What features make singapore unuasual among other countries of southeast asia?

Question

Please help i have a essay due tomorrow and i can't find anything!

Answer 1

The founding of modern Singapore in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles paved the way for Singapore to become a modern port and established its status as a gateway between the Western and Eastern markets.

This was distinct from its earlier probable use as a port in ancient times during the dominance of Srivijaya, and later, the Melaka in the region. This was because previously, the main markets were India and China. However, with the founding of modern Singapore, Europe, and to an extent, the United States, had now become sources of trade as well.


The need for a new British port

The statue of Sir Stamford Raffles by Thomas Woolner now stands in Singapore, near Raffles's landing site in 1819.Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Malay archipelago was gradually taken over by the European colonial powers, beginning with the arrival of the Portuguese at Malacca in 1509. The early dominance of the Portuguese was challenged, during the 17th century, by the Dutch, who came to control most of the region's ports. The Dutch established a monopoly over trade within the archipelago, particularly in spices, then the region's most important product. Other colonial powers, including the British, were limited to a relatively minor presence.

In 1818, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of the British colony at Bencoolen. Raffles believed that the British should find a way to replace the Dutch as the dominant power in the archipelago, since the trade route between China and British India, which had become vitally important with the institution of the opium trade with China, passed through the archipelago. Furthermore, the Dutch were stifling British trade within the region; the British were prohibited from operating in Dutch-controlled ports, with the exception of Batavia, where unfavourable prices were imposed. Raffles reasoned that the way to challenge the Dutch was to establish a new port in the region. Existing British ports were not suited to becoming major trading centres. Penang was too far away from the Straits of Malacca, the main ship passageway for the India-China trade, whereas Bencoolen faced the Indian Ocean, overseeing the entrance to the Sunda Straits, a much less important area. Many other possible sites were either controlled by the Dutch, or had other problems.


Raffles' Landing and Arrival
In 1818, Raffles managed to convince Lord Hastings, the then governor-general of India and his superior at the British East India Company, to fund an expedition to establish a new British base in the region. Raffles then undertook weeks of lengthy searching and found several islands that seemed promising but were later revealed unfit for use either because they were already occupied by the Dutch, or could not function as a port for reasons such as having too shallow a harbour. Eventually, after contemplating several maps, Raffles happened upon the island of Singapore, which upon investigation, seemed to be a natural choice. It lay at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, near the Straits of Malacca, and possessed an excellent natural harbour, fresh water supplies, and timber for repairing ships. Most importantly, it was unoccupied by the Dutch.

Raffles' expedition arrived in Singapore on 29 January 1819. He found a small Malay settlement at the mouth of the Singapore River, headed by a Temenggong (governor) of Johor. The island was nominally ruled by Johor, but the political situation there was extremely murky. The current Sultan of Johor, Tengku Abdul Rahman, was controlled by the Dutch and the Bugis, and would never agree to a British base in Singapore. However, Abdul Rahman was Sultan only because his older brother, Tengku Hussein, had been away in Penang getting married when their father died.


The treaty
With the Temenggong's help, Raffles managed to smuggle Hussein, then living in exile on one of the Riau Islands, back into Singapore. He offered to recognize Hussein as the rightful Sultan of Johor, and provide him with a yearly payment; in return, Hussein would grant them the right to establish a trading post on Singapore.[This agreement was ratified with a formal treaty signed on 6 February 1819, and modern Singapore was born.


Early growth (1819–1826)
Raffles returned to Bencoolen soon after the signing of the treaty, leaving Major William Farquhar in charge of the new settlement, which initially consisted of some artillery and a single regiment of Indian soldiers. Establishing a trading port from scratch was in itself a daunting prospect, but Farquhar's administration was, in addition, practically unfunded, as Raffles did not wish his superiors to view Singapore as a liability. In addition, it was forbidden from earning revenue by imposing port duties, Raffles having decided from the outset that Singapore would be a free port.

In spite of these difficulties, the new colony rapidly proved to be a spectacular success. As news of the free port spread across the archipelago, Bugis, Peranakan Chinese, and Arab traders flocked to the island, seeking to circumvent the Dutch trading restrictions. During the first year of operation, $400,000 (Spanish dollars) worth of trade passed through Singapore. By 1821, the island's population had increased to around five thousand, and the trade volume was $8 million. By 1825, the population had passed the ten thousand mark, with a trade volume of $22 million (in comparison, the trade volume for the long-established port of Penang was $8.5 million during the same year.)

Raffles returned to Singapore in 1822. Although Farquhar had successfully led the settlement through its difficult early years, Raffles was critical of many of the decisions he had made. For instance, in order to generate much-needed revenue for the government, Farquhar had resorted to selling licenses for gambling and the sale of opium, which Raffles saw as social evils. Raffles arranged for Farquhar's dismissal, and set about drafting a set of new policies for the settlement. He arranged for a second treaty with the Sultan and Temenggong, signed on 7 June 1823, which extended British possession to the entire island, except for the residences of the Sultan and Temenggong. The latter also gave up their rights to numerous functions on the island, including the collection of port taxes, in return for lifelong monthly payments of $1500 and $800 respectively. This agreement brought the island squarely under British law, with the proviso that it would take into account Malay customs, traditions and religion, "where they shall not be contrary to reason, justice or humanity."

Raffles, also shocked at the disarray of the colony, then arranged to organise Singapore into functional and ethnic subdivisions under the drafted Raffles Plan of Singapore.Today, the remnants of this organisation can be found in the ethnic neighbourhoods.

After installing John Crawfurd, an efficient and frugal administrator, as the new governor, Raffles departed for Britain in October 1823. He would never return to Singapore. Most of his personal possessions were lost after his ship, the Fame, caught fire and sank, and he died only a few years later, in 1826, at the age of 44.


Straits Settlements
Main article: Singapore in the Straits Settlements
The status of Singapore as a British possession was cemented by the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, which carved up the Malay archipelago between the two colonial powers. The area north of the Straits of Malacca, including Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, was designated as the British sphere of influence, while the area south of the Straits was assigned to the Dutch. This division had far-reaching consequences for the region: modern-day Malaysia and Singapore correspond to the British area established in the treaty, and modern-day Indonesia to the Dutch. In 1826, Singapore was grouped together with Penang and Malacca into a single administrative unit, the Straits Settlements, under the British East India Company.

Uniquely in terms of economic, singapore is the only country; a small land mass with huge GDP$ despite no natural resources. Its capital is in its investment infrastructure, its entre port and its people.

Answer 2

Hey, make a trip there to Malaysia and Singapore and see for yourself. Singapore is just a km away from West Malaysia. Can recommend you places to visit too.

Answer 3

Singapore is UNIQUE because:

- the best & most accessible trade port among SEA due to our strategic location.
- a multi-racial country with many foreign talents
- considered as a richer country among other SEA countries
- many different cuisines & cultures developed
- highly efficient & well developed country
- well known for its clean & green environment
- the best airport (Singapore Changi Airport) among SEA and famously known around the world
- maintain low crime rates
- stringent regulations stated in our country
- most Singaporeans can speak more than 1 languages & dialects and most importantly, most of us are bilingual by being able to converse in both English & Mandarin
- Singaporeans are "Kiasu", which means like to win in every situations

Answer 4

There is a lot, come to think about it

Strategic port? - Ever heard about the fall of Singapore
Penang, Singapore, Hongkong - the British has been building such ports to suit their interests.
Ethnic food - Most cooks are from Malaysia.
Smallest land mass - but Brunei is smaller
State religion - We don't have one so that makes it unsual enough
Developed country - Don't make people laugh. Swedish has smaller population but they manufacture Volvos, Erricson phones and supply Nasa.
We are unsual as we are the only country in SE that bans chewing gums, our neighbours refused to trade with us, not even sand.
We have a one party state. Government and ruling party is used interchangeably.
We have no corruptions, but our politicians are highest paid in the world
We have state run housing for 80% people, HDB.
We have least number of newspapers competing for readers
We have the highest suicide rate in SE Asia.
We have the lowest infant mortality rate in SE Asia.
We have the lowest fertility rate in SE Asia.
We have the busiest port in SE Asia.
We have the business airport in SE Asia
We have the tallest hotel in SE Asia
We have the largest proportion of imported players and athletes
We have the longest serving senior politician - LKY
We have a ruling dynasty - Father, Son and -some wags says- even the holy ghost
Our generals are promoted at the lowest average age
We have the youngest air fleet
Our vehicles are scrapped within 10 years

Answer 5

singapore is the first country from south east country asia to be come modren city. it is a strategic gate way (port) between east and west and is the best location to trade by sea. it is also one of the cleanliest city .

Answer 6

Clean and friendly !! Willingness to help strangers and for those who speak American-English comfort . Also I beleive it to be very safe,but as with any new travel and adventure, always be aware of your surroundings ! But I feel you will find comfort and bliss in your stay !!! Enjoy !!!

Answer 7

its unique
-founded by sir stanford raffles
-cleaniest
-'fine city'
-riches
-politically stable
-limited land size ..that y most ppl stay in hdb aka 'pigeon holes'
-bomming economy
-best educational system...best universities-ppl flock to do tertiary education in s'pore
-existance of COE n ERPs
-high standard of living
-equality among all races

Answer 8

yeah , yeah. enough about cleanliness and safety. Singapore is so pampered on everything. People here don't know how to date that the government has to lead them on! how cool is that ? Its an manufactured nation.. just as mentioned in my previous posting, its a nation without a soul.
NO MONEY NO HONEY=) no money. no respect. Ive been here for 3 years and I can say that i have mostly overseas friends than locals. I don't know why ? maybe its me ? but its not only me .. ITs most of us.. as far as all the people I know.. well.. what can I say.

Answer 9

it is surrounded
totally surrounded
by millions of Muslims


n it has nothing

Answer 10

I have no clue!