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Chapter 10: To what extend did people's lives change after…
Chapter 10: To what extend did people's lives change after independence
Economic challenges
Limited access to Malaysia Hinterland
Malaysia was still Singapore's main trading parter but Malaysia imposed tariffs on Singapore's goods and reduced exports of raw tin and rubber to Singapore
Unemployment
In 1965, more than 70,000 people were unemployed out of a total labour force of above 700,000
Singapore's entrepot trade was declining and British were closing bases. (more than 40,000 people's livelihoods depended on supplying the bases)
How did Singapore address these challenges?
Export-oriented industrialisation
In 1961, Fianace Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee announced the establishment of Economic Development Board (EDB)
promote industrial development in Singapore, for example, by attracting mulitinational corporations (MNCs) to set up factories
Transformed almost 70 square kilometers of land in Jurong to form Singapore's first industrial estate
Some of the key industries developed in Singapore include:
Electronics, Petroleum Refining, Ship building and Repair and Garments and Textiles
Because of this, thousands of people were employed and increased exports. By the early 1970s, there was a shortage of labour and up until 1973, GDP increased by over 10% per year
e.g. Shell, Seiko, Hewlett-Packard
Development of Infrastructure
To boost connectivity among industries and household, the telecommunications system was improved
Singapore Telephone board installed new telephones
Banking and finances services were expanded to meet the needs of MNCs and other companies in Singapore
E.g. the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) was established in 1968 to finance industrailisation and other development project
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) was set up in 1963
provide public utilities such as water, electricity and gas to industries and households.
Improved both the operating conditions of industries and people's living condition
Transport facilities
Paya Lebar Airport was expanded in the 1960s so it could handle more passenger and cargo traffic
insufficient space for future expansion
Thus, government decided in 1975 to replace it with a larger airport
Changi Airport was opened in 1981
The port of Singapore Authority (PSA) was formed in 1964 to manage port operations.
To cater to the rise in cargo traffic, it set up port facilities in Jurong, Sembawang, Tanjong Pagar and Pasir Panjang
Roads were constructed to connect industrial areas to housing estates
expressway system was built to reduce the time needed to travel around the island
1973 oil crisis
conflict in Middle East caused oil prices to increased sharply
Singapore was affected because it depended heavily on imported oil
showed that Singapore was still vulnerable to external economic problems
Social Challenges
people in Singapore came from diverse ethnic, language, religious and economic backgrouds
did not see themselves as belonging to a country called Singapore
unwilling to serve and defend Singapore
easily divided and pitted against each other
can lead to conflict and potential chaos
Thus, government had to build a sense of national identity among all its people
How did Singapore build a National Identity?
Recall: Introducing the concept of Singapore citizenship
Citizenship Ordinance of 1957 was introduced, which allowed people to become citizens of Singapore
1963- Singapore citizens automatically became citizens of Federation of Malaysia
1965- Singapore citizens could not keep Malaysian citizenship. The National Registration Act of 1965 was introduced
came into effect in 1966 and Singaporeans received a pink IC
Creation of National Identity
In 1966, all Singaporeans aged 12 and above must re-register themselves for citizenship
From 1966 onwards, Singapore citizens received a pink identity card, which served as a physical symbol of their identity as Singaporeans
NRIC entitled them to the rights of citizenship such as voting, priority in employment over non-citizens, access to social services like education and healthcare
Creation of National Symbols
In 1959, the state Flag, the State Crest and the State National Anthem were created to mark Singapore gaining full internal self-government from the British
In 1965, the State Flag and the State National Anthem were adopted as the National Flag and National Anthem.
They were symbols that help promote a common identity and sense of belonging among Singaporeans
So how did this stategy solve the challenge of building citizenship and sense of belonging?
Citizens would have a common identity as they learn and share the same values exemplified through the flag and National anthem
Citizens would believe in the ideals of SIngapore (e.g. equality, mulitiracialism, peace) and choose to stay in SIngapore and contribute to Singapore's developmment
Forging National Identity in schools
Pledge was written to reflect ideals of building a united Singapore
It was written in English and then translated to Mandrain, Malay, and Tamil
In 1966, Flag raising ceremony were introduced in schools where the national anthem was sung and the pledge was recited every day
On 24th August 1966, about 500,000 students from over 500 schools assembled to recite the pledge for the first time.
How did these efforts in schools help Singaporeans develop a sense of identity
Singaporeans have unifying beliefs as espoused in the pledge and National anthem
These set them apart from other nationalities and made them feel unique and rooted to the country
create a sense of commitment to the country
developed a Singaporean identity
Housing
Recall: SIT
Rapid population growth with little progress of meeting needs
1960: set up Housing Development Board (HDB)
By 1965, it had created 54,000 flats, enough to house 25% of the population
people now had access to electricity, portable tap, water, waste disposal service, and toilet facilities in their own homes
By 1976, HDB flats housed more than half the population
HDB started building bigger houses
Education
why?
In 1965, 25% of population were of schoolgoing age and literacy rate was only 60%
50,000 babies were also born annually
What was done?
From 1957 to 1965, 83 new schools were built (about one per month)
English was chosen as the common language
In 1969, the first integrated schools were set up
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Healthcare
Why?
Overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions poor general hygiene habits
High infant mortality rate (27.3 deaths per 1000 births)
What was done?
Rehoused people who lived near waterways to HDBs to avoid water pollution
In 1971, passed Clean Air Act to regulate emission of pollutants
From 1960s-70s, widened drains and canals to prevent flooding and spread of diseases like dengue and chlorea
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How did people's lives change?
Quality of life improved: People had better jobs and lived in better conditions
Could afford items like refrigerators and televisions which were previously luxuries
With improved conditions, people felt more rooted to the country and did not want to move elsewhere
could purchase their own homes