The Transformation of Singapore: From 1965 to Today

Jul 16, 2024

The Transformation of Singapore: From 1965 to Today

Introduction

  • 1965 Singapore: Poverty, unemployment, high crime rates, drug issues, riots, overpopulation, and illiteracy.
  • Present Singapore: Highly developed, high-income country, among the Top 5 Richest Countries, and one of the cleanest with minimal corruption.
  • Central Figure: Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister and key architect of Singapore’s transformation.

Geography and Demographics

  • Size: Very small, hard to spot on the map, separated from Malaysia by the Strait of Johor.
  • Population: Approximately 5.7 million people on a 710 km² area with a density of 8028 people per km².
  • Diversity: Ethnic diversity includes Chinese majority (74.5%), Malays (13.5%), Indians (9%), and others. Religious diversity includes various major and minor religions.
  • Orang Laut: Indigenous population.

Early History

  • Trade Hub: Used by Malay, Thai, Indian, Arab, Japanese, and Chinese traders.
  • Colonial Influence: Occupied by Indonesian, Portuguese, Dutch, and British forces. In 1819, Thomas Raffles of the British East India Company bought Singapore and turned it into a Free Port.
  • Development: Suez Canal (1869) brought more ships. Became a rubber-processing hub. British grew opium in Bengal and processed in Singapore, leading to high crime and drug addiction.

World War II Impact

  • Japanese Occupation (1942-1945): Severe destruction, widespread addiction, crime, poverty, and diseases.
  • British Re-control: British Military Administration restored basic services. Moved towards self-governance post-war.

Path to Independence and Initial Struggles

  • Elections and Governance: First elections (1948), Constitution framed (1959), Lee Kuan Yew became the First Prime Minister.
  • Merge with Malaysia: Brief merger (1963), followed by separation in 1965 due to ethnic tensions.
  • British Withdrawal: Planned for 1971; Singapore had to prepare for self-defense and economic stability.

Key Reforms by Lee Kuan Yew

Geopolitical Stability and Defense

  • ASEAN Group: Founded in 1967 to promote peace and stability.
  • National Service: Introduced compulsory military service for young men.

Education and Skill Development

  • Compulsory Primary Education: High-quality public education with nominal fees.
  • Vocational Training: Focused on practical skills and workforce upgrading.

Social Cohesion

  • Secular State: Unity in diversity, secularism emphasized.
  • Ethnic Integration Policy: Mixed-ethnicity housing to promote communal harmony.
  • Religious Harmony Initiatives: Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (1990), Racial Harmony Day.

Cleanliness and Urban Planning

  • Clean Singapore Campaign: Initiated in 1968 with strict laws and effective public waste management.
  • Slum Rehabilitation: High-rise public housing projects, elimination of homelessness to a large extent.
  • Public Transport Over Cars: High taxes on private vehicles, promoting affordable and efficient public transport.

Healthcare

  • Inexpensive Healthcare: Efficient public and private healthcare systems.
  • Innovative Schemes: Medi Safe, Medi Shield, and Medi Fund.

Economic Strategies

  • Government-Run Companies: Temasek Holdings and other government-owned enterprises provide revenue.
  • High Taxes on Vehicles: Source of revenue.
  • Sustainability and Fiscal Discipline: Emphasis on fiscal surplus, low-income tax rates (2%-24%).
  • Central Provident Fund: Ensures high savings rate among citizens.
  • Foreign Investment: Attracting international businesses through improved ease of doing business.
  • Eliminating Corruption: High salaries for politicians and government employees, strict anti-corruption laws.

Environmental Initiatives

  • Tree Planting Day: Launched in 1972, massive greening of the city.
  • Clean River and Green Spaces: Major clean-up operations and establishment of gardens.

Sector Development

  • Industrial Focus: Started with textiles and petrochemical refineries, shifted to high-tech industries.
  • Skill Development Levy and Fund: Supports workforce upgrading and technical skills.

Legacy and Governance Style

  • Avoiding Personality Cult: No statues or monuments for Lee Kuan Yew.
  • Autonomy in Anti-Corruption: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau operates independently.
  • Pragmatism Over Ideology: Lee Kuan Yew’s governance based on practical solutions.
  • Mixed Views: Celebrated for development; criticisms for lack of press freedom.

Conclusion

  • Learning Points: Essential policies and steps towards development from Singapore’s journey.
  • End Message: A call to learn from Singapore’s strategies, emphasizing unity, pragmatism, and effective governance.

Feel free to refer to this summary for an overview of Singapore’s transformation and the key strategies that led to its development under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew.