being exposed. Singaporean
writers such as Tan Swie Hian and Kup Pao Kun have made significant contributions to
Singapore’s literature.

Examples of Singaporean Literature:

A. Son of Singapore by Tan Kok Seng- A story from when he was a young boy (during the
Japanese occupation), stopping after he gets a job as a driver to an Ang Moh (Caucasian) in
Kuala Lumpur. Set against Singapore’s push towards self-governance, Tan’s engaging
autobiography reflects the pioneering spirit of the times. Son of Singapore sensitively captures
fast-disappearing places, people and everyday ways of living.

B. If We Dream Too Long by Goh Poh Seng- Tackles the dilemmas and challenges faced by
its hero, Kwang Meng, as he navigates the difficult transitional period between youthful
aspirations and the external demands of society and family. It is a fairly straightforward tale of a
young man trying to grow up and struggling with it, struggling with boredom, struggling with what
life holds for him, struggling with his family and, of course, struggling with his love life.

2. Visual Arts
The visual arts scene in Singapore has experienced remarkable growth and
advancement since the colonial days, from the 19th century scenario where artists ranging from
well-known European painters to anonymous local craftsmen worked their arts in the bustling
entrepot of Singapore to more than 500 visual arts exhibitions. The usual themes of
Singaporean visual arts are abstractions, human figure, landscape, portraits, still life, urban
scenes, and village scenes. Some of the known artists are Tan Swie Hian, Liu Kang, Georgette
Chen, Francis Ng and Heman Chong.

Examples:
A. Singapore from the Rocky Point
One of the earliest surviving depictions of Singapore is Singapore from the Rocky Point, 1819, a
wash drawing by John Michael Houghton, a midshipman who served on board the HMS
Discovery as part of the naval escort accompanying Raffles on his journey to Singapore in
1819. Painted during the time Raffles first set foot on the island, it is one of 41 drawings
belonging to the Houghton Album, which contains a compilation of views drawn by Houghton.

B. A View of Singapore from the Sea

The earliest known drawing of a view of Singapore, sketched by Lt. Phillip Jackson on 5 June
1823. The drawing shows buildings of Singapore near the seafront and on High Street as
viewed from the sea, with the Raffles' residence on Fort Canning Hill (known then simply as The
Hill) near a flagpole in the background. On the left is the inlet of the Singapore River. This
picture comes from the Drake collection of documents and personal effects belonging to
Stamford.

3. Architecture
The architecture of Singapore has been greatly inspired by socio-historic developments.
Being a British colony many of the early civic and government buildings were built by colonial
architects adopting classical colonial designs being patterned after the Indian colonial buildings.
Singapore’s architecture exhibits a range of influence and style from different places and
periods. Some examples of colonial traditional architecture are the Singapore Art Museum,
Raffles Hotel, Old Parliament House, Chinese Protectorate, Churches of St. Peter and Paul,
Shophouses with elaborate pilasters and Singapore National Museum.

Similarities: Among all the given examples, the main similarity is a strong focus on sustainability.
Materials are highly-produced and building bases are greatly-structured. It focuses on good
ventilation too. The designs are very detailed and Singaporean architects left spaces for
greenery.

4. Festivals

With Singapore’s multicultural nature, every ethnic group in the country celebrates its own
festivals. Throughout the year celebration of some form or other brings visual feast of color,
spectacle, and ceremony that is acknowledged and enjoyed by the whole community of
Singapore.
Example: Deepavali or the Festival of Lights is the most important festival in the Hindu
calendar and the most significant festival for the Indian community in Singapore. Deepavali
usually falls in the month of October or November
.
Reason for celebrating and ways to celebrate: Diwali is celebrated to mark the triumph of
good over evil. Thousands of Hindu families in the city decorate their abodes and workplace
with beacons of light, exchange gifts, share feasts and perform pooja (prayers) to Goddess
Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.

5. Performing Arts
The local art scene of the country still remains handicapped despite the attempt of the recent
government to promote the country as a cultural center for arts and culture; this is due to the
strict legislation. All scripts to be performed in Singapore must be evaluated in advance by the
Public Entertainment Licensing Unit (PELU). PELU has the sole right to allow or ban any script it
views.

Example:
Singapore Repertory Theater
- There is a strict legislation in promoting Singapore as a culture center for arts and culture
because it is a conservative city-state society. The scripts of all plays to be performed in
Singapore must be vetted in advance by the Media Development Authority (MDA), which has
the right to ban any it views as "contrary to the public interest".

CRAFTS:
1. Peranakan Shoe Beading- Traditionally synonymous with elegance, status, virtue and a
reflection of the hand-beading skills of young Nyonya girls, the kasut manek (beaded shoes)
was the quintessential item to finish off a sarong kebaya. Immerse yourself in Peranakan
traditions at Rumah Bebe, which is filled with original furnishings and a beautiful display of
decorative arts, while learning all about beadwork.

2. Pottery or ceramics art – is one of the most ancient art forms in the world. But it has been
regaining popularity over the last few years, especially in major cities like Singapore.

CUISINE:

NGO HIANG
- It is essentially a composition of various meats and vegetables and other ingredients, such as
a sausage-like roll consisting of minced pork and prawn (or fish) seasoned with five-spice
powder.

POPIAH
- A popiah “skin” is a soft, thin paper-like crepe made from wheat flour. The method of producing
the wrapper involves making an extremely wet and viscous dough. A ball of this dough is held to
the right hand, then quickly “rubbed” against a hot steel plate in a circular fashion, and lifted.

CHENDOL
- an iced sweet dessert that contains droplets of green rice flour jelly, coconut milk and palm
sugar syrup.

ICE KACHANG
- Ice kachang. Kachang means beans in the Malay language. It is also known as ABC, which
stands for Ais Batu Kacang. It is a thirst-quenching concoction from Malaysia made of shaved
ice, red beans, and jelly.

PRACTICES AND BELIEFS

DINING

· Chinese use chopsticks for most food and porcelain spoons for the liquid part of soup.
Western style utensils are used, but are not as common as chopsticks.

· Allow a Chinese host to invite you to start your meal and begin eating before you start to
eat.

· Indians always wash their hands before and after a meal. In a Malay home, you will be
given a small bowl of water and a towel. Use the water to wash your hands.

· Malays and Indians use a spoon along with their hands to eat, but never use your left
hand to eat (unclean). If given a spoon and fork, hold the spoon in your right hand and use your
fork (left hand) to push food onto the spoon.

· It is impolite to refuse initial offers of food or drink. To refuse seconds, place your hand
above your plate and say, "No, thank you." When finished, place your spoon and fork together
on your plate. If they are not placed together, you will be offered more food.

EDUCATION

Singapore’s School System:

1. Education is a priority in economic development.

POST-INDEPENDENCE FROM THE BRITISH, SINGAPORE HAS SURPASSED SOME OF

THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH-AMERICA TO BE A
WORLD LEADER IN EDUCATION. THIS WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE STATE VIEWS
EDUCATION AS AN ECOSYSTEM. MEANING THAT FOR THE ECOSYSTEM TO THRIVE,
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT AND VICE VERSA. THUS, FOR
A REFORM TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE WHOLE SYSTEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM MUST BE
REFORMED, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN RESPOND TO THE CHANGES AS WELL.

2. Curriculum focuses on teaching specific subjects and problem-solving skills

SINGAPORE'S SCHOOL SYSTEM ENCOURAGES PROJECT WORK AND CREATIVE
THINKING. AS A RESULT, CLASSES FOCUS ON EQUIPPING STUDENTS WITH
PARTICULAR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS.
THE GOAL OF THE CURRICULUM IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH PRACTICAL
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT WILL HELP TO SOLVE CHALLENGES IN THE REAL
WORLD.

3. Conducive culture.

IN SINGAPORE, PARENTS PLAY A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN THEIR CHILDREN’S

EDUCATION. MOREOVER, ALL KIDS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE EQUALLY SMART. WHAT
THIS MEANS IS, FOR MOST SINGAPOREAN PARENTS, EFFORT IS MORE PRAISED THAT
INHERITED ‘SMARTNESS’.

4. Accountable systems

ANY FIRST-RATE SCHOOL SYSTEM MUST HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP AND BE BACKED
BY A PROFESSIONALLY CAPABLE TEAM. THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF THE
SINGAPORE EDUCATION SYSTEM ARE THE TEACHERS. THE COUNTRY TARGETS
TEACHERS FROM TOP 5% OF GRADUATES WHO MUST UNDERGO TRAINING AT THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (NIE). ADDITIONALLY, SINGAPORE HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTED IN ITS TEACHING FORCE, WHICH HAS INCREASED THE
STATUS AND PRESTIGE OF THE PROFESSION TO ATTRACT THE BEST GRADUATES.

5. Precise education goals

Among the distinctive characteristics of Singapore’s school system, is its clear articulation and
identification of the desired results of education. Such grounds streamline the creation of
national curricula, adoption of various pedagogies while ensuring high levels of preparation and
professional development of teachers. Additionally, these goals promote a connection between
the conceptualization and implementation of policies following the national education vision.

ENVIRONMENT

· The air and water in Singapore are generally very clean. According to a survey of
expatriates living in Asia, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia were regarded as the cleanest. while
India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong are regarded as the dirtiest
countries in Asia, while Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan were in the middle.

· Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate

Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution.
· People are given tax breaks if they buy environmentally-friendly “green” cars such as
those with fuel cells.
· About 85 percent of Southeast Asia’s coral reefs in Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and
Vietnam are severely threatened by human activities such as pollution and overfishing.

WORK/ BUSINESS
· Do not disagree with their employer/superior in public.

· Do not engage in public display of anger or confrontation against your

employer/superiors.
· Listen. After someone makes a comment, count to ten before you respond. This shows
that you are carefully considering what they say.

· Speak in a low tone. Communications between the people of Singapore are very
measured. Avoid raising your voice or showing anger. A calm tone of voice will command much
more respect.

· Be genuine. If you compliment a person in Singapore, it is better to address their

accomplishments instead of their appearance.

GOVERNMENT
● Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system. The head of state is the president,
who is elected for a fixed term of six years. The parliament is elected in a general
compulsory election every five years. There are also six nominated members of the
parliament. The cabinet is the executive organ of the state, and execution of government
policies is carried out by ministries and statutory boards.

● Singapore is known for its stable political climate. Despite being considered centralised
and authoritarian, the political culture is pragmatic, rational and based on the rule of law.
The highest goal of the government is the survival and prosperity of this small nation.
This often means having to make unpopular but hard and wise decisions in the interest
of the nation. The government believes in being proactive and thinking for the future.

According to Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore has been able to attract
some 9000 multi-national companies, because it offers First World conditions in a Third World
region. Good governance is having a good system that will ensure the country survives, so that
citizens have secure lives.

● Can Citizens vote in Singapore?

All Singapore citizens not less than 21 years old on the cut-off date for the registration of
electors (1 January of a particular year), and ordinarily resident in the country, are entitled to
vote in both parliamentary and presidential elections.
 ● How does voting in Singapore work?

Voters receive poll cards informing them of the polling stations where they can cast their votes
in person. Polling day at a general election is a public holiday, and voting is compulsory. Unless
the returning officer decides otherwise, polling stations are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on
polling day.

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