THE SINGAPORE PASSPORT A Short Presentation of Its History from Colonial Times to Independence
BY
GIL SCHNEIDER
History 1
1819: Sir Stamford Raffles secures Singapore for the British
1826: “Straits Settlements”: Singapore, Malacca, Penang
administered by British East India Company, from Calcutta
1867: Straits Settlements become a Crown Colony, from London
Free Port: -> immigration (China, India, Malaya) – 100’000
population by 1869
Feb 1942 – Aug 1945: Japanese occupation
Aug 1945 – Mar 1946: British Military Administration
1 Apr 1946: Singapore becomes separate Crown Colony,
headed by Governor
History 2
1955-1959: Partial Internal Self-Government
Chief Minister (David Marshall)
Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) replaces Governor
1959-1963: Full Internal Self-Government (State of Singapore)
Prime Minister (Lee Kuan Yew)
1963: Federation of Malaysia
Merger of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah
Brunei does not join
History 3
Why: Singapore had no raw materials, merger to benefit the
economy (common free market, eliminating trade tariffs, solving
unemployment woes and to support new industries)
However: social unrest and disputes (policies favouring ethnic
Malays; communist subversion; interests of main political parties)
9 August 1965: Parliament of Malaysia expelled Singapore from
the Federation -> Singapore became independent (“Republic of
Singapore”)
Status of Singapore from 1867
1867-1942: Straits Settlements (Crown Colony)
1942-1945: Japanese occupation (“Shonan-to”)
1945-1946: British Military Administration
1946-1959: Crown Colony
1959-1963: State of Singapore
1963-1965: Federation of Malaysia
Since 1965: Republic of Singapore