Singapore

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The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government (executive branch) of Singapore together with the President of Singapore. It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of government. The Prime Minister is a Member of Parliament appointed by the President who selects a person that in his or her view is likely to command the confidence of a majority of the Parliament of Singapore. The other members of the Cabinet are Ministers who are Members of Parliament appointed by the President on the Prime Minister's advice. Cabinet members are prohibited from holding any office of profit and from actively engaging in any commercial enterprise.

The Cabinet generally directs and controls the Government and is collectively responsible to Parliament. It also has significant influence over lawmaking. Ministers may be designated by the Prime Minister to be in charge of particular ministries, or as Ministers in the Prime Minister's Office. Singapore's ministers are among the best paid in the world. As of 31 December 2010, the Prime Minister's annual salary was S$3,072,200, while the pay of ministerial-grade officers ranged between $1,583,900 and $2,368,500. A Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries appointed on 21 May 2011 has recommended wage reductions, with the Prime Minister's salary being reduced by 36% (including the abolition of his pension) to $2.2 million (about US$1.7 million). Nonetheless, the Prime Minister remains the highest-paid political leader in the world.

The earliest predecessor of the Cabinet was the Executive Council of the Straits Settlements, introduced in 1877 to advise the Governor of the Straits Settlements. It wielded no executive power. In 1955, a Council of Ministers was created, made up of three ex officio Official Members and six Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore, appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Leader of the House. Following the general elections that year, David Saul Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. Constitutional talks between Legislative Assembly representatives and the Colonial Office were held from 1956 to 1958, and Singapore gained full internal self-government in 1959. The Governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, who had power to appoint to the post of Prime Minister the person most likely to command the authority of the Assembly, and other Ministers of the Cabinet on the Prime Minister's advice. In the 1959 general elections, the People's Action Party swept to power with 43 out of the 51 seats in the Assembly, and Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore. The executive branch of the Singapore Government remained unchanged following Singapore's merger with Malaysia in 1963, and subsequent independence in 1965.

Following the 2011 general election, a Cabinet reshuffle took place effective 21 May 2011. Lim Hng Kiang and Lim Swee Say respectively retained their Trade and Industry and Prime Minister's Office portfolios, while other ministers were given new appointments to the remaining 11 ministries. Heng Swee Keat and Chan Chun Sing, both elected to Parliament for the first time, were respectively assigned the posts of Minister for Education, and Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

History[link]

Up to the outbreak of World War II, Singapore was part of the Crown colony known as the Straits Settlements together with Malacca and Penang. The earliest predecessor of the Cabinet was arguably the Executive Council of the Straits Settlements that was introduced in 1877 by letters patent issued by the Crown,^[1] though its function was very different from that of today's Cabinet. The Council, which was composed of "such persons and constituted in such manner as may be directed" by royal instructions,^[2] existed to advise the Governor of the Straits Settlements and wielded no executive power. The Governor was required to consult the Executive Council on all affairs of importance unless they were too urgent to be laid before it, or if reference to it would prejudice the public service. In such urgent cases, the Governor had to inform the Council of the measures he had taken.^[3][4]

Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1834–1897), the Governor of the Straits Settlements when the Executive Council of the Straits Settlements was introduced in 1877

Following the Second World War, the Straits Settlements were disbanded and Singapore became a Crown colony in its own right.^[5] The reconstituted Executive Council consisted of six officials and four nominated "unofficials".^[6] In February 1954, the Rendel Constitutional Commission under the chairmanship of Sir George William Rendel, which had been appointed to comprehensively review the constitution of the Colony of Singapore, rendered its report. Among other things, it recommended that a Council of Ministers be created, composed of three ex officio Official Members and six Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Leader of the House, who would be the leader of the largest political party or coalition of parties having majority support in the legislature. The recommendation was implemented in 1955.^[7] In the general election held that year, the Labour Front took a majority of the seats in the Assembly, and David Saul Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. Major problems with the Rendel Constitution were that the Chief Minister and Ministers' powers were ill defined, and that the Official Members retained control of the finance, administration, and internal security and law portfolios. This led to confrontation between Marshall, who saw himself as a Prime Minister governing the country, and the Governor, Sir John Fearns Nicoll, who felt that important decisions and policies should remain with himself and the Official Members.^[8][9]

Lee Kuan Yew, who was elected the first Prime Minister of Singapore in 1959, in a 2005 photograph

In 1956, members of the Legislative Assembly held constitutional talks with the Colonial Office in London. The talks broke down as Marshall did not agree to the British Government's proposal for the casting vote on a proposed Defence Council to be held by the British High Commissioner to Singapore, who would only exercise it in an emergency. Marshall resigned as Chief Minister in June 1956, and was replaced by Lim Yew Hock.^[10] The following year, Lim led another delegation to the UK for further talks on self-government. This time, agreement was reached on the composition of an Internal Security Council.^[11] Other constitutional arrangements were swiftly settled in 1958, and on 1 August the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the State of Singapore Act 1958,^[12] granting the colony full internal self-government. Under Singapore's new constitution which came into force on 3 June 1959,^[13] the Governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State), who had power to appoint as Prime Minister the person most likely to command the authority of the Legislative Assembly, and other Ministers of the Cabinet on the Prime Minister's advice.^[14] The Constitution also created the post of the British High Commissioner,^[15] who was entitled to receive the agenda of each Cabinet meeting and to see all Cabinet papers. In the 1959 general elections, the People's Action Party swept to power with 43 out of the 51 seats in the Assembly, and Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore. Nine other Ministers were appointed to the Cabinet.^[16]

The British High Commissioner's role became that of an ambassador following Singapore's independence from Britain and merger with Malaysia in 1963. Apart from that the executive branch of the Singapore Government remained largely unchanged,^[17] although now it governed a state within a larger federation. However, with effect from 9 August 1965, Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia and became a fully independent republic. On separation from Malaysia, the Singapore Government retained its executive authority, and the executive authority of the Parliament of Malaysia ceased to extend to Singapore and vested in the Singapore Government.^[18] The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Supreme Head of State of Malaysia, also ceased to be the Supreme Head of Singapore and relinquished his sovereignty, jurisdiction, power and authority, executive or otherwise in respect of Singapore, which revested in the Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore.^[19] The Republic of Singapore Independence Act 1965^[20] then vested the executive authority of Singapore in the newly created post of President, and made it exercisable by him or by the Cabinet or by any Minister authorized by the Cabinet.

Structure of government[link]

Singapore inherited a Westminster system of government from the British. In such systems, there is an overlap between the executive and legislative branches of government. The head of state, who is the President of Singapore, is a member of both the executive Government of Singapore and the Parliament of Singapore but plays a minimal role in them. Executive power lies in the hands of the Cabinet, which is made up of the Prime Minister of Singapore (the head of government) and other Ministers.^[21] At the same time, the Prime Minister and Ministers are also Members of Parliament (MPs).

Following constitutional reforms in 1991, the office of President was transformed from an appointed to an elected post. Thus, both the President and MPs are elected to their posts by the citizens of Singapore in separate elections.^[22]

Appointment of Cabinet[link]

S.R. Nathan, the President of Singapore, in 2006

The President appoints as Prime Minister an MP who, in his judgment, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the MPs.^[23] In practice, the Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party holding the majority of the seats in Parliament.^[24]

The President also appoints other Ministers to the Cabinet from among the MPs, acting in accordance with the Prime Minister's advice.^[23] Any MP, including a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) or a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), may be appointed a Minister. Thus it is possible for a person who was not elected by voters to be appointed by Parliament as an NMP, then by the President as a Minister. In 1990, then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said in Parliament: "I would rather that a government has the flexibility to appoint the right person to be the minister for finance, than to compel that government to select from whoever is available in the House."^[25] However, he added that the Government had no intention to appoint a Cabinet minister from among the NMPs at that time. In May 2009, MP Hri Kumar proposed during a Parliamentary debate that this stand be reconsidered as the Prime Minister would be able to draw on the experience of many capable Singaporeans. He expressed the view that this would not offend democratic principles. Singapore's Parliamentary system placed more weight on the party in power rather than individual MPs, and "Parliamentarians must still win the support from the ground and, ultimately, the PM and the ruling party and his Cabinet team will still be answerable to the electorate at elections."^[26] Critics have commented that adopting the practice would disenchant Singaporeans, deepen the already parochial political culture, and lead to a lack of accountability and legitimacy.^[27]

Before entering on the duties of their office, the Prime Minister and other Ministers must take and subscribe (sign) the Oath of Allegiance and an oath for the due execution of their offices before the President.^[28] The Oath of Allegiance reads as follows:

I, [name], having been appointed to the office of [name of office], do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Singapore and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore.^[29]

The oath for the due execution of the office of Prime Minister or a Minister is as follows:

I, [name], being chosen and appointed as Prime Minister [or Minister] of Singapore, do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will at all times faithfully discharge my duties as Prime Minister [or Minister] according to law, and to the best of my knowledge and ability, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.^[30]

Cabinet members are prohibited from holding any office of profit or actively engaging in any commercial enterprise.^[31] In addition, they are required to comply with a Code of Conduct for Ministers.^[32] For example, to counter potential allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth and to avoid potential conflicts between private interests and public responsibilities, the Code requires every Minister, upon appointment to office, to disclose in confidence to the President through the Prime Minister all sources of income other than his salary as a Minister and as an MP. This must include all assets, such as financial assets, real property, interests in any company or professional practice, and any other substantial personal assets as well as financial liabilities, including mortgages and borrowings.^[33] A Minister must also "scrupulously avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest between his office and his private financial interests".^[34] Thus, a Minister is not permitted to accept any favour of any kind from persons in negotiation with, or seeking to obtain any licence or enter into any contractual relations with, the Government,^[35] or to use official information that comes to him as a Minister for his own private profit or the profit of any family member or associate.^[36]

Vacation of office[link]

The President must declare the office of Prime Minister vacant if the Prime Minister resigns his office, or if the President, acting in his discretion, is satisfied that the Prime Minister has ceased to command the confidence of a majority of the MPs. In the latter situation, the President is required first to inform the Prime Minister of his evaluation in this regard, and if the Prime Minister requests him to, the President may dissolve Parliament instead of making a declaration of vacancy.^[37] A general election must be held within three months after the dissolution of Parliament.^[38] This gives the former Prime Minister the opportunity to consolidate support by receiving a fresh mandate at the polls.^[24]

At present, it is not clear what evidence the President may rely on to be satisfied that the Prime Minister has ceased to command the confidence of a majority of MPs, as the Singapore courts have not yet had to decide the issue. In the Sarawak case of Stephen Kalong Ningkan v. Tun Abang Haji Openg,^[39] decided on provisions similar to those in the Singapore Constitution, the court found that the phrase ceased to command the confidence of a majority of the Members of Parliament was a term of art which had to be signified by a formal vote of no confidence taken by the legislature. In contrast, a Sabah court held in Datuk Amir Kahar v. Tun Mohd Said bin Keruak, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sabah^[40] that loss of confidence could be assessed on the basis of evidence other than a legislative vote.^[41] This might include, for instance, media reports or letters addressed to the President.

Other Cabinet ministers must vacate their office if they resign, or if their appointments are revoked by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.^[42] A person who has vacated his or her office as Minister may, if qualified, be subsequently appointed again as a Minister.^[43]

The Prime Minister and other Ministers who make up the Cabinet do not vacate their offices upon a dissolution of Parliament, but continue in their posts until the first sitting of the next Parliament following a general election.^[44]

Responsibilities and remuneration[link]

The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, photographed here on 21 November 2004

The executive authority of Singapore is vested in the President and is exercisable by him or by the Cabinet of Singapore or any Minister authorized by the Cabinet.^[45] However, the President normally plays a nominal and largely ceremonial role in the executive branch of government. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check on the Cabinet and Parliament of Singapore,^[46] he is otherwise required to act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or of a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet.^[47] It is the Cabinet that has the general direction and control of the Government.^[48] As Singapore follows the Westminster system of government, the legislative agenda of Parliament is determined by the Cabinet. At the start of each new Parliamentary session, the President gives an address prepared by the Cabinet that outlines what the Cabinet intends to achieve in the session.^[49]

Under the Constitution, the Cabinet is collectively responsible to Parliament.^[48] In theory, Parliament acts as a check on the power of the Cabinet as Ministers are required to justify their actions and policies upon being questioned by MPs. However, in Singapore this is a weak check because the ruling People's Action Party holds a large Parliamentary majority, and party members who are MPs are required by party discipline to vote according to the party Whip's instructions.^[41]

The Cabinet may not be summoned except by the authority of the Prime Minister.^[50] As far as is practicable, the Prime Minister is required to attend and preside at Cabinet meetings, but in his absence he may appoint another Minister to preside.^[51]

Whenever the Prime Minister is ill, absent from Singapore, or has been granted leave of absence from his duties, the functions conferred on him by the Constitution are exercisable by any other Minister authorized by the President.^[52] In general, the President must act in accordance with the Prime Minister's advice in appointing a Minister for this purpose. However, the President may act in his own discretion if in his opinion it is impracticable to obtain the advice of the Prime Minister due to his illness or absence.^[53]

Responsibilities of Ministers[link]

The Prime Minister may, by giving written directions, charge any Minister with responsibility for any department or subject.^[54] In practice, this is done by issuing notifications that are published in the Government Gazette. For instance, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Responsibility of Senior Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, Prime Minister's Office) Notification 2009^[55] states:

It is hereby notified for general information that, pursuant to Article 30(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Prime Minister has directed that Mr S. Jayakumar shall, with effect from 1st April 2009, be charged with the responsibility for the following matters:

(a) national security issues involving or affecting more than one Ministry;

(b) Chairmanship of the Security Policy Review Committee;

(c) foreign policy issues involving or affecting more than one Ministry; and

(d) foreign policy issues which involve legal negotiation or international adjudication,

and that he shall be designated as Senior Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security.

Ministers may be designated by the Prime Minister to be in charge of particular ministries, or as Ministers in the Prime Minister's Office. Such Ministers were formerly known as Ministers without portfolio.

The Prime Minister may retain any department or subject in his charge.^[56]

Remuneration[link]

Before 2010[link]

In 1994, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong received a monthly salary of nearly S$96,000 (about $1.15 million a year), while other ministers earned about $48,900 a month ($586,800 a year). This made them among the highest paid government ministers in the world.^[57] In October that year, the Government issued a white paper entitled Competitive Salaries for Competent & Honest Government^[58] which proposed that the salaries of ministers and civil servants be pegged at two-thirds the average principal earned income of the top four earners in six professions: accounting, banking, engineering, law, local manufacturing firms and multinational corporations. These professions were chosen because their top members had general management skills which ministers also had to have. According to the white paper, the one-third "discount" would be "a visible demonstration of the sacrifice involved in becoming a minister". Although "[s]alaries should never be the motivation for persons to become ministers", the financial sacrifice had to be minimized if outstanding and committed Singaporeans were to be encouraged to take on the "risks and public responsibilities of a political career".^[59] The benchmark would also be used to determine the pay of the President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission and judges.^[59]

Following Parliamentary approval of the white paper in November 1994,^[60] the Government established an independent panel to examine the benchmark for the Prime Minister's salary. The panel's report, released in January 1995, recommended that the benchmark be about $1.6 million a year, but said it would be reasonable for the Prime Minister to be paid $2.4 million in view of his heavy responsibilities. The Government said that in three years it planned to raise the pay of the Prime Minister to $1.46 million and that of ministers to 60% of the benchmark, and in the "longer term" to $1.6 million and two-thirds of the benchmark respectively.^[61]

In February 1996 it was reported that a survey of 19 countries by the World Economic Forum magazine World Link had found that political leaders and senior civil servants of Singapore had the highest salaries. The pay of the Singapore Prime Minister (S$1.1 million, or US$812,858) was almost five times the average pay of the chief political executives of the nations surveyed (US$168,291). Senior civil servants were paid US$292,714, almost three times their counterparts' average pay.^[62]

In August 2000, in view of the Singapore economy's growth of almost 10% led by a rapid increase in exports, the salary of the Prime Minister was increased by 14% and those of other ministers by 12%. In response to public disquiet, Goh Chok Tong said that, spread across the population, the rises amounted to about $11 per person, equivalent to "about five plates of char kway teow [fried noodles with cockles] per Singaporean".^[63] Subsequently, in late 2001, when Singapore experienced its worst recession in a generation, ministerial pay was reduced by more than 17%. Nonetheless, it was reported that the prime minister still earned a gross annual salary of about $1.03 million before the variable component was taken into account.^[63]

In April 2007, the Prime Minister's annual salary increased to S$3.1 million (US$2.05 million), about five times that of the then President of the United States George W. Bush who earned US$400,000.^[64] The annual entry-level salary for ministers increased from $1.2 million to $1.6 million, and was projected to rise to 88% of the private sector benchmark by the end of 2008. Almost half of ministers' pay packages was made up of an individual performance bonus decided by the Prime Minister, and a variable bonus component based on the country's prevailing gross domestic product and capped at eight months of each minister's annual salary.^[65] The pay increases were justified by the Government on the grounds that the salaries had to keep pace with those in the private sector to attract the best talent and to avoid corruption. Teo Chee Hean, the Minister for Defence and minister in charge of the civil service, was reported as saying: "We don't want pay to be the reason for people to join [the government]. But we also don't want pay to be the reason for them not to join us, or to leave after joining us."^[64] The increases sparked much debate both in and out of Parliament, with many people seeing ministerial pay as already being too high.^[64] During a Parliamentary debate on the issue, Nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li-ann said: "It would be a sad indictment of my generation if no one came forward to serve without excessive monetary inducement, as to be bereft of deep convictions is to be impoverished indeed."^[66] On 11 April 2007, the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Parliament: "To make it quite clear why I am doing this, and also to give me the moral standing to defend this policy with Singaporeans, I will hold my own salary at the present level for five years. The government will pay me my full salary, because that is the way the system will have to work, but for five years, whatever the increase in the salary above its present level, I will donate to suitable good causes."^[67] The following day, it was clarified that the Prime Minister had decided to do so a while ago, and that he had not been influenced by pressure arising from the announcement of the ministerial pay rise.^[68]

In 2008, the annual salary for entry-level ministers was $1,924,300.^[69] In view of the worsening economic crisis in 2008–2009, as of January 2009 the Prime Minister's salary was cut to $3.04 million, while the pay of ministerial-grade officers was reduced by 18% to $1.57 million.^[70] In November 2009 the Public Service Division announced that pay increments would be deferred for a second time in 2010 because of the uncertain economic recovery. A minister's 2009 salary of $1,494,700 per year was therefore 22% lower than what he or she received in 2008.^[69]

2011 review[link]

As at 31 December 2010, the remuneration of ministers depended on which ministerial grade – from the lowest to the highest, MR4, MR3, MR2 or MR1 – they were at.^[71] Each minister's pay package was made up of fixed components (a monthly salary for 12 months, a non-pensionable annual allowance of one month's salary, a special allowance of one month's salary, and a public service leadership allowance of two months' salary) and variable components (an annual variable component, a performance bonus, and a gross domestic product (GDP) bonus). The annual variable component of up to one and a half month's salary was paid based on Singapore's economic performance. In years where economic performance was exceptional, a special variable payment was also made. Each minister's performance bonus was determined by the Prime Minister and could be up to 14 months' salary, though most good performers received the equivalent of nine months' salary. The GDP bonus depended on the nation's GDP growth rate. No bonus was paid if the rate was below 2%, and a maximum bonus of eight months' salary was paid if the rate was 10% or greater. In addition, ministers received the same medical benefits as civil servants.^[72] In 2010, the benchmark annual remuneration for an MR4-grade minister was $2,598,004, while the actual salary paid was $1,583,900.^[73] An MR1-grade minister's salary was $2,368,500.^[74] The annual pay of the Prime Minister was set at a fixed ratio to the MR4 salary,^[71] and was $3,072,200 in 2010.^[73] This included a fixed service bonus in lieu of a performance bonus since there was no one to assess the Prime Minister's individual performance. The fixed service bonus was the same as the performance bonus paid to a good performer at the MR4 grade.^[75]

On 21 May 2011, following the 2011 general election, the Prime Minister announced that a committee would be appointed to review politicians' remuneration, and that revised salaries would take effect from that date. The Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries chaired by Gerard Ee rendered its report on 30 December 2011, and released it to the public on 4 January 2012. As regards ministerial pay, the Committee recommended benchmarking an MR4-grade minister's salary to the median income of the top 1,000 wage earners who are Singapore citizens, with a 40% discount "to signify the sacrifice that comes with the ethos of political service".^[76] It also recommended removing the special allowance and public service leadership allowance; capping performance bonuses at six months' salary (with good performers generally receiving three months' salary); and replacing the GDP bonus with a national bonus based on four equally weighted indicators: the real median income growth rate (that is, the growth rate taking inflation into account), the real growth rate of the incomes of the lowest 20th percentile earners, the unemployment rate, and the real GDP growth rate. As regards the latter, no bonus will be paid if the minimum targets for the indicators are not met. A bonus of three months' salary will be paid if the targets are met, and a maximum bonus of six months' salary if the targets are greatly exceeded.^[77] This would result in a reduction of an M4-grade minister's annual salary by 31% of the 2010 figure to $1.1 million.^[78]

Where the Prime Minister's remuneration was concerned, the Committee recommended that it be pegged to twice of a MR4-grade minister's salary and doing away with the fixed service bonus. Instead, the Prime Minister will receive a larger national bonus. His annual bonus where the targets for the indicators have been met will be six months' salary, and 12 months' salary where they have been greatly exceeded.^[79] This will lead to a reduction in the Prime Minister's annual salary of 28% to $2.2 million (about US$1.7 million).^[80] Lee Hsien Loong has said that he accepts the Committee's recommendations. He remains the best-paid head of government in the world, his proposed annual pay package exceeding that of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang, the political leader with the second-highest salary in the world (around US$550,000), by about three times; and that of the President of the United States Barack Obama (£256,000, or about US$400,000) by over four times.^[81]

Pensions[link]

At present, persons who have reached the age of 50 years and retired as MPs and who have served in this capacity for not less than nine years may be granted a pension for the rest of their lives. The annual amount payable is ¹⁄₃₀ of the person's highest annual salary for every completed year of service and ¹⁄₃₆₀ for every uncompleted year, up to a ceiling of two-thirds of the Member's annual salary.^[82] In addition, a retired MP who is at least 50 years old and has for not less than eight years held the office of Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Senior Minister or Minister^[83] may receive an additional pension each year of ¹⁄₂₇ of his or her highest annual salary for each completed year of service and ¹⁄₃₂₄ for each uncompleted year, subject again to a ceiling of two-thirds of the office-holder's annual salary.^[84] Members who have reached the age of 55 years and have served not less than eight years as Ministers may be granted a pension even if they have not yet ceased to hold office.^[85] No person has an absolute right to compensation for past services or to any pension or gratuity, and the President may reduce or withhold pensions and gratuities upon an MP's conviction for corruption.^[86]

The Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries recommended that pensions for political appointment holders be abolished in favour of Central Provident Fund payments. Appointment holders appointed on and after 21 May 2011 will not receive any pension, while those appointed before that date will only be eligible for pensions accrued up to that date. Such pensions will be paid after they step down or retire from office.^[87] If the removal of pensions is taken into account, the Prime Minister's annual salary will be reduced from the 2010 figure by 36%, and that of MR4-grade ministers by 37%.^[88]

Current Cabinet[link]

See also[link]

• Cabinet (government)
• Government of Singapore
• List of past members of the Government of Singapore
• Parliament of Singapore

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Chia, Sue-Ann (27 March 2009), "Teo Chee Hean named Deputy Prime Minister", The Straits Times (reproduced on the website of the Prime Minister's Office): A1, archived from the original on 25 April 2009, http://www.webcitation.org/5gHMLiKv1 .
• Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (1999 Reprint).
• Lau, Wah Ming, Secretary to the Cabinet (4 July 2005), Code of Conduct for Ministers, Cabinet of Singapore (reproduced on the Getforme Singapore website), archived from the original on 12 June 2008, http://web.archive.org/web/20080612064850/http://www.getformesingapore.com/previous2005/020805_codeofconductforministers.htm, retrieved 26 April 2009 .
• Loh, Chee Kong (27 March 2009), "A team for new challenges", Today: 1, 3, archived from the original on 25 April 2009, http://www.webcitation.org/5gHMyyjqu .
• Parliamentary Pensions Act (Cap. 219, 1996 Rev. Ed.).
• (PDF) Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government, Singapore: Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries, 30 December 2011, archived from the original on 4 January 2012, http://www.webcitation.org/64RfqLPAC .
• Tan, Kevin Yew Lee (1999), "A Short Legal and Constitutional History of Singapore", in Tan, Kevin Y[ew] L[ee], ed., The Singapore Legal System (2nd ed.), Singapore: Singapore University Press, pp. 26–66, ISBN 9971-69-213-9 (pbk.) .
• Thio, Li-ann (1999), "The Constitutional Framework of Powers", in Tan, Kevin Y[ew] L[ee], ed., The Singapore Legal System (2nd ed.), Singapore: Singapore University Press, pp. 67–122, ISBN 9971-69-213-9 (pbk.) .

Further reading[link]

• Chan, Helena H[ui-]M[eng] (1995), "The Executive", The Legal System of Singapore, Singapore: Butterworths Asia, pp. 22–29, ISBN 9780409997897 (pbk.) .
• Jennings, Ivor (1980), Cabinet Government (3rd ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0521054303, ISBN 978-0-521-09570-9 .
• Quah, John S.T. (2003), "Paying for the 'Best and Brightest': Reward for High Public Office in Singapore", in Hood, Christopher; Peters, B. Guy; Lee, Grace O.M., eds. (PDF), Reward for High Public Office: Asian and Pacific Rim States [Routledge research in comparative politics; 3], London: Routledge, pp. 145–162, ISBN 978-0-415-30349-1, archived from the original on 26 May 2009, http://www.webcitation.org/5h491QLRh .
• Tan, Kevin Y[ew] L[ee]; Thio, Li-ann (1997), "The Executive", Tan, Yeo & Lee's Constitutional Law in Malaysia and Singapore (2nd ed.), Singapore: Butterworths Asia, pp. 181–243, ISBN 9780409999082 (pbk.) .
• Thio, Li-ann (1995), "Government and the State" (PDF), ASEAN Legal Systems, Singapore: Butterworths Asia for the ASEAN Law Association, ISBN 978-0-409-99802-3, archived from the original on 4 December 2009, http://www.webcitation.org/5llsGoDr9 .

External links[link]

• Official website of the Cabinet of Singapore
• Appointments to the Cabinet of Singapore
• Official website of the Government of Singapore

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v t e Current members of the Cabinet of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean National Security/Home Affairs/Civil Service Tharman Shanmugaratnam Finance/Manpower Cabinet Ministers Ng Eng Hen Defence Heng Swee Keat Education Vivian Balakrishnan Environment and Water Resources K. Shanmugam Foreign Affairs/Law Gan Kim Yong Health Yaacob Ibrahim Information, Communications and the Arts/Muslim Affairs Khaw Boon Wan National Development Lim Hng Kiang Trade and Industry Lui Tuck Yew Transport Lim Swee Say Prime Minister's Office S. Iswaran Prime Minister's Office Acting Cabinet Ministers Chan Chun Sing Community Development, Youth and Sports As of 21 May 2011

v t e Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Text of the Constitution at Singapore Statutes Online General principles Rule of law Fundamental liberties Article 9 Article 10 Article 11 Article 12 Article 13 Article 14 Article 15 Article 16 Right to vote The Government President Cabinet Prime Minister Attorney-General The Legislature President Parliament Speaker Elections Presidential Parliamentary Group Representation Constituency Non-constituency Member of Parliament Nominated Member of Parliament The Presidential Council for Minority Rights Presidential Council for Minority Rights The Judiciary Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court Subordinate Courts Chief Justice Judicial officers The Public Service Singapore Civil Service Singapore Legal Service Citizenship Singaporean nationality law Special powers against subversion and emergency powers Internal Security Act Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal

v t e Law of Singapore Constitutional law Executive branch President Government Cabinet Prime Minister Attorney-General Legislative branch President Parliament Judicial branch Judicial system Judicial independence Judicial officers Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court Subordinate Courts Constitution Elections Human rights Internal Security Act Presidential Council for Minority Rights Singaporean nationality law Administrative law General Remedies Illegality Precedent fact errors Substantive legitimate expectation Irrationality Wednesbury unreasonableness Procedural impropriety Bias Procedural legitimate expectation Civil procedure Electronic Filing System Integrated Electronic Litigation System Criminal law Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act Misuse of Drugs Act Penal Code Section 377A of the Penal Code Sedition Act Vandalism Act Family law Matrimonial law Women's Charter Sources of Singapore law List of Acts of Parliament in Singapore

Coordinates: 1°18′N 103°48′E / 1.3°N 103.8°E / 1.3; 103.8 Republic of Singapore 新加坡共和国 (Chinese) Republik Singapura (Malay) சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு (Tamil) Flag Coat of arms Motto:  "Majulah Singapura"  (Malay) "Onward, Singapore" Anthem: Majulah Singapura "Onward, Singapore" Location of  Singapore  (green) in ASEAN  (dark grey)  —  [Legend] Capital Singapore (Downtown Core, Central)1 1°17′N 103°50′E / 1.283°N 103.833°E / 1.283; 103.833 Official language(s) English Malay Chinese Tamil Official scripts Latin alphabet Simplified Chinese Tamil script Demonym Singaporean Government Unitary parliamentary republic  -  President Tony Tan Keng Yam  -  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong  -  Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer  -  Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong Legislature Parliament Formation  -  Founding 6 February 1819[1]   -  Self-government 3 June 1959[2]   -  Independence from the United Kingdom 31 August 1963[3]   -  Merger with Malaysia 16 September 1963[3]   -  Separation from Malaysia 9 August 1965[3]  Area  -  Total 710 km2 (189th) 274 sq mi   -  Water (%) 1.444 Population  -  2011 census 5,183,700 (of whom 3,257,000 are Singapore citizens)[4]   -  Density 7,315[5]/km2 (3rd) 18,943/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate  -  Total $314.911 billion[6] (38th)  -  Per capita $59,711[6] (3rd) GDP (nominal) 2011 estimate  -  Total $259.849 billion[6] (38th)  -  Per capita $49,270[6] (13th) Gini (2009) 47.8[7] (29th) HDI (2011) 0.846[8] (very high) (26th) Currency Singapore dollar (SGD) Time zone SST (UTC+8) Date formats dd/mm/yyyy Drives on the left ISO 3166 code SG Internet TLD .sg Calling code +65 1 Singapore is a city-state. This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters. This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

Singapore (ⁱ/ˈsɪŋəpɔər/ SI-ngə-pohr), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south. Singapore is highly urbanised but almost half of the country is covered by greenery. More land is being created for development through land reclamation.

Singapore had been a part of various local empires since it was first inhabited in the second century AD. Modern Singapore was founded as a trading post of the East India Company by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 with permission from the Sultanate of Johor. The British obtained full sovereignty over the island in 1824 and Singapore became one of the British Straits Settlements in 1826. Singapore was occupied by the Japanese in World War II and reverted to British rule after the war. It became internally self-governing in 1959. Singapore united with other former British territories to form Malaysia in 1963 and became a fully independent state two years later after separation from Malaysia. Since then it has had a massive increase in wealth, and is one of the Four Asian Tigers. The economy depends heavily on the industry and service sectors. Singapore is a world leader in several areas: It is the world's fourth-leading financial centre, the world's second-biggest casino gambling market, and the world's third-largest oil refining centre. The port of Singapore is one of the five busiest ports in the world, most notable for being the busiest transshipment port in the world. The country is home to more US dollar millionaire households per capita than any other country. The World Bank notes Singapore as the easiest place in the world to do business. The country has the world's third highest GDP PPP per capita of US$59,936, making Singapore one of the world's wealthiest countries.

Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government. The People's Action Party (PAP) has won every election since the British grant of internal self-government in 1959. The legal system of Singapore has its foundations in the English common law system, but modifications have been made to it over the years, such as the removal of trial by jury. The PAP's popular image is that of a strong, experienced and highly qualified government, backed by a skilled Civil Service and an education system with an emphasis on achievement and meritocracy; but it is perceived by some voters, opposition critics and international observers as being authoritarian and too restrictive on individual freedom.

Some 5 million people live in Singapore, of whom 2.91 million were born locally. Most are of Chinese, Malay or Indian descent. There are four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. One of the five founding members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, Singapore also hosts the APEC Secretariat, and is a member of the East Asia Summit, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Commonwealth.

Etymology[link]

The English name of Singapore is derived from the Malay word Singapura (Sanskrit: सिंहपुर, lit. Lion City), hence the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. Lions probably never lived there; the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama, who founded and named ancient Singapore, was most likely a tiger.^[9][10]

History[link]

Victorious Japanese troops marching through Singapore City after British capitulation at the Battle of Singapore

The earliest known settlement on Singapore was in the second century AD. It was an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire, named Temasek ("sea town"). Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, it was part of the Sultanate of Johor. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burnt down the settlement and the island sank into obscurity for the next two centuries.^[11]

In 1819, Thomas Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore, arrived and signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on behalf of the British East India Company to develop the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post. In 1824, the entire island became a British possession under a further treaty whereby the Sultan and the Temenggong transferred it to the British East India Company. In 1826, it became part of the British Straits Settlements, becoming its capital in 1836.^[12] Before Raffles arrived, there were around 1,000 people living in Singapore, mostly Malays and a few dozen Chinese.^[13] By 1869, due to migration from Malaya and other parts of Asia, Singapore's population had reached 100,000. Many Chinese and Indian immigrants came to Singapore to work in the rubber plantations and tin mines, and their descendents later formed the bulk of Singapore's population.^[14]

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya culminating in the Battle of Singapore. The British were defeated, and surrendered on 15 February 1942. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called this "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history".^[15] The Sook Ching massacre of ethnic Chinese after the fall of Singapore claimed between 5,000 and 25,000 lives.^[16] The Japanese occupied Singapore until the British repossessed it in September 1945 after the Japanese surrender.^[17]

Singapore's first general election in 1955 was won by the pro-independence David Marshall, leader of the Labour Front. Demanding complete self-rule he led a delegation to London but was turned down by the British. He resigned when he returned and was replaced by Lim Yew Hock, whose policies convinced Britain to grant Singapore full internal self-government for all matters except defence and foreign affairs.^[18]

During the May 1959 elections, the People's Action Party won a landslide victory. Singapore had become an internally self-governing state within the Commonwealth, with Lee Kuan Yew as the first Prime Minister.^[19] Governor Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode served as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and was succeeded by Yusof bin Ishak who in 1965 became the first President of Singapore.^[20] During the 1950s, Singapore started to face a Communist threat which lasted till the early 1970s. The Communists, mostly supported by the Chinese-speaking group, with strong ties to the trade unions and Chinese schools, carried out an armed struggle against the state, resulting in the Malayan Emergency and later, the Communist Insurgency War. The 1954 National Service Riots, Chinese middle schools riots and Hock Lee bus riots in Singapore were all linked to the Communists ^[21]

On 31 August 1963, Singapore declared independence from Britain and joined with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the new Federation of Malaysia as the result of the 1962 Merger Referendum. Singaporean leaders joined Malaysia for various reasons. Firstly, as a small country, they did not believe that the British would find it viable for Singapore to become independent by itself. Secondly, they also did not believe that Singapore could survive on its own, due to scarcity of land, water, markets and natural resources. And lastly, the Singapore government wanted the help of the Malaysian government to flush out the Communists. The two years that Singapore spent as part of Malaysia were filled with strife and bitter disagreements. The Malaysians insisted on a pro-Malay society, where Malays were given special Bumiputera rights, which still exists to this day. The Malaysians were also suspicious about Singapore's majority of ethnic Chinese and worried that Singapore's economic clout would shift the centre of power from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. There were also linguistic and religious issues. The Singaporeans, on the other hand, wanted an equal and meritocratic society, where all citizens were given equal rights. As part of Malaysia, Singapore's economic and social development came to a halt as the Malaysian parliament blocked many bills. Race riots broke out in Singapore in 1964. After much heated ideological conflicts between the two governments, in 1965, the Malaysian parliament voted 126 to 0 to expel Singapore from Malaysia.^[3][22][23]

Singapore gained independence as the Republic of Singapore (remaining within the Commonwealth) on 9 August 1965^[3] with Yusof bin Ishak as president and Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister. Every one who was present in Singapore on the date of independence was offered Singapore citizenship. In 1967, it helped found the Association of Southeast Asian Nations^[24] and in 1970 it joined the Non-aligned movement. In 1990, Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee as prime minister. During his tenure the country faced the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 2003 SARS outbreak and terrorist threats posed by Jemaah Islamiyah. In 2004, Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the country's third prime minister.^[25]

Government and politics[link]

Singapore's Parliament House.

Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government representing constituencies. Its constitution establishes representative democracy as its political system.^[7] Freedom House ranks Singapore as "partly free" in its Freedom in the World report,^[26] and The Economist ranks Singapore as a "hybrid regime", the third rank out of four, in its "Democracy Index".^[27] Singapore is consistently rated one of the least corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International.^[28]

Executive power rests with the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, and the President.^[20] The president is elected through popular vote, and has some veto powers for a few key decisions such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of judges, but otherwise occupies a ceremonial post.^[29]

The Parliament serves as the legislative branch of government.^[20] Members of Parliament (MPs) consist of elected, non-constituency and nominated members. Elected MPs are voted into parliament on a "first-past-the-post" (plurality) basis and represent either single-member or group-representation constituencies.^[30] The People's Action Party has won control of Parliament with large majorities in every election since self-governance was secured in 1959.^[26] However, in the most recent parliamentary elections in 2011, the opposition, led by the Workers' Party, made significant gains and increased its representation in the House to 6 elected MPs.^[31]

The legal system of Singapore is based on English common law, albeit with substantial local differences. Trial by jury was entirely abolished in 1970 leaving judicial assessment performed wholly by judgeship.^[32] Singapore has penalties that include judicial corporal punishment in the form of caning for rape, rioting, vandalism, and some immigration offences.^[33][34] There is a mandatory death penalty for murder, and for certain drug-trafficking and firearms offences.^[35] Amnesty International has said that some legal provisions conflict with the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that Singapore has "possibly the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population".^[36] The government has disputed Amnesty's claims.^[37] In a 2008 survey, international business executives believed Singapore, along with Hong Kong, had the best judicial system in Asia.^[38] In 2010, Singapore was ranked first for "access to civil justice" and "order and security" by the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index.^[39]

In Singapore, under the Public Order Act 2009, outdoor public processions or assemblies require police permits. Without police permits, such outdoor assemblies are illegal.^[40] Indoor assemblies, however, can be held freely without the need to apply for police permits.^[41] The only place in Singapore where outdoor public assemblies do not require police permits is at the Speakers' Corner which is modelled on Hyde Park, London. However, one must still register one's personal details with the National Parks Board online before speaking or protesting at the Speakers' corner, and there are also many CCTVs in the park, a situation that had some Singaporeans and Singaporean MPs complaining.^[42][43]

Geography[link]

Outline of Singapore and the surrounding islands & waterways

Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island, widely known as Singapore Island but also as Pulau Ujong.^[44] There are two man-made connections to Johor, Malaysia: the Johor–Singapore Causeway in the north, and the Tuas Second Link in the west. Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore's smaller islands. The highest natural point is Bukit Timah Hill at 166 m (545 ft).^[45]

There are ongoing land reclamation projects, which have increased Singapore's land area from 581.5 km² (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 704 km² (272 sq mi) today; it may grow by another 100 km² (40 sq mi) by 2030.^[46] Some projects involve merging smaller islands through land reclamation to form larger, more functional islands, as with Jurong Island.^[47] About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves.^[48] Urbanisation has eliminated most primary rainforest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve being the only significant remaining forest.^[47] There are more than 300 parks and 4 nature reserves in Singapore. There are also many trees planted, and almost fifty per cent of the country is covered by greenery. Because of this, Singapore is also commonly known as the 'Garden City'.^[49]

Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 23 to 32 °C (73 to 90 °F). Relative humidity averages around 79% in the morning and 73% in the afternoon.^[50] April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January.^[51] From July to October, there is often haze caused by bush fires in neighbouring Indonesia.^[52] Although Singapore does not observe daylight saving time, it follows time zone GMT+8, one hour ahead of its geographical location.^[53]

Economy[link]

The port of Singapore, one of the world's five busiest,^[56] with the skyline of Singapore in the background

Before independence in 1965, Singapore was the capital of the British Straits Settlements, a Crown Colony. It was also the main British naval base in East Asia.^[57] Because of its status as the main British naval base in the region, as well as hosting the largest dry dock in the world at that time in the form of the Singapore Naval Base, it was described in the press as the 'Gibraltar of the East'.^[58] The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 caused global trade to boom, and Singapore became a major world trade node, and the Port of Singapore became one of the largest and busiest ports in the world.^[59] Before independence in 1965, Singapore had a GDP per capita of $511, then the third-highest in East Asia.^[60] After independence, foreign direct investment and a state-led drive for industrialisation based on plans by Goh Keng Swee and Albert Winsemius created a modern economy.^[61]

Today, Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy, based historically on extended entrepôt trade. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the original Four Asian Tigers. The Singaporean economy is known as one of the freest,^[62] most innovative,^[63] most competitive,^[64] and most business-friendly.^[65] The 2011 Index of Economic Freedom ranks Singapore as the second freest economy in the world, behind Hong Kong. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index, Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, along with New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries.

Singapore is the 14th largest exporter and the 15th largest importer in the world. The country has the highest trade-to-GDP ratio in the world at 407.9 percent, signifying the importance of trade to its economy. The country is currently the only Asian country to have AAA credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies – Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch.^[66][67] Singapore attracts a lot of foreign direct investment because of its location, corruption-free environment, skilled workforce, low tax rates and advanced infrastructure. There are more than 7,000 multinational corporations from the United States, Japan, and Europe in Singapore. There are also 1,500 companies from China and 1,500 from India. Foreign firms are found in almost all sectors of the economy.^[7] Singapore is also the second largest foreign investor in India.^[68] Roughly 44 percent of the Singaporean workforce is made up of non-Singaporeans.^[69] Over ten free trade agreements have been signed with other countries and regions.^[70]

Singapore also possesses the world's tenth largest foreign reserves.^[71][72] The currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar, issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.^[73] It is interchangeable with the Brunei dollar.^[74]

The Singaporean economy depends heavily on exports and refining imported goods, especially in manufacturing,^[75] which constituted 27.2% of GDP in 2010^[7] and includes significant electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences sectors. In 2006 Singapore produced about 10% of the world's foundry wafer output.^[76] Despite its small size, Singapore has a diversified economy, a strategy that the government considers vital for growth and stability.^[77]

Tourism also forms a large part of the economy, and 10.2 million tourists visited the country in 2007.^[78] To attract more tourists, in 2005 the government legalised gambling and allowed two casino resorts (called Integrated Resorts) to be developed.^[79] Singapore is promoting itself as a medical tourism hub: about 200,000 foreigners seek medical care there each year, and Singapore medical services aim to serve one million foreign patients annually by 2012 and generate USD 3 billion in revenue.^[80] Singapore is an education hub, and many foreign students study in Singapore. Singapore hosted over 80,000 international students in 2006.^[81] There are also more than 5000 Malaysians students who cross the Johor–Singapore Causeway every morning with hopes of receiving a better education in Singapore.^[82] In 2009, 20% of all students in Singaporean universities were international students. The students were mainly from ASEAN, China and India.^[83]

Singapore is a world leader in several economic areas: The country is the world's fourth leading financial centre,^[84] the world's second-biggest casino gambling market,^[85] one of the world's top three oil refining centres, the world's largest oil-rig producer, and a major ship-repairer.^[86][87][88] The port is one of the five busiest ports in the world.^[85] The World Bank has named Singapore as the easiest place in the world to do business^[85] and ranks Singapore the world's top logistics hub.^[89] It is also the world's fourth largest foreign-exchange trading centre after London, New York and Tokyo.^[90]

Singapore skyline

As a result of global recession and a slump in the technology sector, Singapore's GDP contracted by 2.2% in 2001. The Economic Review Committee was set up in December 2001 and recommended several policy changes to revitalise the economy. Singapore has since recovered, due largely to improvements in the world economy; the economy grew by 8.3% in 2004, 6.4% in 2005,^[91] and 7.9% in 2006.^[92] After a contraction of 0.8% in 2009, the economy recovered in 2010, with GDP growth of 14.5%.^[7] Most work in Singapore is in the service sector, which employed 2,151,400 people out of 3,102,500 jobs in December 2010. The percentage of unemployed economically active people above age 15 is about 2%.^[93]

Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaire households, with 15.5 percent of all households owning at least one million US dollars in net assets.^[94] Despite its relative economic success, Singapore does not have a minimum wage, believing that it would lower its competitiveness. It also has one of the highest income inequality levels among developed countries, coming in just behind Hong Kong and in front of the United States.^[95][96]

Acute poverty is rare in Singapore; the government has rejected the idea of a generous welfare system, stating that each generation must earn and save enough for its entire life cycle. There are, however, numerous means-tested 'assistance schemes' provided by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports in Singapore for the needy, including some that pay out SGD 400 to SGD 1000 per month to each needy household, free medical care at government hospitals, money for children's school fees, rental of studio apartments for SGD 80 a month, training grants for courses, etc.^[97][98][99]

Foreign relations[link]

Then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Ambassador to the U.S. Chan Heng Chee meet with Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen during Lee's visit in 2000

Singapore's foreign policy is directed to maintaining a secure environment in Southeast Asia as well as the surrounding territories. An underlying principle is political and economic stability in the region.^[70] It has diplomatic relations with 175 other sovereign states.^[100] As one of the five founding members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN),^[101] the country is a strong supporter of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the ASEAN Investment Area, because Singapore's economic growth is closely linked with the economic progress of the region as a whole. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the formation of an ASEAN Economic Community, a step beyond the current AFTA bringing it closer to a common market. This idea was agreed to in 2007 for implementation by 2015. Other regional organisations are also important to Singapore, and it is the host of the APEC Secretariat. Singapore also maintains membership in other regional organisations, such as Asia-Europe Meeting, the Forum for East Asia-Latin American Cooperation, and the East Asia Summit.^[70] It is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement^[102] and the Commonwealth.^[103]

In general, bilateral relations with other ASEAN members are strong; however, disagreements have arisen,^[70] and relations with neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have historically been very strained and difficult.^[104] Malaysia has often clashed with Singapore over the delivery of fresh water to Singapore,^[105] and the Singaporean government has threatened to send troops into Malaysia should the Malaysians break water contracts signed with Singapore and unilaterally cut off the water supply to Singapore.^[106] Conflicts have also arisen over the Singapore Armed Forces entering Malaysian airspace, the sovereignty of Pedra Branca, the relocation of Tanjong Pagar railway station, and many other ideological and cultural issues.^[104] Border issues exist with both Malaysia and Indonesia, and both have banned the sale of marine sand to Singapore over disputes about Singapore's land reclamation.^[107] Some previous disputes have been resolved by the International Court of Justice. Piracy in the Malacca Strait has been a cause of concern for all three countries.^[105] Close economic ties exist with Brunei, and the two share a pegged currency value.^[108]

Singapore and the United States share a long-standing and strong relationship, in particular in defence, the economy, health and education. The U.S. was Singapore's third largest trading partner in 2010, behind the People's Republic of China and the European Union.^[109] The two countries have a free-trade agreement signed in 2003.^[110] Singapore routinely hosts American ships and American fighter aircraft. More than 100 American Navy warships call at Singapore annually, and there is a modest presence of less than 200 US military personnel based permanently in Singapore. Several naval bases in Singapore were built to US specifications, so as to allow American ships, especially carriers, to dock. In 2011, the US Navy announced plans to station several of its new Littoral combat ships in Singapore permanently.^[111][112] Singapore also signed 'The Strategic Framework Agreement for a Closer Cooperation Partnership in Defence and Security' with the United States in 2005. The agreement gives a formal structure to addressing existing and future areas of bilateral security and defence cooperation. ^[113]

The Singapore government believes that regional security, and by extension Singapore's security, will be affected if the United States loses its resolve in Iraq.^[114] Singapore faces the threat of terrorism itself, as evidenced by the Singapore embassies attack plot. Singapore has pushed regional counter-terrorism initiatives, with a strong resolve to deal with terrorists inside its borders. To this end it has given support to the US-led coalition to fight terrorism, with bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation initiatives, and joint military exercises. Relations with the United States have expanded in other areas, and the two countries take part in joint policy dialogues.^[70]

Relations with the People's Republic of China were established in the 1970s, and since then the two countries have enjoyed a strong relationship, being major players in strengthening the ASEAN–China relationship.^[115] Singapore has also co-created the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city and Suzhou Industrial Park in China. Singapore sees the United States as a counterweight to balance China's rise in the region, and has encouraged more American involvement and presence in the region to maintain peace and security.^[110]

Military[link]

CARAT SINGAPORE 2010, Republic of Singapore Navy's RSS Steadfast and RSS Vigilance sailing line-abreast.

The Singaporean military is arguably the most technologically advanced in Southeast Asia.^[116] It comprises the Army, Navy, and Air Force.^[7] It is seen as the guarantor of the country's independence.^[117] The nation's philosophy of defence is one of diplomacy and deterrence.^[118] This principle translates into the culture, involving all citizens in the country's defence.^[119] The government spends 4.9% of the country's GDP on the military^[7] and one out of every four dollars of government spending is spent on defence.^[120]

On independence, Singapore had two infantry regiments commanded by British officers. This force was considered too small to provide effective security to the new country, so the development of the military became a priority. Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971, leaving behind only a small British, Australian and New Zealand force as a token military presence. The last British soldier left Singapore in March 1976. New Zealand troops were the last to leave, in 1989.^[121][122]

The Singaporean army was initially established with help from Britain and Israel, a country that is not recognised by neighbouring Islamic Malaysia, Indonesia or Brunei.^{[123][124][125]} The main fear after independence was an invasion by Malaysia and/or Indonesia. Israel Defense Forces commanders were tasked with creating the Singapore Armed Forces from scratch, and Israeli instructors were brought in to train Singaporean soldiers. Military courses were conducted according to the Israel Defense Forces' format, and Singapore adopted a system of conscription and reserve service based on the Israeli and Swiss models, which remain in effect.^[122] Singapore still maintains strong security ties with Israel and is one of the biggest buyers of Israeli arms and weapons systems.^[126] The MATADOR is one example of recent Singapore-Israeli collaboration.^{[citation needed]}

The SAF is being developed to respond to a wide range of issues, in both conventional and unconventional warfare. The Defence Science and Technology Agency is responsible for procuring resources for the military.^[118] The geographic restrictions of Singapore mean that the SAF must plan to fully repulse an attack, as they can not fall back and re-group. The small size of the population has also affected the way the SAF has been designed, with a small active force but a large number of reserves.^[119]

Republic of Singapore Air Force's F-15SG Strike Eagle (Peace Carvin V) training detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

Singapore has conscription for all able-bodied males at age 18, except those with a criminal record or who can prove that their loss would bring hardship to their families. Males who have yet to complete pre-university education or are awarded the Public Service Commission scholarship can opt to defer their draft. Though not required to perform military service, the number of women in the SAF has been increasing: since 1989 they have been allowed to fill military vocations formerly reserved for men. Before induction into a specific branch of the armed forces, recruits undergo at least 9 weeks of basic military training.^[127]

Because of the scarcity of open land on the main island, training involving activities such as live firing and amphibious landings is often carried out on smaller islands, typically barred to civilian access. This also avoids risk to the main island and the city. However, large-scale drills are considered too dangerous to be performed in the area, and since 1975 have been performed in Taiwan.^[127] Training is also held in about a dozen other countries. In general, military exercises are held with foreign forces once or twice per week.^[119]

Due to airspace and land constraints, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) maintains a number of overseas bases in Australia, the United States, and France. The RSAF's 130 Squadron is based in RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia,^[128] and its 126 Squadron is based in the Oakey Army Aviation Centre, Queensland.^[129] The RSAF has one squadron – the 150 Squadron – based in Cazaux Air Base in southern France.^[130][131] The RSAF also has a few overseas detachments in the United States, in San Diego, California, Marana, Arizona, Grand Prairie, Texas and Luke Air Force Base, among others.^[132][133]

The SAF has sent forces to assist in operations outside the country in areas such as Iraq^[134] and Afghanistan,^[135] in both military and civilian roles. In the region, it has helped stabilise East Timor and has provided aid to Aceh in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The SAF also helped in relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina.^[136] Singapore is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, a military alliance with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.^[119]

Demographics[link]

High-rise HDB flats and condominiums overlooking Bishan Park

As of 2011^[update], the population of Singapore is 5.18 million people, of whom 3.25 million (63%) are citizens while the rest (37%) are permanent residents or foreign workers. Twenty-three percent of Singaporean citizens were born outside Singapore i.e. foreign born citizens. There are half a million permanent residents in Singapore in 2011. The resident population does not take into account the 11 million transient visitors who visit Singapore annually.^{[4][137][138]}

The median age of Singaporeans is 37 years old and the average household size is 3.5 persons. Due to scarcity of land, four out of five Singaporeans live in subsidised, high-rise, public housing apartments known as Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, after the board responsible for public housing in the country.^[139] In 2010, three quarters of Singaporean residents live in properties that are equal to or larger than a four room HDB flat or in private housing. Home ownership rate is at 87.2%.^[140][141] Mobile phone penetration rate is extremely high at 1,400 mobile phone subscribers per 1000 people. Around 1 in 10 residents owns a car.^[138]

The total fertility rate is estimated to be .78 children per woman in 2012, the lowest in the world and well below the 2.1 needed to replace the population.^[7] To overcome this problem, the Singapore government has been encouraging foreigners to immigrate to Singapore for the past few decades. The large number of immigrants has kept Singapore's population from declining.^[142] Singapore traditionally has one of the lowest unemployment rate among developed countries. Singaporean unemployment rate has not exceeded 4% in the past decade, hitting a high of 3% during the 2009 global financial criss and falling to 1.9% in 2011.^[143][144]

As of 2009^[update], about 40% of Singapore's residents were foreigners, one of the highest percentage in the world.^[145] The government is considering capping these workers, although it is recognised that they are crucial to the country's economy,^[146] as foreign workers make up 80% of the construction industry and up to 50% in the service industry.^[147][148]

In 2009, the government census reports that 74.2% of residents were of Chinese, 13.4% of Malay, and 9.2% of Indian descent,^[149] while Eurasians and other groups form 3.2%. Prior to 2010, each person could register as a member of only one race, by default that of his or her father, therefore, mixed-race persons were solely grouped under their father's race in government censuses. From 2010 onward, people may register using a "double-barrelled" classification, in which they may choose one primary race and one secondary race, but no more than two.^[150]

Religion[link]

Buddhism is the most widely practised religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population declaring themselves adherents at the most recent census. The next largest religious demographics, in order of size, are Christianity, non-religious, Islam, Taoism and Hinduism. The proportion of Christians, Taoists and non-religious people increased between 2000 and 2010 by about 3% each, while the proportion of Buddhists decreased. Other faiths remained largely stable in their share of the population.^[151]

There are monasteries and Dharma centres from all three major traditions of Buddhism in Singapore: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Most Buddhists in Singapore are Chinese and are of the Mahayana tradition.^[152] Chinese Mahayana is the most predominant form of Buddhism in Singapore, with missionaries from Taiwan and China for several decades. However, Thailand's Theravada Buddhism has seen growing popularity among the people (not only the Chinese) in the past decade. Soka Gakkai International, a Japanese Buddhist organisation, is practised by many people in Singapore, but by mostly those of Chinese descent. Tibetan Buddhism has also made slow inroads into the country in recent years.^[153]

Languages[link]

Singapore has four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.^[155] English is the common language of the nation and is the language of business, government and medium of instruction in schools.^[156][157] Public bodies in Singapore conduct their businesses in English, and official documents written in a non-English official language such as Chinese, Malay or Tamil typically have to be translated into English to be accepted for submission. The Singapore Constitution and all laws are written in English,^[158] and translators are also required if one wishes to address the Singaporean Courts in a language other than English.^[159][160] However, English is the native tongue for only one-third of all Singaporeans, with roughly a third of all Singaporean Chinese, a quarter of all Singaporean Malays and half of all Singaporean Indians speaking it as their native tongue. Twenty percent of Singaporeans, or one out of every five, is illiterate in English.^[161][151]

Many, but not all, Singaporeans are bilingual in English and another official language, with vastly varying degrees of fluency. The various official languages ranked in terms of literacy amongst Singaporeans are: English (80% literacy), Mandarin Chinese (65% literacy), Malay (17% literacy) and Tamil (4% literacy).^[151][162] Singaporean English is based on British English,^[163] and forms of English spoken range from Standard English to a pidgin known as "Singlish". Singlish is heavily discouraged by the government.^[164]

Chinese is the language which is spoken by most Singaporeans as their native tongue—half of all Singaporeans speak it as their native tongue.^[154] Singaporean Mandarin is the most common version of Chinese in the country,^[165] with 1.2 million using it as their home language. Nearly half a million speak other Chinese languages (which the government describes as "dialects"), mainly Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese, as their home language, although the use of these is declining in favour of Mandarin and English.^[166]

Malay was chosen as the "national language" by the Singaporean government after independence from Britain in the 1960s to avoid friction with Singapore's neighbours -- Malaysia and Indonesia -- both of which are Malay-speaking.^[167] It has a symbolic rather than functional purpose.^{[155][168][169]} It is used in the national anthem "Majulah Singapura"^[170] and in military commands. Today, in general, Malay is spoken within the Singaporean Malay community, with only 16.8% of all Singaporeans literate in Malay^[171] and only 12% using it as their native language.^[154]

Around 100,000 or 3% of Singaporeans speak Tamil as their native language.^[154] Even though only Tamil has official status, there have been no attempts to discourage the use or spread of other Indian languages.^[172]

Education[link]

The Administrative Building of Nanyang Technological University, one of five public universities in Singapore

Education for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels is mostly supported by the state. All institutions, private and public, must be registered with the Ministry of Education.^[173] English is the language of instruction in all public schools^[174] and all subjects are taught and examined in English except for the "Mother Tongue" language paper.^[175] While "Mother Tongue" in general refers to the first language internationally; in Singapore's education system, it is used to refer to the second language, as English is the first language.^[176][177] Students who have been abroad for a while or who struggle with their "Mother Tongue" language are allowed to take a simpler syllabus or drop the subject.^[178][179]

Education takes place in three stages: "Primary education", "Secondary education", and "Pre-university education", of which only the Primary level is compulsory. Students begin with six years of primary school, which is made up of a four-year foundation course and a two-year orientation stage. The curriculum is focused on the development of English, the mother tongue, and maths.^[180] There are four standard subjects taught to all students: English, the mother tongue, mathematics, and science.^[181] Secondary school lasts from four to five years, and is divided between "Special", "Express", "Normal (Academic)", and "Normal (Technical)" streams within each school, depending on a student's ability level.^[182] The basic coursework breakdown is the same as in the primary level, although classes are much more specialised.^[183] Pre-university education takes place over two to three years at senior schools mostly called Junior Colleges.^[184] Some schools have a degree of freedom in their curriculum, and are known as autonomous schools. These exist from the secondary education level.^[182]

National examinations are standardised across all schools, with a test taken after each stage of school. After the first six years of education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination,^[180] which determines their placement at secondary school. At the end of the secondary stage, GCE 'O' Level exams are taken; at the end of the following pre-university stage, the GCE 'A' Level exams are taken. Of all non-student Singaporeans aged 15 and above, 18% have no educational qualifications at all while 45% have the Primary School Leaving Examination as their highest qualification. 15% have the GCE 'O' Level as their highest qualification and 14% have a degree.^[185]

Singaporean students consistently rank top five in the world in the two major international assessments of mathematics and science knowledge. Singaporean students were ranked first in the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement and have been ranked top three every year since 1995.^[186][187] Singaporean students were also ranked top five in the world in terms of mathematics, science and reading in the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment conducted by the OECD.^[188] The country's two main public universities – the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University – are among the top 100 universities in the world.^[189]

Health[link]

Singapore has a generally efficient healthcare system, even with a health expenditure relatively low for developed countries.^[190] The World Health Organization ranks Singapore's healthcare system as 6th overall in the world in its World Health Report.^[191] In general, Singapore has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world for the past two decades.^[138] Life expectancy in Singapore is 79 for males and 83 for females, placing the country 15th in the world for life expectancy. Almost the whole population has access to improved water and sanitation facilities. There are fewer than 10 annual deaths from HIV per 100,000 people. There is a high level of immunisation. Adult obesity is below 10%.^[192]

The government's healthcare system is based upon the "3M" framework. This has three components: Medifund, which provides a safety net for those not able to otherwise afford healthcare, Medisave, a compulsory health savings scheme covering about 85% of the population, and Medishield, a government-funded health insurance scheme.^[190] Public hospitals in Singapore have autonomy in their management decisions, and compete for patients. A subsidy scheme exists for those on low income.^[193] In 2008, 31.9% of healthcare was funded by the government. It accounts for approximately 3.5% of Singapore's GDP.^[194]

Culture[link]

Singapore is a very diverse and young country. It has many languages, cultures and religions for a country its size.^[195] Due to the many different languages and cultures in the country, there is no single set of culturally acceptable behaviours.

When Singapore became independent from the United Kingdom in 1963, most of the newly minted Singaporean citizens were uneducated labourers from China, Malaysia and India. Many of them were transient labourers who were seeking to make some money in Singapore and they had no intentions of staying for good. A sizeable minority of middle-class, local-born people, known as the Peranakans also existed. With the exception of the Peranakans (descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants) who pledged their loyalties to Singapore, most of the labourers' loyalties lie with their respective homelands of China, Malaysia and India. ^[196][197] After independence, the process of crafting a Singaporean identity and culture began. Both the former Prime Ministers of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, have stated that Singapore does not fit the traditional description of a nation, calling it a society in transition, pointing out the fact that Singaporeans do not all speak the same language, share the same religion or have the same customs.^[195][198] Even though English is the first language of the nation, according to the government's 2010 census 20% of Singaporeans, or one in five, are illiterate in English. This is a marked improvement from 1990 where 40% of Singaporeans were illiterate in English.^[199][200]

Unlike many other countries, languages, religions and cultures among Singaporeans are not delineated according to skin colour or ancestry. Among Singaporean Chinese, one in five is Christian, another one in five is atheist, and the rest are mostly Buddhists or Taoists. One-third speak English as their home language, while half speak Mandarin Chinese as their home language. The rest speak other mutually unintelligible Chinese languages at home.^[199] Singaporean Indians are much more religious. Only 1% of them are atheists. Six in ten are Hindus, two in ten Muslims, and the rest mostly Christians. Four in ten speak English as their home language, three in ten Tamil, one in ten Malay, and the rest other Indian languages as their home language.^[199] Each Singaporean's behaviours and attitudes would therefore be influenced by, among many other things, his or her home language and his religion. Singaporeans who speak English as their native language tend to lean toward Western Culture. While those who speak Chinese languages as their native language tend to lean toward Chinese culture and Confucianism. Malay-speaking Singaporeans tend to lean toward Malay culture, which itself is closely linked to Islamic culture. Those who speak Indian languages as their native language would probably lean toward Indian culture.

Singapore, as a country, in general is conservative socially, but some liberalisation has occurred.^[201] At the national level, meritocracy, where one is judged based on one's ability, is heavily emphasised.^[202] Racial and religious harmony is regarded by the government as a crucial part of Singapore's success and played a part in building a Singaporean identity.^[203] Singapore has a reputation as a nanny state.^[204][205] The national flower of Singapore is the Vanda Miss Joaquim. Many national symbols such as the National Coat of Arms and the Lion Head symbol make use of the lion, as Singapore is known as the 'Lion City'. Public holidays in Singapore cover major Chinese, Western, Malay and Indian festivals.^[206]

Due to scarcity of land, four out of five Singaporeans live in subsidised, high-rise, public housing apartments known as HDB (for Housing and Development Board) flats.^[139] Singaporeans generally take off their shoes before entering their homes.^[207] Live-in domestic helpers are quite common in Singapore and there are nearly 200,000 domestic helpers there.^[208] As with most Commonwealth countries, vehicles on the road and people walking on the streets keep to the left.^[209] The country has strict laws against drug use and has one of the lowest rates of drug use in the world.^[210] Singaporean employees work an average of around 45 hours weekly, relatively long compared to many other nations. Three in four Singaporean employees surveyed stated that they take pride in doing their work well, and that doing so helps their self-confidence.^[211]

Foreigners also make up 42% of the population^[145][166] and have a strong influence on Singaporean culture. A.T. Kearney named Singapore the most globalised country in the world in 2006 in its Globalization Index.^[212] The Economist Intelligence Unit in its "Quality-of-Life Index" ranks Singapore as having the best quality of life in Asia and eleventh overall in the world.^[213]

Cuisine[link]

Dining, along with shopping, is said to be the country's national pastime.^[214] The diversity of food is touted as a reason to visit the country,^[215] and the variety of food representing different ethnicities is seen by the government as a symbol of its multiculturalism.^[216] The "national fruit" of Singapore is the durian.^[217] In popular culture, food items belong to a particular ethnicity, with Chinese, Indian, and Malay food clearly defined. The diversity of cuisine has been increased further by the "hybridization" of different styles, e.g. the Peranakan style, a mix of Chinese and Malay cuisine.^[215]

Arts[link]

The durian-shaped Esplanade, performing arts centre, stands out in front of the Marina Square area.

Since the 1990s, the government has been promoting Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, in particular the performing arts, and to transform the country into a cosmopolitan "gateway between the East and West".^[218] One highlight was the construction of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, a performing arts centre opened in October 2002.^[219] The national orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, plays at the Esplanade. The annual Singapore Arts Festival is organised by the National Arts Council. The stand-up comedy scene has been growing, with a weekly open mic.^[220] Singapore hosted the 2009 Genee International Ballet Competition, a classical ballet competition promoted by London's Royal Academy of Dance.^[221]

Sport and recreation[link]

National Stadium of Singapore

Popular sports include football, basketball, cricket, swimming, sailing, table tennis and badminton. Most Singaporeans live in public residential areas near amenities such as public swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts and indoor sport complexes. Water sports are popular, including sailing, kayaking and water skiing. Scuba diving is another popular recreational sport. The Southern island of Pulau Hantu, particularly, is known for its rich coral reefs.^[222]

Singapore's football (soccer) league, the S-League, formed in 1994,^[223] currently comprises 12 clubs including foreign teams.^[224] The Singapore Slingers, formerly in the Australian National Basketball League, is one of the inaugural teams in the ASEAN Basketball League, founded in October 2009.^[225] Singapore began hosting a round of the Formula One World Championship, the Singapore Grand Prix, in 2008. The race was staged at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and became the first night race on the F1 circuit^[226] and the first street circuit in Asia.^[227] Singapore hosted the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.^[228]

Media[link]

Companies linked to the government control much of the domestic media in Singapore.^[229] MediaCorp operates most free-to-air television channels and free-to-air radio stations in Singapore. There are a total of seven free-to-air TV channels offered by Mediacorp.^[230] The channels are Channel 5 (English channel), Channel News Asia (English channel), Okto (English channel), Channel 8 (Chinese channel), Channel U (Chinese channel), Suria (Malay channel) and Vasantham (Indian channel).^[231] Starhub Cable Vision (SCV) also offers cable television with channels from all around the world^[232] and Singtel's MioTV provides an IPTV service.^[233] Singapore Press Holdings, a body with close links to the government, controls most of the newspaper industry.^[234]

Singapore's media industry has sometimes been criticised for being too regulated and lacking in freedom by human rights groups such as Freedom House.^[229] In 2010, Reporters Without Borders, a France-based international non-governmental organisation, ranked Singapore 136 out of 178 in its Press Freedom Index, just below Mexico.^[235]

The Media Development Authority regulates Singaporean media, claiming to balance the demand for choice and protection against offensive and harmful material.^[236] Private ownership of TV satellite dishes is banned.^[234] There are 3.4 million users of the internet in Singapore,^[234] one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. The Singapore government does not engage in widespread censoring of the internet,^[237] but it maintains a list of one hundred websites (mostly pornographic) that it blocks as a 'symbolic statement of the Singaporean community's stand on harmful and undesirable content on the Internet'.^[238] As the block covers only home internet access, users may still visit the blocked websites from their office computers.^[239]

Transport[link]

The Port of Singapore with Sentosa island in the background

Since Singapore is a small island with a high population density, the number of private cars on the road is restricted so as to curb pollution and congestion. Car buyers must pay for duties one-and-a-half times the vehicle's market value and bid for a Singaporean Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which allows the car to run on the road for a decade. The cost of the Singaporean certificate of entitlement alone would buy a Porsche Boxster in the United States. Car prices are generally significantly higher in Singapore than in other English-speaking countries and thus only one in 10 residents owns a car.^[138][240]

Electronic Road Pricing gantry at North Bridge Road

Most Singaporean residents travel by foot, bicycles, bus, taxis and train (Mass Rapid Transit). Two companies run the public bus transport system – SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation. SMRT also runs the public train system. There are almost a dozen taxi companies, who together put out 25,000 taxis on the road. Taxis are a popular form of public transport as the fares are relatively cheap compared to many other developed countries.^[241][242]

Singapore has a road system covering 3,356 kilometres (2,085 mi), which includes 161 kilometres (100 mi) of expressways.^{[7][243][244]} The Singapore Area Licensing Scheme, implemented in 1975, became the world's first congestion pricing scheme, and included other complementary measures such as stringent car ownership quotas and improvements in mass transit.^[245][246] Upgraded in 1998 and renamed Electronic Road Pricing, the system introduced electronic toll collection, electronic detection, and video surveillance technology.^[247]

Singapore is a major international transport hub in Asia, positioned on many sea and air trade routes. The Port of Singapore, managed by port operators PSA International and Jurong Port, was the world's second-busiest port in 2005 in terms of shipping tonnage handled, at 1.15 billion gross tons, and in terms of containerised traffic, at 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It is also the world's second-busiest, behind Shanghai, in terms of cargo tonnage with 423 million tons handled. In addition, the port is the world's busiest for transshipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuelling centre.^[248]

Singapore is an aviation hub for Southeast Asia and a stopover on the Kangaroo route between Sydney and London.^[249] There are eight airports in the country,^[7] and Singapore Changi Airport hosts a network of 80 airlines connecting Singapore to 200 cities in 68 countries. It has been rated one of the best international airports by international travel magazines, including being rated as the world's best airport for the first time in 2006 by Skytrax.^[250] The national airline is Singapore Airlines.^[251]

Ships in the ocean with Singapore visible in the background

See also[link]

	Asia portal
	Singapore portal

	Book: Singapore
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• Outline of Singapore
• Index of Singapore-related articles
• International rankings of Singapore

References[link]

Notes