COUNTRY PROFILE

The Republic of Singapore consists of the main island of Singapore, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and 58 nearby islands. Singapore likes to think of itself as the Switzerland of Asia. It's the region's third-biggest financial center, after Japan and Hong Kong, and suffered less than its two rivals in the Asian economic crisis of 1997-98. Investors love it. Its ultra-stable politics and strong legal system provide just the sort of solid base that multinationals crave. Unlike Switzerland, it has the vast opportunities of emerging Asia on its doorstep, but not everything is rosy. The government's occasionally heavy-handed, paternalistic style provokes the odd raised eyebrow. Worse, it has proved reluctant to fully expose its economy to the ravages of market forces; centralized economic planning is the rule. That's changing, as the government - with one eye on Hong Kong - wises up to the economic benefits of liberalization. It will take a major change of heart, and a lot of tough decision-making, before Singapore can claim to be the world's most free market. There is freedom of religion, but concerns to maintain ethnic and religious harmony are expressed in legislation limiting public proclamation of religious belief. Religious education in schools is being phased out. All religions are enjoined not to be involved in politics. However, there is much to be thankful for as the past 20 years have shown remarkable growth in Protestant churches with exceptional responsiveness among the educated.

OVERVIEW

Inhabitants of the Malaysian peninsula and the island of Singapore first migrated to the area between 2500 and 1500 B.C. British and Dutch interest in the region grew with the spice trade, and the trading post of Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles. It was made a separate crown colony of Britain in 1946, when the former colony of the Straits Settlements was dissolved. The other two settlements on the peninsula-Penang and Malacca-became part of the Union of Malaya, and the small island of Labuan was transferred to North Borneo. The Cocos (or Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island were transferred to Australia in 1955 and in 1958, respectively. Singapore attained full internal self-government in 1959, and Lee Kwan Yew, an economic visionary with an authoritarian streak, took the helm as prime minister. On Sept. 16, 1963, Singapore joined Malaya, Sabah (North Borneo), and Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia. It withdrew from the Federation on Aug. 9, 1965, and a month later proclaimed itself a republic. Under Lee, Singapore developed into one of the cleanest, safest, and most economically prosperous cities in Asia. However, Singapore's strict rules of civil obedience also drew criticism from those who said the nation's prosperity was achieved at the expense of individual freedoms. In 1990, Lee stepped down as prime minister but remained "senior minister" with considerable influence over his successor, Goh Chok Tong, who continued to preside over Singapore through difficult economic times in 1998. The first direct presidential election took place in Aug. 1993. Ong Teng Cheong faced what initially appeared to be only token opposition and ultimately took 40 percent of the vote. In 1998, Singapore and Malaysia's often-strained relations soured again against the backdrop of the Asian financial crisis, which was taking a heavy toll on both economies. Singaporean leaders accused Malaysia of using a newly built $2.3 billion international airport at Kuala Lumpur to supplant the island nation as a regional air hub.

FACTS

Population: 3.2 million
Capital: Singapore
Major language: Chinese, Malay, Tamil, English
Major religion: Chinese religions
Form of government: democratic republic
Monetary unit: 1 Singapore dollar = 100 cents 
Main exports: office machines, telecommunications apparatus, petroleum products, optical instruments
Chief of state: President 
Head of state government: Prime Minister


LEADERS


President:
Sellapan Rama Nathan (1999)

S. R. Nathan was elected president in August 1999. He was declared president without an election when he was certified as the only candidate eligible to run in the elections originally scheduled for Aug. 28, 1999. This doesn't reveal much, but in any case, he's more or less a figurehead; genuine power lies with the government. The all-embracing People's Action Party (PAP) won its usual overwhelming majority in Parliament in the last election, in 1997. The next parliamentary election is due to take place by 2002.

Prime Minister: 
Goh Chok Tong (1990)

The transition from Lee to his successor, Goh Chok Tong, was shaky. Prime Minister Goh initially cut a rather uncertain figure. He appeared to be Singapore's answer to former British Prime Minister John Major - a rather uninspiring figure, eclipsed by his more charismatic and powerful predecessor sniping at him from the shadows. Indeed, Goh's early days as prime minister were almost disastrous. Lee publicly announced that Goh hadn't been his first choice for the premiership. A series of political mishaps persuaded Goh to call snap polls in 1992 in which the PAP lost two parliament seats to the opposition parties, reflecting the people's disillusionment with the new premier's wobbly start. Goh fought back. He quashed rumors of his impending resignation and quietly - but firmly - got on with his job, which for the prime minister centers on keeping the status quo chugging along happily. The strategy worked: the PAP swept the board in the 1997 election, gaining four percentage points in the vote and winning all of the 83 elected seats to parliament. 

OBSTACLES TO MINISTRY

• Malay population is considered Muslim by birth and for years was economically isolated.

• Growing drug problem with an estimated 15,000 addicts.

SPIRITUAL POWER POINTS

• Needs to be unity among the churches.

• Christians need sensitivity in Singapore's multi-faith context, but also a boldness to stand firm when fundamental issues of freedom of speech are challenged.

Special thanks to Patrick Johnstone's, "Operation World" publisher, ISBN# 0-310-40031-7; 
and country profiles by eCountries.com.