ASIA PACIFI C CONFERE NCE2013
Singapore
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IssUe 1
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Culture
Singapu ra (Sin路ga路po
Introduction to
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Singapore, the Garden City
Singapore is an island country made up of 63 islands located at the south of Malaysia and north of Indonesia. Singapore is a highly urbanized country with a bustling sea port and a population of 5.2 million. Of which, 3.3 Million are citizens and 2 Million are foreigners. The official language is Bahasa Melayu but English is the most preferred mode of communication.
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History Singapore was originally known as Temasek (sea town) and was given the name Singapura by Sang Nila Utama, a Srivijaya Prince from Surabaya, when he spotted a mystical lion-liked beast believed to be the guardian of the island. He built his kingdom on the island and established a diplomatic tie with China.
Singapore’s culture is unique in a way that it is a plethora of cultures of the different ethnic groups in the country. It has a mixture of the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western Culture, a conservative yet liberal culture. The different ethnic groups
Modern Singapore was established by Sir Stamford Raffles when Britain signed a treaty with the sultan to colonize the island and turn it into a trading post. Since then, Singapore has claimed independence from the British and merged with Malaysia for a few years before it became independent solely in 1965.
live harmoniously together as One Singapore. The culture flavor in Singapore is set to change with the increase in foreigners in Singapore. It can be said that you might be from a different country but you will feel at home in Singapore.
Culture Malay Population: 13.4% Religion: Sunni Muslims Food: Halal and scrumptious Festivals in Singapore: Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji
The ‘Orang Asli’ or original citizens originates from the Malay Peninsula (from Malaysia to Indonesia) were mostly made up of fishermen. They have a conservative, cohesive and bright culture. The Malay community pride themselves in handicrafts and the arts.
Culture Chinese
Population: 74.1% Religion: Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, non-religious Food: Chinese Cuisine Festivals in Singapore: Chinese New Year, Mid-autumn Festival
The predominant race in Singapore. The Chinese communities are descendants of the Chinese immigrants that worked at the bustling trading port in the early days. They have a conservative yet high striving culture where they pride themselves in businesses.
Culture Indian Population: 9.2% Religion: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity Food: Tamil Cuisine, North Indian food Festivals in Singapore: Deepavali, Thaipusam
The Indian community are also descendents of the Indian immigrants and the Indian Army (British Colony army). They have a bright culture that brings joy and smiles to the citizens. Their cuisines are made up of spices and bread and are enjoyed by citizens of all race and age.
Eurasian
Culture
Population: 3.3% Religion: Christianity Food: Western Food, French Cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Spanish Cuisine, German Cuisine
Festivals in Singapore: Christmas, Good Friday
Blabla The Eurasian community descends from Europeans who married local Asians in the 19th century. They have a very unique culture which symbolises different ethnicities both European and Asian. Their cuisine comprises of different varieties from French, Italian, Spanish, German and more.