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MCB: 1210000007578
Page : 152 pages
INTRODUCTION
A 40th birthday is always a landmark occasion. For individuals, it comes with a mixed sense of ambitions achieved so far and of opportunities missed; of middle age well and truly attained and, in all probability, the prospect of a slower-paced future ahead. But for a nation, 40 has very different connotations. Forty is young enough to experiment in bold, new directions. Young enough to represent only two generations – and to have boundless plans for those to conic. Yet 40 is also old enough to have achieved a sense of nationhood, of what it is and what it expects from its members. Old enough for outsiders to know what it represents.
Of course, any anniversary is to some extent an arbitrary date. People were working, eating, playing and living their lives on this island well before Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles anchored here and look a liking to these shores, And the eclectic mix of Chinese. Malays, Indians and Eurasians with their different languages and dialects, religions, dress and traditions had found a way of fusing this into what was an identifiable Singaporean culture before that historic day in 1965 when Singapore formally became an independent nation that had to learn to stand on its own feel.
Yet, since then. Singapore has had something to prove. It had to demonstrate both to itself, and to the rest of the world, that this tiny dot of land in the South China Sea. with few natural resources, could rely on the talent, vision and sheer hard work of its citizens to become a developed nation in its own right. It has done that with a vengeance. Singapore enjoys one of the highest standards of living, not just in Asia, but in the world.
Singaporeans have shown the world that it is possible to live in racial harmony, in a clean, pleasant environment and, global economic dips notwithstanding, become increasingly sophisticated and wealthy along the way.
In this 40th anniversary commemorative book, we have taken different aspects of life on the island, from the serious business of government to the nation’s craze for shopping, and charted their development from independence to today. For more than half of that time, Singapore Taller has been reporting on the business, cultural, social and sporting life of the republic and we have drawn from our coverage of these events to include short essays that further highlight aspects of Singapore life.
So, as the red and white flags are flown with special pride this year and memorabilia abounds to mark the nation’s big birthday. Celebrating Singapore offers a chance to look back on how we were, what we have achieved – and the possibilities for the future.
So a very Happy Birthday to the Lion City – and welcome to the roaring forties!
CONTENTS
Introduction
Datebase
A historical tuneline from Singapore’s early days to 1965
The Making of a Republic
Government since independence
A Speedy Recovery
How Singapore coped with the aftermath of the SARS crisis
Onwards and Upwards
Architecture and the changing landscape
Sea Fairer
Singapore’s shores are evolving into a playground for the well-heelved
A Personal Perspective
Rita Soh, President of the Institue of Architects, choose 10 recent presonal favourite buildings in Singapore.
On the Move
Building a sophisticate transport system
Life Cycles
Men and their love of the motorbike
Investing in the Future
Business in a modern world
A Good Chance
Entrepreneurs in Singapore
Movers and Shakers
Illustrious personalities in Singapore
Artistic Interpretations
Arts and culture in the republic
Scene Changes
How theatre is influencing the way society thinks
Asian Hospitality
Encouraging visitors to our shores
Well Travelled
The growth in medical tourism by Sunuja Naidu
Market Value
Shopping – one of the nation’s favourite pastimes
Chain of Command
Bringing chain stores to the island
From Hawker Stall to Haute Cuisine
Food – the other of the nation’s favourite pastimes
Savouring Success
Successful local food exporters
Active Participation
Sports and recreation in the republic
Winning Streaks
The joys of horse-racing from an owner’s perspective
Majullah Singapore
A sophisticated, high-tech nation looks to the future
Rising to the Challenge
Influential Singaporeans give their views and advice on the country’s future
