Singapore

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Singapore has often been referred to as the “Lion City” and that is because the founder of Singapore, Sang Nila Utama, saw a beast that looked like a lion (hence the name). It consists of one main island and 63 small islands located south of the Malay Peninsula, in Southeast Asia. The people belong to different cultures, languages and religions. Due to the great quality of life in Singapore, immigration has had a long history. It is the second most populated country in the world because of its very diverse population of Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Asians. Forty two percent of the people that live there are foreigners that come looking for work or to attend school. It’s the fourth leading financial center in the world and it plays a key role in international trade and finance.

Singapore’s location to the equator affects its climate. The climate in Singapore is very tropical. Typically, it’s hot and sunny with temperatures ranging from 71.6F to 92.3F and very humid. There is lots of rain, especially during November to January.

The first records of settlement began during the 2nd century. From the 16th century to the early 19th centuries, Singapore was part of the Sultanate of Johor. In 1613, raiders from Portuguese burnt down settlement at the Singapore River, the island sank for the next two centuries.

During WW2, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya starting the Battle of Singapore. The British were defeated in less than 6 days; they surrendered to General Tomoyuki Yamashita on February 15, 1942. The Prime Minister during that time described it as “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.” Singapore declared independence from British in August 1963. The British allowed Singapore to hold its first general election in 1955; David Marshall won and become Chief Minister. After becoming an independent country in 1965, former deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Goh Keng Swee made...