Portal:Singapore

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Singapore,officially theRepublic of Singapore,is anisland countryandcity-stateinmaritime Southeast Asia.It is located about onedegree of latitude(137 kilometres or 85 miles) north of theequator,off the southern tip of theMalay Peninsula,bordering theStrait of Malaccato the west, theSingapore Straitto the south along with theRiau IslandsinIndonesia,theSouth China Seato the east, and theStraits of Johoralong with theState of JohorinMalaysiato the north. The country's territory comprises onemain island,63 satellite islands and islets,andone outlying islet;the combined area of these has increased by approximately 25% since the country's independence as a result of extensiveland reclamationprojects. It has thethird highest population density of any country in the world,although there are numerous green and recreational spaces as a result ofurban planning.With a multicultural population and in recognition of the cultural identities of the major ethnic groups within the nation, Singapore has fourofficial languages:English,Malay,Mandarin,andTamil.English is thecommon language,with its exclusive use in numerouspublic services.Multi-racialismis enshrined in the constitution and continues to shapenational policiesin education, housing, and politics.

Singapore'shistorydates back at least eight hundred years, having been a maritimeemporiumknown asTemasekand subsequently a major constituent part of several successivethalassocraticempires. Its contemporary era began in 1819, whenStamford Raffles establishedSingapore as anentrepôttrading post of theBritish Empire.In 1867, the colonies in Southeast Asia were reorganised, and Singapore came under the direct control of Britain as part of theStraits Settlements.DuringWorld War II,Singapore wasoccupied by Japanin 1942 and returned to British control as a separateCrown colonyfollowingJapan's surrenderin 1945. Singapore gainedself-governancein 1959 and, in 1963, became part of the new federation ofMalaysia,alongsideMalaya,North Borneo,andSarawak.Ideological differences,most notably the perceived encroachment of theegalitarian"Malaysian Malaysia"political ideology led byLee Kuan Yewinto the other constituent entities of Malaysia—at the perceived expense of thebumiputeraand the policies ofKetuanan Melayu—eventually led to Singapore's expulsion from the federation two years later; Singapore became an independentsovereign countryin 1965.

After early years ofturbulenceand despite lacking natural resources and ahinterland,the nation rapidly developed to become one of theFour Asian Tigers.With its growth based oninternational tradeandeconomic globalisation,it integrated itself with theworld economythroughfree tradewith minimaltrade barriersandtariffs,export-oriented industrialisation,and the large accumulation ofreceived foreign direct investments,foreign exchange reserves,andassets held by sovereign wealth funds.As a highlydeveloped country,it has one of thehighest GDP per capita (PPP)in the world. Identified as atax haven,Singapore is the only country inAsiawith a AAAsovereign credit ratingfromall major rating agencies.It is a majoraviation,financial,andmaritime shippinghub and has consistently been ranked as one of themost expensive citiesto live in forexpatriatesandforeign workers.Singapore ranks highly in key social indicators:education,healthcare,quality of life,personal safety,infrastructure,andhousing,with ahome-ownership rateof 88 percent.Singaporeansenjoy one of thelongest life expectancies,fastest Internet connection speeds,lowest infant mortality rates,andlowest levels of corruptionin the world.

Singapore is aunitary parliamentary republicin theWestminster traditionofunicameralparliamentary government, and its legal system is based oncommon law.While the country isde jureamulti-party democracywithfree elections,thegovernmentunder thePeople's Action Party(PAP) wields widespread control anddominanceoverpoliticsandsocietywithout muchelectoral competition.The PAP has governed the country continuously since full internalself-governmentwas achieved in 1959, and currently holds asupermajoritywith 79 out of 93 elected seats inParliament.One of the five founding members ofASEAN,Singapore is also the headquarters of theAsia-Pacific Economic CooperationSecretariat, thePacific Economic Cooperation CouncilSecretariat, and is the host city of manyinternational conferences and events.Singapore is also a member of theUnited Nations,theWorld Trade Organization,theEast Asia Summit,theNon-Aligned Movement,and theCommonwealth of Nations.(Full article...)

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The1915 Singapore Mutiny,(also known as the1915 Sepoy Mutinyor theMutiny of the 5th Light Infantry) was amutinyof elements of theBritish Indian Army's5th Light Infantryin thecolony of Singapore.Up to half of the regiment, which consisted ofIndian Muslimspredominantly fromMuslim Rajputbackground, mutinied on 15 February 1915 due to rumours that they would be sent to fight against the largely MuslimOttoman Empireas part of theMiddle Eastern theatre of World War I.The mutineers killed 36 soldiers and civilians before the mutiny was suppressed byAlliedforces. After the mutiny, more than 205 mutineers were tried bycourt-martial,and 47 were sentenced toexecution by firing squad.(Full article...)

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Selected picture

Credit:William Cho(25 July 2009)

The fireworks display over theMarina Bay areaas part of the 2009 SingaporeNational Day Paradepreview.Read more...

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General images

The following are images from various Singapore-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Fireworks over the Marina Bay skyline following the conclusion of the 2015 National Day Parade on 9 August 2015. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 2Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum(fromSingaporeans)
Image 3TheMao Kun mapfromWubei Zhiwhich is based on the early 15th century maps ofZheng Heshowing Temasek ( đạm mã tích ) at the top left, and Long Ya Men ( long nha môn ) on the right panel. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 4TheThian Hock Keng,completed in 1842, served as a place of worship for early immigrants. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 5The Supertree Grove atGardens by the Bay(fromCulture of Singapore)
Image 6Baedekermap of the city and environs, c. 1914
Image 7Quadrilingual sign (fromSingaporeans)
Image 8St Andrew's Cathedral(fromSingaporeans)
Image 9Lieutenant-GeneralArthur Percival,led by a Japanese officer, marches under a flag of truce to negotiate the capitulation of Allied forces in Singapore, on 15 February 1942. It was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 10Sign board with warnings in Singapore's four main languages: English, Chinese,MalayandTamil(fromCulture of Singapore)
Image 11Chinese community in Singapore carrying theFlag of the Republic of China(writtenLong live the motherland) to celebrate the victory, also reflected the Chinese identity issues at that time. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 12Singapore's urban geography is often characterised by extensive use ofHDB flats,which the majority of citizens reside in. (fromGeography of Singapore)
Image 13Men of various ethnicities -Chinese,Malay,andIndiangather at a street corner in Singapore, circa 1900. (fromSingaporeans)
Image 14ThePlan of the Town of Singapore,or more commonly known as theJackson PlanorRaffles Town Plan.(fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 15Old Supreme Court of Singapore (fromCulture of Singapore)
Image 16Japanese POWs are taken to work where they were made to clear up the city during the British reoccupation in September 1945
Image 171888 German map of Singapore (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 18Centre square of Raffles Place (fromCulture of Singapore)
Image 19TheJurongIndustrial Estate was developed in the 1960s to industrialise the economy. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 20A fragment of theSingapore Stone,inscribed with anIndic script,c. 10th to 13th century. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 21TheSultan Mosque,built in 1826 in theKampong Glamdistrict, is the oldest and one of the largest mosque in Singapore. (fromSingaporeans)
Image 22Restoredshophousesrunning along a street in Chinatown, which reflects theVictorian architectureof buildings built in Singapore during the earlier colonial period, with styles such as thepainted ladies.(fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 23A busy Victoria Dock, Tanjong Pagar, in the 1890s. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 24The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. Opened in 2010, it has become a key feature of Singapore's modern skyline. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 25A hawker centre inLavender,Singapore (fromCulture of Singapore)
Image 26Engraving of SirStamford RafflesbyJames Thomson
Image 27The old and the new Singapore as seen from an alley behind Boat Quay (2023) (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 28Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore, with Jurong Island in the background (fromGeography of Singapore)
Image 29Shophouses in Singapore (fromSingaporeans)
Image 301955 stamp with the portrait ofQueen Elizabeth II(fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 31The country celebrates itsNational Dayon 9 August each year. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 32A statue of Raffles byThomas Woolnernow stands in Singapore, near Raffles's landing site in 1819. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 33Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum(fromCulture of Singapore)
Image 34Upper Seletar Reservoir (fromGeography of Singapore)
Image 35Enlargeable, detailed map of Singapore (fromGeography of Singapore)
Image 36Afternoonthunderstormsare a frequent occurrence in Singapore, which has anequatorial climate.(fromGeography of Singapore)
Image 37Hainanese chicken rice (fromSingaporeans)
Image 38Traffic in Singapore, 1981. Prior to the introduction of theCertificate of Entitlement (COE)in 1990, vehicles per capita in Singapore was the highest inASEAN.(fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 39Top view of Bukit Batok West. Large scale public housing development has created high housing ownership among the population. (fromHistory of Singapore)
Image 40Deepavalidecorations in Singapore. (fromCulture of Singapore)

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Kelvin Tan Wei Lian( trần vĩ liên, born 5 October 1981) is a Singaporean formerMandopopsinger who earned a living as abuskerbefore he won the first edition ofProject SuperStarin 2005. He has released three albums,All I Want Is...(2006),i-Weilian(2007) andMoving Notes...Kelvin Tan(2009). He also had a solo concert at theSingapore Expo,lead a choir at the opening ceremony at the2008 Summer Paralympics,and singing Singapore's 2009National Day Parade's theme song. (Full article...)

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Ho Yuen Hoe Gan Eng Seng Hugh Hickling Zubir Said Tang Da Wu Edwin Thumboo Teresa Hsu Fandi Ahmad Denise Phua Li Jiawei Glenn Knight Laurentia Tan Tao Li Yip Pin Xiu Neila Sathyalingam Walter Woon Han Sai Por Rex Shelley Feng Tianwei Lee Choon Seng Balaji Sadasivan Choor Singh Xiaxue

Did you know(auto-generated)

... that to reflect the neighbourhood's heritage as a songbird-watching community, Singapore'sMayflower MRT stationis decorated with 22 bird sculptures?
... thatSun Haiyanis the firstChinese ambassador to Singaporewho was not a member of theForeign Ministry of China?
... thatWee Toon Boonremained a member of theParliament of Singaporeeven after he began serving a prison sentence for corruption?
... thatbadminton in Singaporebegan in the early 19th century?
... that YouTuberGhib OjisanvisitedYishun,aSingaporeantown, expecting danger after reading of cats being slaughtered but instead found it "home to nice people and cute cats"?
... that Singapore'sNicoll Highway MRT stationhad to be relocated as a result of a 2004 tunnel collapse near the station?

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In this month

1 July 1981:Singapore Changi Airportstarts operation.
6 July 1990: TheEast West Line,one of the main lines on Singapore'sMass Rapid Transit system,is completed.
21 July 1964: Anethnic riotbetween the Malays and Chinese breaks out onProphet Muhammad's birthday. 23 people are killed.

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... thatthe Buddhist Library(pictured),which is located in ashophouse,is Singapore's first dedicatedBuddhistlibrary and is unique in that it is neither anassociationnor atemple?

... thatJohn Martin Scrippswas the firstBritonin Singapore to be sentenced to death byhanging?

... thatSaint Jack,a 1979 fictionfilmabout aprostitutein Singapore and the onlyHollywoodfilm about Singapore to be shoton location,was banned in the country until 2006?

... that thePresidential Council for Minority Rights,a Singaporean body that ensures laws do not discriminate against racial or religious minorities, has not issued an adverse report since its creation?

... thatAh Meng,aSumatran Orangutanand tourism icon of Singapore, had breakfast with celebrities including theDuke of Edinburghand pop starMichael Jackson?

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Selected panorama

Credit:Sengkang(20 February 2006)

Clarke Quayis a historical riverside quay in Singapore that is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River and Boat Quay. In this picture, Clarke Quay is pictured on the left bank while the Riverside Point is on the right bank. The bridge on the right of the picture is theOrd Bridge.

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