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Published by isabelle lim, 2019-03-24 02:13:22

Sending Some Love (2)

Sending Some Love (2)

MakingISABELLE LIM
Singapore

green

Ever wondered how Singapore became the greenest
urbanised city in the world? Let us take a look at the
journey towards a clean and green Singapore.

1918: OUR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Singapore wasn't always a clean and green Singapore we
know today. We used to be a small fishing village,
founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1918 who set his
sights on our island's strategic location and founded a
British trading post on our shores.

Singapore was situated on the major sea route between
China and India, making it a viable place for trade.
Raffles transformed Singapore into a trading hub,
attracting immigrants from all over China, India and the
Malay Archipelagos. Singapore was then known as
'Temasek', derived from the Malay word 'Tasik' which
means sea. Hence it was 'a place surrounded by sea'.

It was only in the 14th century that we were rename by
Sang Nila Utama who spotted an unknown creature
when he landed on our shores in 1922. Someone
informed that the creature he had seen was a lion, thus
he named us 'Singapura', which in Sanskrit means 'lion
city' and that is the way it has been ever since!

1959-1964: THE ROAD TO
INDEPENDENCE

There was a growth of nationalism which led to self-
government in 1959. Singapore held an election in May
1959 to elect its pioneer team of leaders to lead the
Singapore government. The People's Action Party won
43 out of the 51 seats and thus came into power. Mr Lee
Kuan Yew, a Cambridge-educated lawyer became the
first prime minister of Singapore.

On 31st August 1963, Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak
and Malaya were merged to form the Federation of
Malaysia. The PAP saw the merger as a means for
Singapore to ensure our economic survival as we are a
small nation.

However this merger was not without difficulties.
Political parties of both Singapore and Malaysia had
many differences to reconcile. The PAP advocates for
fairness and equal treatment of all races in Malaysia,
crying out for a 'Malaysian Malaysia'. However the
Chinese in Singapore felt discriminated against by the
federal policies put in placed. These policies gave Malays
special financial and economic privileges. Thus racial
tensions continued to escalate dramatically over the years
eventually leading to racial riots in July 1964.

This union was unstable and filled with distrust which
eventually led to our separation from the federation.

1965: INDEPENDENCE DAY

On the 7th August 1965, Prime minister Tunku Abdul
advised the parliament of Malaysia to hold a vote to
decide the expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia. The
necessary arrangements were made and on 9th August
1965, in parliament, 126-0 voted in favour of the
expulsion of Singapore. Thus a tearful Mr Lee announced
that Singapore was now an independent nation.

1965 ONWARDS :BUILDING OUR NATION

All alone with no one else to rely on, Singapore's
independence gave her the resolve to build a nation even
stronger than before and boldy brave the challenges that lay
ahead. Thus multicultural Singapore was born. An
industrialised plan was enforced, seeking to address the
pressing domestic issues such as unemployment and poor
housing.

Mr Lee Kuan yew


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