DOCSLIB.ORG

A Brief Life of Sir Stamford Raffles, the Founder of Singapore

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Brief Life of Sir Stamford Raffles, the Founder of Singapore Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE LIBRARY Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries A Brief Life of Sir Stamford Raffles The Founder of Singapore. By R. D. PRINGLE, Y. M. C. A. General Secretary for Malaya. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES. I Preparation. II Gathering Strength. III Test and Triumph. IV The Man behind the Work Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 4 SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES. Red letter dates in his life. 1781 July 5th Born on board the "Ann" off the island of Jamaica. 1795 Entered the office of the Secretary of the East India Company. 1805 March 8 Appointed Assistant Secretary, Penang. 1805 March 14 Married to Olivia Mariamne Fan- court. 1807 Met Leyden his influential friend. Malay Translator to Government. Promoted Secretary to Government, Penang, at £2000 a year. 1808 Saved Malacca to the British Crown. 1810 June-October With Lord Minto, in Calcutta, planning the attack on Java. (The true axis of his life.) 1811 Sept. 11 Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Java. 1814 June 4 Appointed first Chairman of Java Auxiliary Bible Society. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 1817 April Issued his History of Java. Knighted by the Prince Regent, in London. 1818 March Arrived Bencoolen, Sumatra, as Lieutenant Governor of Fort Marlborough. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Foreword. T has been truly said that the Story of the Expansion of England is but the Biography of her greater Sons. What impulse was it that drove Englishmen to brave stormy and uncharted seas, to endure hunger, thirst and desolation, to invade the strong¬ holds of cruelty and lust—in the noble words of Scripture to be "in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness?" Henley's ringing words supply a large part of the answer: " Ever the faith endures England, my England 1 Take us and break us: we are yours, England my own." High on the golden roll of England's greatest sons shines the name of Thomas Stamford Raffles. He feared God; he honoured the King; he burned Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries with a consuming passion for the increase of England's greatness and for the betterment of humanity. In the hope that its simple pages will increase knowledge of, and inflame reverence for, Raffles and his noble comrades who built the British Empire, on the part of young people in British Malaya, this book is, by request, sent forth. R. D. P. GH1IS Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries i Chapter I. PREPARATION. The tang of the venturer was in Raffles' blood, and the source of it is not far to seek, for was he not born and cradled on his father's ship, off the island of Jamaica (on the fifth day of July 1781), and as a mewling infant rocked to sleep on the heaving bosom of the vast deep? His family was of gentle origin and made its home chiefly in Yorkshire, England. When Stamford made his debut on father Neptune's breast, the family was burdened with neither pelf nor power, so that our hero, after a very modest education, was entered at the tender age of fourteen as a temporary clerk in the Secre¬ tary's office of the East India Company. There he remained for ten years. Raffles, like Napier and the Lawrences of Indian fame, owed much of his indomitable and courageous self-reliance to the fact that very early in life he was thrown into deep waters of the stream of life. Genius loves to mope in solitude: Character prefers to jostle with the crowd. The silver spoon of easy circumstance may just as easily ohoke the boy as feed him. The lad Raffles ate very plain food with a very Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 12 Sir Stamford Raffles. plain spoon, and like Daniel and his friends, flourished amazingly, and gathered strength to do and dare. In the office young Raffles was a strenuous worker, and his hours of leisure were largely given up to study; while the comfort of his parents was the first charge upon his slender resources. At all times of his career he en¬ deavoured to devote a portion of his day to study or reading, and on one occasion he laid it down as a rule for himself that lie should "appropriate eight hours in each day to study, reading, or writing, and that the loss of time on any day should be made up on another. My object in making this memorandum is that I may hold the rule as inviolable as I can, and by frequently recurring to it revive my sleeping energies, should I at any time be inclined to indolence. I should not, however, omit to add that all reading and study on a Sunday is to be confined to the Bible and religious subjects. The Greek and Hebrew, however, as connected, may nevertheless form a part of the study of that day." He was constantly writing to his mother in such terms as these—"If you have any wants or wishes, tell them to me that I may attend to them; you could not confer on me a greater delight than the power of contributing to your happiness and comfort to the extent of my Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries / Sir Stamford Baffles. 13 means." " God, of His infinite mercy, preserve you, my dearest mother, and grant that we may once more meet in happiness, to part no more. The hope that I may reach England in time to keep up your spirits and give you a new lease of this life, is ever present, and will be my first inducement to turn my steps home¬ ward the moment my public duty admits." Thus, alike by the discipline of intellect and the formation of sterling unselfish character, Raffles was making himself ready for higher and more lucrative employment. It soon came. Early in 1805, when Raffles was twenty-four years 6f age, the East India Company decided to augment its staff in Penang, and on the warm recommendation of the Secretary of the Com¬ pany (Mr. William Ramsay) Raffles was ap¬ pointed Assistant Secretary at the handsome salary of £1,500 a year: (Some increment that from £70). He owed this grand promotion (under God) to his own character, abilities and industry. Having secured a fine position, the saga¬ cious Raffles engaged the assistance of a hand¬ some and gracious lady to enable him to enjoy and fill it to the best advantage. Thus on the 14th of March, 1805, Olivia and Thomas Stam¬ ford were duly declared man and wife by the Rev. A. P. Poston, in the Parish Church of St. George, Bloomsbury, London. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 14 Sir Stamford Baffles. There was a strong element of romance in Baffles' marriage. In August or September of 1804 a tall, distinguished looking lady, with flashing black Italian eyes, appeared in Baffles' office, in London, to supplicate a grant from the Compassionate Fund, her husband having died in the (Indian) Medical Service of the Com¬ pany. She carried away the sum of twenty-five guineas and the promise of a pension of 1/3 a day. But she carried more—even the heart of Baffles itself! Like Caesar, Olivia came, and saw, and conquered. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Chapter II. GATHERING STRENGTH. Raffles (with his bride, and his own eldest sister) in due time arrived in Penang (1805) with the rank of Junior Merchant and the post of Assistant Secretary to Government. He set¬ tled ia a house called "Runnymede," the rent of which was £330 a year, or more than one- fifth of his salary. Captain Travers, who knew him from 1806, says: "It is due to Mr. Raffles to state that he was respected and consulted by every member of the Government. In his offi¬ cial capacity he gave most general satisfaction, whilst the settlers looked up to him for assis¬ tance and advice in every difficulty; and when he afterwards became Chief Secretary the most general satisfaction was evinced throughout the Settlement. Being of a cheerful lively disposi¬ tion, and very fond of society, it was surprising how he was able to entertain so hospitably as he did, and yet labour so much as he was known to do at the time, not only in his official capa¬ city, but in acquiring a general knowledge of the history, government, and local interests of Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries \ 16 Sir Stamford Raffles. the neighbouring states.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Singapore's Chinese-Speaking and Their Perspectives on Merger
    Chinese Southern Diaspora Studies, Volume 5, 2011-12 南方華裔研究雜志, 第五卷, 2011-12 “Flesh and Bone Reunite as One Body”: Singapore’s Chinese- speaking and their Perspectives on Merger ©2012 Thum Ping Tjin* Abstract Singapore’s Chinese speakers played the determining role in Singapore’s merger with the Federation. Yet the historiography is silent on their perspectives, values, and assumptions. Using contemporary Chinese- language sources, this article argues that in approaching merger, the Chinese were chiefly concerned with livelihoods, education, and citizenship rights; saw themselves as deserving of an equal place in Malaya; conceived of a new, distinctive, multiethnic Malayan identity; and rejected communist ideology. Meanwhile, the leaders of UMNO were intent on preserving their electoral dominance and the special position of Malays in the Federation. Finally, the leaders of the PAP were desperate to retain power and needed the Federation to remove their political opponents. The interaction of these three factors explains the shape, structure, and timing of merger. This article also sheds light on the ambiguity inherent in the transfer of power and the difficulties of national identity formation in a multiethnic state. Keywords: Chinese-language politics in Singapore; History of Malaya; the merger of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya; Decolonisation Introduction Singapore’s merger with the Federation of Malaya is one of the most pivotal events in the country’s history. This process was determined by the ballot box – two general elections, two by-elections, and a referendum on merger in four years. The centrality of the vote to this process meant that Singapore’s Chinese-speaking1 residents, as the vast majority of the colony’s residents, played the determining role.
    [Show full text]
  • Lion City Adventures Secrets of the Heartlandsfor Review Only Join the Lion City Adventuring Club and Take a Journey Back in Time to C
    don bos Lion City Adventures secrets of the heartlandsFor Review only Join the Lion City Adventuring Club and take a journey back in time to C see how the fascinating heartlands of Singapore have evolved. o s ecrets of the Each chapter contains a history of the neighbourhood, information about remarkable people and events, colourful illustrations, and a fun activity. You’ll also get to tackle story puzzles and help solve an exciting mystery along the way. s heA ArtL NDS e This is a sequel to the popular children’s book, Lion City Adventures. C rets of the he rets the 8 neighbourhoods feAtured Toa Payoh Yishun Queenstown Tiong Bahru Kampong Bahru Jalan Kayu Marine Parade Punggol A rt LA nds Marshall Cavendish Marshall Cavendish In association with Super Cool Books children’s/singapore ISBN 978-981-4721-16-5 ,!7IJ8B4-hcbbgf! Editions i LLustrAted don bos Co by shAron Lei For Review only lIon City a dventures don bosco Illustrated by VIshnu n rajan L I O N C I T Y ADVENTURING CLUB now clap your hands and repeat this loudly: n For Review only orth, south, east and west! I am happy to do my best! Editor: Melvin Neo Designer: Adithi Shankar Khandadi Illustrator: Vishnu N Rajan © 2015 Don Bosco (Super Cool Books) and Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd y ou, This book is published by Marshall Cavendish Editions in association with Super Cool Books. Reprinted 2016, 2019 ______________________________ , Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions (write your name here) An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International are hereby invited to join the All rights reserved lion city adventuring club No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval systemor transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, on a delightful adventure without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore Before 1800 – by Kwa Chong Guan and Peter Borschberg (Eds.) Authors: Lisa Phongsavath, Martina Yeo Huijun
    Global histories a student journal Review: Studying Singapore Before 1800 – By Kwa Chong Guan and Peter Borschberg (eds.) Authors: Lisa Phongsavath, Martina Yeo Huijun DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/GHSJ.2019.320 Source: Global Histories, Vol. 5, No. 1 (May 2019), pp. 156-161 ISSN: 2366-780X Copyright © 2019 Lisa Phongsavath, Martina Yeo Huijun License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Publisher information: ‘Global Histories: A Student Journal’ is an open-access bi-annual journal founded in 2015 by students of the M.A. program Global History at Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. ‘Global Histories’ is published by an editorial board of Global History students in association with the Freie Universität Berlin. Freie Universität Berlin Global Histories: A Student Journal Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut Koserstraße 20 14195 Berlin Contact information: For more information, please consult our website www.globalhistories.com or contact the editor at: [email protected]. Studying Singapore Before 1800 – by Kwa Chong Guan and Peter Borschberg (eds.), Singapore: NUS Press, 2018. $45.00 SGD, Pp. 600, ISBN: 978-981-4722-74-2 Reviewed by: LISA PHONGSAVATH & YEO HUIJUN MARTINA L i s a P In 1969, Raffles Professor of History atthe University of Singapore, K.G. h o n Tregonning, proclaimed that modern Singapore began in the year 1819. Referring g s a v to Stamford Raffles’ establishment of a British settlement in what was deemed a a t h largely uninhabited island along the Melaka Strait, he states: & Y e o H u i j u n ‘Nothing that occurred on the island prior to this M a has particular relevance to an understanding of the r t i n 1 a contemporary scene; it is of antiquarian interest only’.
    [Show full text]
  • Sir Stamford Raffles - a Manufactured Hero?1
    1 SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES - A MANUFACTURED HERO?1 Nadia Wright University of Melbourne Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826) was an extraordinary man. A hard working official of the East India Company, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Java and later of Bencoolen2 on Sumatra. As well, he was a scholar, whose History of Java3 earned him a knighthood, and a naturalist who was a co-founder of the London Zoo. He is, however, better known as the founder of Singapore. Since the first book-length biography of Raffles appeared in 1897,4 he has been the subject of more than sixteen biographical works. All of these, bar H. F. Pearson’s This Other India,5 eulogize Raffles, carefully crafting him into a seemingly unassailable hero. 1 This paper was presented to the 17th Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia in Melbourne 1-3 July 2008. It has been peer reviewed via a double blind referee process and appears on the Conference Proceedings Website by the permission of the author who retains copyright. This paper may be downloaded for fair use under the Copyright Act (1954), its later amendments and other relevant legislation. 2 Now called Bengkulu 3 Thomas Stamford Raffles, The History of Java. 2 vols. London: Printed for Black, Parbury and Allen, and John Murray, 1817. 4 Demetrius Boulger, The Life of Sir Stamford Raffles Amsterdam: The Pepin Press, 1999. Reprint. 5 H. F. Pearson, This Other India: A Biography of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Singapore: Eastern Universities Press, 1957. 2 In the first part of this paper I examine how Raffles has been manufactured into a hero, and in the second consider why, and then the consequences of this valorisation.
    [Show full text]
  • Keeping Memories Alive: Maintaining Singapore Nationalism Abroad
    Keeping Memories Alive: Maintaining Singapore Nationalism Abroad Catherine Gomes School of Media and Communication RMIT University GPO Box 2476 Melbourne Vic 3001 tel: + 61 3 99255068 fax: + 61 3 99259730 office: 4.2.16 (city campus) email: [email protected] Catherine Gomes teaches media and communication the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University, focusing on Asian modernity, sexuality, gender and popular culture. She has published widely on the cross-cultural reception of Asian cinema and Asian transnationalism.. Gomes, C 2009, 'Keeping memories alive: Maintaining singapore nationalism abroad', Asia Journal of Global Studies, Formatted: Font: (Default) vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 37-50. Arial 2 Keeping Memories Alive: Maintaining Singaporean Nationalism Abroad Abstract. Singapore uses the active remembering of its heritage to instil in its citizens a sense of nationhood. While this is not an uncommon feature of any national agenda, Singapore – concerned with a declining local skilled workforce as a result of emigration – uses memory of heritage and place as a means to promote and maintain nationalism among its citizens abroad. The practice of remembering is aided by inventive and sometimes well-funded government initiatives such as the annually held Singapore Day — a one-day event held in cities outside Singapore which have a significant diasporic Singaporean population. Comment [U1]: Could you add a line or two more here? Introduction It’s a little thin on details. Like other sovereign nations, Singapore considers loyalty to the state as representing a fundamental tenet of citizenry. The Southeast Asian nation undertakes elaborate measures to ensure that nationalism and nationhood are intrinsic values woven into cultural and community discourse.
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of the Underlying Factors That Affected Malaysia-Singapore Relations During the Mahathir Era: Discords and Continuity
    An Analysis of the Underlying Factors That Affected Malaysia-Singapore Relations During the Mahathir Era: Discords and Continuity Rusdi Omar Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Discipline of Politics and International Studies School of History and Politics Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences The University of Adelaide May 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS i ABSTRACT v DECLARATION vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS ix GLOSSARY xii 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. Introductory Background 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem 3 1.3. Research Aims and Objectives 5 1.4. Scope and Limitation 6 1.5. Literature Review 7 1.6. Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework 17 1.7. Research Methodology 25 1.8. Significance of Study 26 1.9. Thesis Organization 27 2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE RELATIONS 30 2.1. Introduction 30 2.2. The Historical Background of Malaysia 32 2.3. The Historical Background of Singapore 34 2.4. The Period of British Colonial Rule 38 i 2.4.1. Malayan Union 40 2.4.2. Federation of Malaya 43 2.4.3. Independence for Malaya 45 2.4.4. Autonomy for Singapore 48 2.5. Singapore’s Inclusion in the Malaysian Federation (1963-1965) 51 2.6. The Period after Singapore’s Separation from Malaysia 60 2.6.1. Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Era 63 2.6.2 Tun Abdul Razak’s Era 68 2.6.3. Tun Hussein Onn’s Era 76 2.7. Conclusion 81 3 CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE RELATIONS 83 3.1. Introduction to the Issues Affecting Relations Between Malaysia and Singapore 83 3.2.
    [Show full text]
  • V14-Issue4 Farquhar.Pdf
    BIBLIOASIA JAN - MAR 2019 VOL. 14 ISSUE 04 FEATURE In 1830, William Farquhar (1774–1839) wrote to The Asiatic Journal explaining Farquhar why he was due “at least a large share” iof the credit in forming Singapore.1 Yet, & it is Stamford Raffles (1781–1826) alone who is hailed as the founder of Singapore. This notion, propounded by his biographers, has been reinforced by constant repetition, official acceptance and the omnipresence of Raffles’ name in Singapore. In contrast, Farquhar’s pivotal role in the events leading up to the founding of the British settlement in Singapore in (Above) Colonel William Farquhar, c. 1830. Image source: Wikimedia Commons. February 1819 and during its nascent Raffles years has been vastly underrated. To (Above right) A portrait of Sir Stamford Raffles presented by his nephew, W.C. Raffles Flint, to London’s National Gallery Portrait Gallery in 1859. Image source: Wikimedia Commons. add insult to injury, Farquhar has been mocked, and his character and accom- The Untold Story plishments belittled over the years. ing School and paved the way for his recently included in the history curriculum To understand the origins of this employment at India House, while his of Singapore schools, the Raffles myth The founding of Singapore in 1819 and aberration in Singapore’s history, we later career and status were propelled has prevailed. A group of students who its early development have traditionally must turn to the biographies of Raffles. by his patron, Lord Minto, the Governor- re-assessed the roles of Raffles and Far- The first, The Life of Sir Stamford Raffles, General of Bengal.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedom, Democracy and Economic Welfare
    PART TWO CASE STUDIES IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND CIVIL FREEDOMS copyright The Fraser Institute copyright The Fraser Institute Chapter 4 Economic, Civil, and Political Freedoms: The Cases of Singapore and Hong Kong Alvin Rabushka INTRODUCTION A tale of two cities, Singapore and Hong Kong, is the opposite of Charles Dickens’ Bleak House. Once upon a time, two islands stood barren, with nary a soul or house upon them. In Southeast Asia on the equator, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles acquired the tropical island of Singapore in 1819 from Holland in exchange for Britain’s territorial claims in the Dutch East Indies. He declared it a free port, setting in motion its history as an important trading centre. Captain Henry Elliot, twenty years later, seized Hong Kong from China to provide a secure base for British traders. Re- flecting the laissez-faire sentiments of the day, he declared the island a free port, which developed as a trading emporium between East and West. Both colonies suffered severe wartime devastation under Japanese rule. Yet both rebounded, attaining levels of prosperity that are the envy of the developing world. Singapore is a global city-state, which boldly implemented ambitious development policies and achieved remarkable economic growth with so- cial stability. In the twenty years since it became an independent state in 1965, its per capita gross national product increased from $470 to approxi- mately $6,800. With the exception of an economic contraction during 1985, Singapore generally maintained rapid economic growth, full em- ployment, high productivity, and low inflation rates. The British Crown Colony of Hong Kong was equally successful.
    [Show full text]
  • Red Dot Rising: Western Sentiments in Print Media Portrayals of Singapore
    International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology Vol. 1 No.1; July 2011 Red Dot Rising: Western Sentiments in Print Media Portrayals of Singapore Bradley C. Freeman Nanyang Technological University-Singapore. Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637 718 E-mail: [email protected], Phone: (+65) 6790 6043 Michael Chen University of California at Berkeley USA. Armineh Nourbakhsh University of Texas at Austin USA. Abstract Singapore has seen extraordinary development in its 43 short years of “nation building.” It has become the envy of its neighbors, by becoming a truly first-class global alpha city. From the image of the uniquely Singaporean Merlion to the Batik-clad Singapore Girl of Singapore Airlines, brand Singapore has been gaining ground in a hurry in the globalized marketplace. Yet despite its recognized efficiency in financial affairs and well-orchestrated National day parades, its’ very success at becoming a global city – may also be an Achilles heel, as the educated younger generations start seeing a world without frontiers. As a city with an amalgam of differing worldly influences, Singaporean identity remains an elusive concept. One thing for sure is that Singaporeans are fascinated by how outsiders view their country. Over time, how others view and define Singapore ends up at least anecdotally having an agenda-setting influence of its own when served up in such a manner. How has Singapore been portrayed in Western newspapers? And what bearing can such international media portrayals have on the nation’s identity? This study explores the nature of coverage for Singapore in two international print media outlets.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore's Foreign Policy: Beyond Realism
    SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN POLICY: BEYOND REALISM Submitted by Ming Hwa Ting This thesis is submitted to the University of Adelaide as a requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Centre for Asian Studies North Terrace Campus, the University of Adelaide March 2010 consummatum est ii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... vi Thesis Declaration ........................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... viii List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... x 1. INTRODUCTION: WHY STUDY SINGAPORE‟S FOREIGN POLICY? ........ 11 1.1 Singapore in Southeast Asia: The Vulnerability Myth ................................. 12 1.2 Why Realism is in Vogue: Size as a Deteminant in Singapore‟s Threat Perception ..................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Limitations of Realism .................................................................................. 17 1.4 Literature Review .......................................................................................... 21 1.4.1 Singapore‟s Foreign Policy: Paucity of Empirical Research .................... 21 1.3.2 Paucity of Alternative Theoretical Research ...........................................
    [Show full text]
  • BAB III (504.2Kb)
    CHAPTER III SINGAPORE INFORMATION This chapter will be discussing about Singapore. The general description about Singapore is; geography, demography, economy, government, economy, and military. Those aspects will lead to Singaporean decision-making process. This chapter will also discuss about agreements between Indonesia and Singapore in this case. A. The History of Singapore Long years ago, there was no man dreamed that this little state at the point of Malay peninsula would be very rich. This very small island, with less than 800 km2 in total area and fewer natural resources, no one would imagine that this state would be one of the richest states in the world, today. Long years ago, in 600 AD, Singapore Island just became the sea guard post and meeting point for traders under Sriwijaya Empire. Jean E. Abshire in his book The History of Singapore even calls that Singapore was a poverty-stricken country with many people living together in a slum area along a river that doubles as a sewer.1 It reflects how poor Singapore at the beginning. Many people living that Jean E Abshire wrote refers to so many nations that lives in Singapore. From Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Arab. Before belong to Sriwijayan Empire, Temasek, the previous name of Singapore, was known as the dangerous place for ships. There were so many orang laut, Malay word for sea people, sometimes attacked the ships. Orang laut was local people who lived among this area. Orang laut usually attacked the trading ship by surrounding the ship with some numbers of small 1 Abshire, Jean E.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore.Pdf
    Singapore A History ofthe Lion City by Bjorn Schelander with illustrations by AnnHsu Published by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies University of Hawai'i 1998 Partially funded by the -U.S. Department of Education Table of Contents PREFACE Chapter One: Early History of Singapore 1 From Temasek to Singapore 2 Early Archeological Evidence 3 The Rise of Malacca 5 The Raffles Years 9 Thomas Stamford Raffles 9 British, Dutch, and Malay Relations 12 Raffles and the Founding of Singapore 14 Farquhar's Administration of Singapore 17 The Return of Raffles 20 The Straits Settlements 22 Consolidation of British Interests in the Malay Peninsula 24 Profits, Piracy, and Pepper 25 Timeline of Important Events 28 Exercises 29 Chapter Two: The Colonial Era 35 Singapore Becomes a Crown Colony 36 Development ofTrade, Transportation, and Communication 36 A Multi-Ethnic Society 40 Syonan: Singapore and World War II 50 Prelude to War 50 Japanese In vasion of the Malay Peninsula 52 Singapore under Japanese Administration 54 Timeline of Important Events 57 Exercises 58 Chapter Three: Independence 63 The Post WarYears 64 The Road to Independence 65 Lee Kuan Yew and the People's Action Party 66 Merger of Malaya and Singapore 68 An Independent Singapore 69 Economy 74 Government 77 International Relations 79 Security 81 Urban Development 82 Education 83 People 84 Looking to the Future 88 Timeline of Important Events 89 Exercises 90 KEY TO EXERCISES: 95 BIBLIOGRAPHY 101 Preface What has allowed Singapore to become one of the most prosperous nations of Asia? In the years leading up to AD 2000, Singapore achieved a standard of living second only to Japan among the countries of Asia.
    [Show full text]