Singapore TWO DECADES OF INDEPENDENCE, 1965-85
A People's Action Party (PAP) rally during the 1984 election
Courtesy Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information
Reaction to the sudden turn of events was mixed.
Singapore's
political leaders, most of whom were Malayan-born and
still had
ties there, had devoted their careers to winning
independence for
a united Singapore and Malaya. Although apprehensive about
the
future, most Singaporeans, however, were relieved that
independence
would probably bring an end to the communal strife and
riots of the
previous two years. Moreover, many Singaporean businessmen
looked
forward to being free of Kuala Lumpur's economic
restrictions.
Nonetheless, most continued to worry about the viability
as a
nation of a tiny island with no natural resources or
adequate water
supply, a population of nearly 2 million, and no defense
capability
of its own in the face of a military confrontation with a
powerful
neighboring country. Singaporeans and their leaders,
however, rose
to the occasion.
Data as of December 1989
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