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 About Singapore |
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The Republic of Singapore is an Asian country at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula. Most of the population is Chinese, making up 77% out of its total population of 4 million. "Singapore" means "Lion city" in Sanskrit. The official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. Population 4 425 720.
It was set up as a British trading settlement in the early 19th century by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, and soon became a centre of British influence in the region. During World War II, Singapore was invaded by the Japanese and renamed Syonan-to. The people suffered during this time. But in September 1945, when Japan surrendered and World War II ended, Singapore was once again in British hands. The suffering at the hands of the Japanese made the people realise that the British were not as powerful as they had thought. They realised that it was up to themselves to defend their homeland, Singapore.
In 1963, Singapore joined Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the new nation of the Federation of Malaysia, but there was a disagreement between the individual governments in the Federation. Singapore believed in equality, but Malaysia "favoured" the Malays,and this caused arguments, with Singapore finally breaking off from the federation. On August 9 1965, Singapore gained independence. At first, many people thought Singapore would not be able to survive on its own. However, the people of Singapore remained determined, and upgraded their skills in order to make use of Singapore's port, which remains an important asset of Singapore, even today. This allowed the industry of Singapore to do well, and it is now a prospering nation. Singapore is doing very well economically; its economy is equal to that of the four largest European ones. Singapore's people speak mandarin Chinese the most, then English, Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Tamil, and other Chinese dialects. |
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| National Motto |
 Majulah Singapura
(English: "Onward, Singapore") |
| National Anthem |
Majulah Singapura |
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| Currency |
Singapore Dollar (SGD) |
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| International Information |
Time zone: |
UTC +8 |
Telephone dialing code: |
65 |
Internet domain: |
.sg |
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Accommodation |
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$200 - $1,500
(rental varies with geographical area, type of accommodation, demand, facilities provided and the number of people sharing) |
Ultilities |
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$50 - $80
(not applicable for boarding schools) |
Food |
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$300 - $450 (Based on $10-$15 a day for 3 meals)
Note: Included in boarding fees, Boarding Schools usually provide two meals a day. Not included in room rates, Halls of Residence normally offer meals at extra charge. |
Public Transport |
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$20 - $100
(varies with types of student concession pass) |
Telecommunications |
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From $30
(varies with usage and promotional packages subscribed) |
Books & Stationery |
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$30 - $100
(varies with course) |
Medical Hospitalisation Insurance |
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$5 - $8 |
Personal expenses |
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$100 - $200
(varies with individuals)
(clothes, toiletries, entertainment, haircut, miscellaneous) |
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