Singapore – the Way to a Global City Essay Example

as a crucial port for ships travelling between Europe and East Asia. This era of prosperity continued until February 1942 when Japan occupied Singapore for three and a half years. British forces returned in September 1945, leading to demands from both the merchant class and other citizens for representation in government affairs.

Hence, Singapore held its first election on 20 March 1948. The 1955 election marked a significant milestone as it was the first competitive political contest in Singapore's history. Self-government was achieved in 1959 with the first general election, resulting in Lee Kuan Yew becoming the country's inaugural Prime Minister. In 1963, Singapore merged with Malaysia to boost the economy through a common free market, trade tariff elimination, and address unemployment concerns. Additionally, Singapore's security would be protected within a larger Malaysia. However, this merger was short-lived as Singapore separated from Malaysia on 9 August 1965. Singapore then established itself as a sovereign, democratic, and independent nation. From that point forward, the nation embarked on the challenge of thriving independently and cultivating a sense of national identity and unity among its diverse immigrant population.

Singapore began the 1970s with political stability and significant economic growth. On November 28, 1990, Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as Singapore's second Prime Minister after his resignation. In 2004, Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became Singapore's third Prime Minister and has since introduced innovative measures to turn Singapore into a global city. Furthermore, when Singapore gained independence in 1965, tears filled the leaders instead of joy.

Despite initial doubts, Singapore, a small island city-state with a population of two million and no surrounding area, has

successfully transformed itself from a Third World country to a First World country through its own efforts. Singapore's economy has consistently achieved annual growth rates exceeding 7 percent since 1965. As a result, it now boasts the ninth highest per-capita income in the world at US$29,610.

Singapore is renowned globally for its highly efficient port, airport, airline, and civil service. It is categorized as one of the Four Asian Tigers along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. The economy of Singapore heavily depends on exports and improving imported goods, especially in manufacturing. This industry includes various sectors like electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering, and biomedical sciences. In 2005, manufacturing accounted for 26 percent of Singapore's GDP. Furthermore, Singapore possesses the third largest oil refining capacity.

In 2006, Singapore accounted for approximately 10% of global foundry wafer production. It is currently the fourth largest foreign exchange trading hub globally, following London, New York City, and Tokyo. The country's total trade volume exceeds its gross national product (GNP) by three times. In addition to economic development, Singapore places great importance on environmental preservation and has been recognized as the cleanest country in the world. The country also prides itself on its exceptional quality of life, particularly in healthcare services. Singapore has a leading healthcare system and offers notable programs such as Medisave, Medishield, and Medifund.

The health of the population in Singapore has improved over time. Infant mortality rates have declined from 26.3 per 1000 live births in 1965 to 3.2 per 1000 currently.

Furthermore, life expectancy is increasing. Singapore has the highest literacy rate worldwide, thanks to its education system.

Although education is not entirely free or compulsory,

nowadays at least 90 percent of the population will complete a minimum of 10 years of education. Additionally, 20 percent will graduate from university, while polytechnic training will be completed by 40 percent and vocational training by another 30 percent.

In addition to these advancements, there are numerous housing options available in Singapore.

Singapore's population mostly resides in high-rise public housing, accounting for one-sixth of the island. However, the average living space per family exceeds the global average. The Central Provident Fund (CPF), a mandatory savings program, plays a role in Singaporeans' home ownership. Moreover, Singapore distinguishes itself with its diverse multi-racial composition comprising Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Despite challenges stemming from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, Singapore has effectively promoted racial harmony through its policies.

Singapore has made significant advancements by adopting four official languages (Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, and English) and owes much of its success to III. Lee Kuan Yew. In the 1950s, Singapore was plagued by poverty and corruption; however, it has since undergone a remarkable transformation. Despite starting as a small colonial port with a population of under 1 million, Singapore has emerged as a thriving and prosperous nation.

Singapore's GDP per capita in 1959 was $400, but the island has since transformed into a prosperous nation from an impoverished port reminiscent of a village. Lee Kuan Yew played a vital role in Singapore's success as Prime Minister from 1959-1990. While this essay focuses on his role, it is important to note that his capable leadership and implementation of sound policies across various sectors were fundamental in elevating Singapore's economy. Upon assuming office, Lee Kuan Yew successfully negotiated for Singapore's autonomy from the British government

in all matters aside from defense and foreign affairs.

Despite being less resource-rich compared to Japan, Singapore has managed to thrive with its limited natural resources. Its main asset is a deep-water port, and only 4% of its total land area is suitable for agriculture. In order to secure control over defense and foreign policy while also reaping economic benefits, Lee Kuan Yew merged Singapore with Malaya. This merger eventually led to the formation of Malaysia in 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak were included. However, just two years later in 1965, Lee Kuan Yew had no choice but to declare Singapore's independence from Malaysia and assume leadership of an independent Singapore. Throughout his tenure, Lee Kuan Yew prioritized national security, the economy, and social issues.

National security: To address Singapore's vulnerability to external threats, the leader swiftly pursued international recognition of the country's independence, which led to Singapore joining the United Nations on 21 September 1965. Alongside this, a policy of neutrality and non-alignment similar to Switzerland was announced. Concurrently, Goh Keng Swee was entrusted with developing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) while seeking assistance from other nations for guidance, training, and facilities. Consequently, Singapore became a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on 8 August 1967 and gained entry into the Non-Aligned Movement in 1970.

Singapore's lack of natural resources, aside from its deep port, posed economic challenges. Lee Kuan Yew recognized the necessity for Singapore to partake in global trade and commerce to overcome these obstacles. The country faced severe poverty and high unemployment rates during the 1960s, exacerbated by the British withdrawal. In response, Lee Kuan Yew actively sought foreign investment,

fostered private business growth, and refrained from providing subsidies. The government embraced an open-door policy that welcomed foreign investment and expertise, creating a favorable environment for business opportunities with international investors. This is evident in Singapore's significant external trade size, which is approximately three times larger than its domestic GDP. By adopting a free trade approach, minimal restrictions on importing and exporting goods are ensured.

Therefore, almost all commodities, consumer and industrial items can freely enter and leave Singapore without duty charges. Singapore offers a favorable business environment and promotes international trade. The government apparatus plays a crucial role in effectively implementing policies. Lee Kuan Yew understood the importance of a dedicated and talented government for Singapore's growth. He exemplified virtuous leadership by establishing a corruption-free regime. Civil servants are selected from the top-performing university students. Singapore initially faced poverty in its early days after gaining independence.

Lee Kuan Yew implemented various measures to eliminate the corruption that had infiltrated the government during British colonial rule. Firstly, he established a strong work ethic among civil servants and enforced strict legislation. Additionally, he ensured that civil servants received adequate compensation to discourage them from engaging in unethical practices. Lee Kuan Yew emphasized his administration's zero tolerance policy towards all forms of corruption. In fact, it was not uncommon for foreign entrepreneurs to obtain all necessary approvals from a single officer.

Following Lee's leadership, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong recognized the importance of maintaining an exceptional public service and increased the salary budget for government employees in 2001. Despite the rise in salaries, Singapore's public service continued to be highly esteemed for its efficiency and competence. Goh Chok Tong defended

this salary increase by highlighting the quality of political leadership and its significant impact on people's lives.

The government of Singapore is renowned for its stability, making it the most stable country in Asia. It prioritizes promoting business growth by minimizing bureaucracy and being flexible in unforeseen circumstances. The government also highly values fostering innovation in the private sector and maintaining strong partnerships with regulatory agencies. Moreover, consulting with trade and business organizations plays a vital role in making significant decisions concerning businesses. In Singapore, given the limited availability of natural resources, there is an enhanced focus on human resources.

Lee Kuan Yew prioritized education and understood the significance of English in global trade and job prospects in Singapore. To ensure equal access to schooling, Lee made English an official language and the main language used in schools. Furthermore, talented students who were bilingual had the opportunity to enhance their skills in specialized secondary schools. The education system was created to meet economic needs. Nevertheless, inadequate facilities posed infrastructure challenges for Singapore during the 1960s.

Lee utilized military infrastructure for civilian purposes and endeavored to attract foreign investment in order to enhance Singapore's unique advantage. As a result, Singapore has now emerged as the busiest port in the world and a vital international trade hub, supported by its extensive sea and air connections, modern port and airport facilities, advanced telecommunications network, and comprehensive land transport system.

In terms of social issues, Singapore faces the challenge of harmonizing its three ethnic groups on its small island. Lee Kuan Yew recognized this concern and sought to unite the ethnic groups for the collective benefit of the country. To address this, Lee

made Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, and English official languages, despite the majority of Singaporeans being ethnic Chinese. Although only a small percentage of Singaporeans are Malays and Indians, Lee introduced the teaching of Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil in English schools. Similarly, he implemented the teaching of English in Chinese, Malay, and Tamil schools to ensure balance.

Lee Kuan Yew publicly declared that all four major languages in Singapore held official and equal status. As a result, despite the significant Chinese population, Chinese language and culture did not dominate Singaporeans' social life. Singapore, lacking natural sources of freshwater such as rivers and lakes, primarily relies on collected rainfall stored in reservoirs or water catchment areas for domestic water supply. Additionally, Singapore heavily imports water from Malaysia, making it dependent on Malaysia's water resources. To ensure a stable water supply from Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew requested a guarantee of water supply in the 1965 Agreement of Separation, which was subsequently registered with the United Nations.

Singapore relied on the historical recognition of the Straits of Malacca as international waters, enabling it to report any violations to the UN Security Council. Furthermore, Singapore introduced a unique water production technique called NEWater, which ensures high quality cleanliness. The presence of insufficient public housing, subpar sanitation conditions, and elevated unemployment rates led to various social issues including crime and health-related concerns. To address this, the Housing Development Board (HDB) was established before Singapore gained independence and successfully carried out extensive construction initiatives aimed at providing affordable public housing.

The majority of the population was housed in these apartments within a decade. The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Housing Scheme, introduced in 1968, allows residents to

use their compulsory savings account to purchase HDB flats and gradually increases home ownership in Singapore. Additionally, the story on the environment front is important to consider. As a national strategy, Lee Kuan Yew emphasized the necessity of a green nature in the path to substantial development while determining economic growth. Through careful land planning, residential, commercial, and industrial purposes only occupy 49 percent of the island. The other half consists of forest reserves, water catchment areas, marshes, and other non-built-up areas.

Singapore, classified by the World Bank as "one hundred percent urbanized," is a green island. Despite this classification, it has become the cleanest city in the world and is now a paradise for rest and treatment. Looking ahead, Singapore envisions using its strategic location, stable government, competitive workforce, forward-looking economic policies, and pro-business environment to not only serve as a convenient link between East and West, but also provide easy access to Asia Pacific's dynamic market of over 2.

Singapore is a truly cosmopolitan city with a population of 8 billion people. It boasts a rich multicultural heritage and offers classic Asian hospitality. The city is known for its clean and green surroundings, low crime rate, affordable housing, and exceptional visitor attractions. These factors combine to make working and living in Singapore a truly enjoyable experience. Singapore has also been successful in learning from the experiences of other countries during its period of development. However, as one of the top-class economies, Singapore must now find its own way without relying on the experience of others and be prepared to accept failure if necessary.

According to research by Mansour Javidan in the Harvard Business Magazine, Singapore has

the strongest future-oriented culture, followed by Switzerland, Holland, and Malaysia. Since the 1990s, Singapore has implemented various programs to prepare for challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. These include Public service 21, Industry 21, Human resource 21, the Scheme 21 for building a global city, and the development of national technology and science. However, the rise of China and India in fields such as economy, military affairs, and technology has adversely affected Singapore's position as a leading attractor of foreign investments and a prominent Asian manufacturer and exporter. In response to this reality, Singapore is now establishing itself as a bridge between China and India, as well as between these countries and other countries in the West and Southeast Asia. Lee Kuan Yew has long supported this role, urging Singaporean firms since the 1970s to establish strong footholds in China to compete effectively with other foreign investors and maximize business opportunities.Singapore, in accordance with its new role, made the decision to prioritize the development of manufacturing over other activities that provided less value.

The text highlights the importance of transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, specifically in countries like China, India, and other emerging powers. The government's recent strategy has focused on attracting foreign students and trainees and establishing institutions to train them in specialized areas for careers in both government and top-tier private companies. This city-state, known for its strong rule of law, Western economic practices, corruption-free administration, and excellent infrastructure, is poised to meet the challenge and become a global success story. Singapore's success has made it a role model for many developing countries, with remarkable achievements in various areas such as the economy,

social life, national identity, education, and science and technology. The face of Singapore has changed significantly since the 1950s. The key policies that have contributed to Singapore's success include maintaining a free and open economy, avoiding subsidies, establishing an uncorrupted administration, and welcoming foreign investment.Singapore has effectively utilized its unique advantage and the government's sound policies to develop into the world's busiest port, thereby establishing itself as the gateway to Asia.

The key to Singapore's economic success has been its commitment to free trade. This has resulted in numerous business opportunities and positioned Singapore as a strategic link between the West and the East. To stay competitive in an increasingly challenging world, Singapore has proposed forward-looking missions that prioritize the training of future human resources. As a vibrant and dynamic city-state with one of the highest standards of living globally, Singapore serves as a major regional trading center and the busiest port worldwide. Therefore, it rightly deserves the status of a global city. Furthermore, it is certain that future leaders will continue to uphold Lee Kuan Yew's principles, which have established Singapore as a society based on meritocracy and free from corruption, all to ensure its continued status as a global city.