Online Encyclopedia
History of Singapore
The history of Singapore dates at least as far back as the 14th century.
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Ancient times
In the 14th century, Singapore emerged as Temasek, a port and fortified city of some importance. It was part of the Sri Vijaya Empire based in Sumatra, which was undergoing a protracted period of decline. While the written historical records of the Malays (the "Sejarah Melayu", or Malay Annals) tend to exaggerate claims of the city's greatness, recent archaeological evidence does point to an urban settlement and trading centre of some importance.
Following the decline of Sri Vijayan power, Temasek was claimed by rival emerging regional powers such as the Majapahit Empire in Java and the Ayuthia Kingdom in Siam. The city's fortifications allowed it to withstand at least one attempted Siamese invasion. Around this time, at start of the 15th century, Temasek was also renamed "Singapura", which means "Lion City" in Sanskrit.
British Era
The modern city of Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles as a British trading settlement. It is noted in several accounts that he chose Singapore due to its deep harbour and its prime location to break the monopoly of the Dutch. At that time, the British were fiercely competing with the Dutch in terms of trade. The Dutch held a monopoly over the Spice Islands, and prohibited the British from trading from all ports near the Spice Islands within their control, except for one port, Batavia, at which unfavourable prices were set at the expense of the British. The British disliked this, and sought a way to bypass the Dutch control of supply of spice produce. However, their current ports were insufficient - Penang, for example, was too far away, Bencoolen was facing the Sunda Straits, which lay among a less busy route. Many other sites were also Dutch-controlled or had too shallow a harbour. Singapore, however, proved a favourable site for a port and was founded for this reason, since it was close enough, as well as having a deep harbour and lay among the busy Malacca Straits route, which ran from India to China. It also held fresh water supplies and wood to repair ships. Today, these reasons remains one of the primary reasons that modern merchants still call at Singapore, although wood is no longer really used to repair ships.
Yet roadblocks for making it a British port still remained. The island was a under control of the Sultan of Johore, who was backed by the Dutch and would not cede Singapore to the British. However, it came to the attention of Raffles through the Temenggong of Singapore that the current Sultan, Tengku Abdul Rahman was Sultan only because his older brother was away getting married in Penang when their father had died. Not being present, they had crowned the younger brother instead. Raffles took this chance to recognise the older brother as the rightful Sultan, Tengku Hussein , who then allowed in exchange for yearly payment, allowed the British to build a port. This was ratified with a treaty as well as the traditional ceremony on 6 February 1819.
With the Convention signed on 7 June 1823, British possession extended to the entire island, save for the residences of the Sultan and Temenggong. They would cede rights to collection of port taxes and revenue and numerous other functions on the island in return for a lifetime monthly payment of 1500 dollars and 800 dollars to the Sultan and the Temenggong respectively. British law thus came into effect, taking into account Malay customs, traditions and religion, "where they shall not be contrary to reason, justice or humanity" as stated by the Convention. (Perhaps a perceived violation of the agreement to respect of Malay tradition led to the Maria Hertogh Riots ) later on. In 1824, the authorities in Calcutta of the British East India Company recognised Singapore as a permanaent and sovereign possession, as part of the Straits Settlements.
As the port become much more busier, a need was felt to establish Singapore as a Crown Colony and not merely part of the governing structure under the British East India Company. This was because there was immense bureaucracy and red tape under the the governing structure of the East India Company, and it took an immensely long period to recognise or pass any laws or resolutions. It was established as a Crown Colony in 1867, receiving orders directly from the Colonial Office, signifying its importance.
Singapore continued to grow and expand as years passed. Commerce skyrocketed, so did crime, narcotics such as opium and secret societies, especially with the influx of coolies. Singapore can be said to be perceived as a land of opportunity in Asia, especially China, as was New York to Europe in those days. Historians generally blame these problems on British insensitivity and the treatment of immigrants as second-class. Attempts were made to suppress the secret societies by improving the police force and its morale, banning the secret societies, and appointing people to the police force who were sensitive to the culture of the members of such secret societies. These had partial success in reducing crime. Housing, health and living standard problems continued right up to the post war era where after the war they took a turn for the worse, and these problems later would become one of the primary reasons to achieve self-government.
World War II
Japan declared war against the Allies in December 7, 1941, in a three-pronged attack: Southeast Asia was one of them, because it held resources to fund the war in China.
During World War II, Singapore was considered an "impregnable fortress" as the dense Malayan jungle provided a natural barrier to the north and was heavily defended by naval artillery to the south at Fort Siloso , Fort Canning and Labrador. Therefore the British did not bring in tanks (considered useless in the jungle) or a signicant air force or navy, since it was considered unnecessary. It was also held that British nationalism and complacency led to a great underestimation of the sheer effectiveness of the Japanese threat which emerged during World War II. British defences were rather uncoordinated. The two "unsinkable" warships, the Prince of Wales and the Repulse was sunk because British air support did not arrive on time to provide cover from Japanese planes attacking from above. The failure to bring in tanks meant absolute supremacy on the ground for Japan, as the light tanks moved quickly through the jungle to the surprise of the British, and British infantry were powerless against them.
The Japanese, in contrast, were well coordinated and the speed of infantry on flexible bicycles meant Malaya had fallen to the Japanese by the end of January 1942. The causeway linking the Malayan region of Johore to Singapore was blown up in an effort to stop the Japanese. However, the Japanese crossed the Strait of Johor in inflatable boats days after, before proceeding to finish coup de grace and take control of Singapore. Several heroic fights by volunteers of Singapore's population against the Japanese took place during this period, such as the Battle of Pasir Panjang. It is a common misconception that Singapore's naval guns could not fire upon the Japanese because "they were turned the wrong way". This was not true. Naval guns could turn to the north, and they did in fact fire upon the advancing Japanese columns. However the naval guns were designed to pierce hull armour, not take out infantry, and thus proved ineffective. Shortage of supplies led to a surrender on 15 February 1942. Today it is known in Singapore as the Total Defence Day - stressing the importance of good defence.
The occupation was nicknamed the "darkest years of Singapore's history", because widespread oppression occurred and war atrocities committed by Japanese troops, including rape and massacre. Even though the Japanese declared they were "liberating Southeast Asia from colonialism", it was considered much worse than British colonial rule. The Sook Ching Massacre also occurred, where suspicious elements of dissent were executed in a method not much different from the Holocaust. This often included Chinese civilians who had donated to charities to aid the war effort in China, which had greatly stalled Japanese progress in its conquest of China. Casualties were reported to number above 20,000 during the Sook Ching. The supposed intent was to terrorise the population into loyal submission, including spies and secret police.
Post-war Era
After the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, a state not too different from anomy occurred as the Japanese occupants had yet to leave since the British had not arrived to take control, but now had considerably less of a hold over the populace, thus looting and revenge-killing increased drastically but it was impossible to do anything since the Japanese still stressed their control over Singapore. Singapore was returned to British administration in September 1945 with great fanfare and celebration.
However, after the failure of the British to defend Singapore, anti-colonialism sentiments spread considerably, its flames fanned by large scale unemployment, housing and living standard problems. Self-government was introduced gradually in 1948, 1955 and finally 1959 as Britain was ready to give up its colonies. Leftist and Marxist movements were widespread during this period, and British government, fearing a communist takeover, declared a State of Emergency in Malaya from 1948 to 1960. It was this fear that discouraged Britain from giving Singapore full independence.
In 1962, Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak agreed to merge to form the Federation of Malaysia. It was thought to be the solution to resolve unemployment, a stagnating economy and the security threats posed by revolutionary elements in the period by forming a new nation where no trade taxes would be imposed between them, thus a market would open up, solving economic and unemployment woes. However, differences in policy, such as the relationship between the states and the federal government, bumiputra policy (special rights given to the Malays) and the racial tension and racial riots led to expulsion and independence of Singapore on 9 August 1965.
Post-independence
The dismal state of the country led to the infamous world conclusion that "Singapore would never make it". However, to the contrary, economic reform and implementation of industrial infrastructure, especially in Jurong, led to an economic stimulation which saved Singapore from economic doom. In order to resolve racial tension, a policy to create national identity through education in schools and flag raising and lowering ceremonies was implemented. Further economic success continued through the 1980's onwards.
Singapore has thus become one of the world's most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita GDP above that of the leading nations of Western Europe. During the early years, it was led by prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, whose policies were responsible for Singapore's prosperity and development. In 1990, Lee Kuan Yew passed the reins to successor Goh Chok Tong, and in 2004, Lee Hsien Loong became the third prime minister of Singapore.
External links
- http://www.sg/explore/history.htm