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| Sunday, 18 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
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Singapore : Lion city of Asia You have already learnt about Singapore in our Globescan page.Here is some more information about this country. Decisive dates
1390s: A settlement called Singapura (often called "Temasek") is formed by Iskandar in Malay history and as Parameswara by the Portuguese. 1819: Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles arrives in Singapore. He is convinced that the island located at the crossroads of South China Sea will become an important port. The main items of trade are tea and silk from China, timber from Malaya and spices from Indonesia. 1824: The British agree to withdraw from Indonesia in return for which the Dutch recognise British rights over Singapore. The Sultan cedes(hands over) Singapore in perpetuity to the British. 1839: The first ship built in Singapore is launched. 1911: Population of Singapore grows to 250,000 and the census records 48 races on the island, speaking 54 languages. 1923: Singapore is linked to Malaysia by a one kilometre causeway. 1941: Japan invades Malaysia. Singapore is bombed on December 8. 1945: British declare Singapore a Crown Colony. 1951: Singapore is formally proclaimed a city with a royal charter. 1958: A constitutional agreement for partial independence for Singapore is finally signed in London. 1959: Lee Kuan Yew becomes the country's first Prime Minister. 1963: Malaysia agreement is signed in London. Under the terms, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo. (new Sabah) are federated with the existing states of Malaya to form Malaysia. 1965: Singapore leaves the Malaysian federation and becomes an independent nation. The republic of Singapore joins both the UN and the Commonwealth. 1967: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines form a political and economic grouping known as the Association of Southwest Asian Nations (ASEAN). 1995: Singapore ranks second in World Competitive Report. Fact file * "The Queen of the Further East" was how British writer George W. Earl described Singapore in 1837. * The driving force behind Singapore's success story after independence in 1965, Lee Kuan Yew, was Prime Minister for 31 years until late 1990.He helped found the People's Action Party in 1954. * Singapore is mainly composed of Chinese, who make up 77 per cent of its four million population. The Chinese speak a variety of dialects, but their common link is Mandarin, which is taught in schools as the official mother tongue. * Malays are considered the indigenous people of Singapore. Today they make up 14 per cent of Singaporeans. The Malays are deeply religious and follow Islam. Indians constitute about seven per cent of the population. Some are of Sri Lankan origin. Singapore's best-known Indian quarter is Little India. Facts: Insight Guides |
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3rd century: Chinese are said to have given the name P'u Luo Chung to
the island. 
