History and Government

The original seaport of Singapore was known as Temasek. It was founded in 1297 as one of the three kingdoms of Srivijaya, a trading empire based in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles, who was looking for a new British commercial post in East Asia .He established a base on behalf of the British East India Company, and Singapore soon joined with the Malayan states of Penang and Malacca to form the Straits Settlements. In 1867 these settlements became a crown colony directly under the British Colonial Office. Singapore's prosperity and progress increased as trade between Europe and East Asia expanded after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of steamships.

The Japanese occupied Singapore during World War II. Singapore became a separate crown colony in 1946, and the people soon began to voice an interest in greater involvement in government. Elections for seats in the Legislative Council were held in 1948 a first step toward self-government. A new constitution was introduced in June 1959.

In 1961 Tunku Abdul Rahman, prime minister of Malaya, suggested a Federation of Malaysia to include the State of Singapore, the Federation of Malaya, and the colonies of North Borneo (renamed Sabah) and Sarawak. Despite strong opposition from Indonesia, Malaysia was proclaimed on Sept. 16, 1963. Political and economic differences between the Malaysian and Singapore governments led to the separation of Singapore from the federation in August 1965. Singapore was admitted to the United Nations as a sovereign state, and it became a republic on Dec. 22, 1965.

In form the government established by the constitution was a unicameral parliament. The president, a ceremonial office, was elected by Parliament. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party. Elections are held within three months of the dissolution of Parliament, which sits for a maximum of five years. Suffrage is universal over 21 years of age.

Prime minister Lee Kuan Yew fashioned a bureaucratic state based on an efficient and stable government, economic prosperity, and a new national image. Strong control is exerted over the mass media, labor unions, schools and colleges, defense, and police. Within this administrative state civil servants are a significant segment of society. Recruitment into the civil service is through competitive examination.

Politics are dominated by the People's Action party, founded by Lee in the early 1950s. When he stepped down in November 1990 after 31 years in office, his designated successor was Goh Chok Tong. The presidency, meanwhile, was constitutionally changed to a popularly elected office. Singapore is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian nations.

Singapore's foreign policy is closely geared to economic policies and is aimed at ensuring a steady flow of technology and investments from abroad. Diplomatic relations thus reflect trade relations. Only in the case of China did ideology intervene. Although trade relations between the two countries were strong, diplomatic relations were not established until 1990.