Page 5 - Singapore Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

GOVERNMENT Laissez-faire Singapore continued to grow with little or no social, educational or medical services, but by the 1860s Calcutta began to provide The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the more funds, and many of Singapore's grand colonial buildings date from Republic of Singapore to mean this period. the Executive brand of government, which is made up of By 1911, Singapore had a population of 250,000 people of 48 races, mainly the President and the Cabinet of from China's southern provinces, Indonesia, Malaya and India, speaking a Singapore. Although the total of 54 languages. President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check on the For many years, Singapore was considered Britain's key defense base in the Far East. But the myth of the island's impregnability was shattered when it cabinet and Parliament of Singapore, his role is largely fell to the Japanese in 1942. ceremonial. It is the Cabinet, composed of the Prime Minister When the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, Singapore became a British and other Ministers appointed by Crown Colony. But the impetus for independence led to self-government the President that generally direct in 1959 as part of the Malayan Federation. Singapore left the Federation in and control the Government 1965 to become an independent Republic. In the years since independence, the Republic has undergone astonishingly RELIGION rapid growth and change. The religion in Singapore is varied. The Chinese population in SINGAPORE TODAY Singapore follows Buddhism, This tiny tropical island of just under 640 square kilometers has the world's Taoism, Confucianism and busiest port and its airport is consistently voted the world's best. It is one Christianity. The Muslim religion of the world's major oil refining and distribution centers, a major supplier in Singapore is also dominant as of electronic components and a leader in shipbuilding and repairing. It is most of the Malays (15% of the also an important communications and financial center for Asia, with more population) are Muslims. The than 130 banks. Despite rapid growth and soaring skyscrapers, Singapore Indians who constitute only 7% of has retained and restored its most charming areas, and remains one of the the total Singaporeans follow cleanest, greenest and safest cities anywhere in the world. Hinduism. About 14% of the population in Singapore who THE PEOPLE consider themselves to be 'Free Modern Singapore is a multicultural modern city because of the thinkers' do not belong to any migrations that took place in the 19th century. A variety of religion in Singapore. Other racial backgrounds, with Chinese, Malay and Indians forming the majority. religions in Singapore constitute the Jews, the Sikhs, the Singapore is essentially a Chinese city with strong Western influences. As Zoroastrians and the Jains. results there are four official languages in Singapore - English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. Though Malay is the national language English is widely used.