European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 5, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Singapore Manhattan on the South China sea by Kenneth l. Whiting associated press from the veranda of Singapore s rallies hotel. The legendary outpost of the British Empire and bul place of the potent Singapore Sling Lormer Habi tues like Somerset maugham and Rudyard Kipling today would see Lille they recognize in the lion ci1y." the polyglot Metropolis of Singapore a Manhattan on Iho South China sea. Buried ils image As a colonial Backwater alter ii gained full Independence in 1959. Today it is seeking ils own identity to the extent thai the government is sponsoring a contest to select a distinctive National costume something to attract alte lion like those sarongs worn by hostesses on thriving Singapore airlines. Against heavy Odds prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has turned an unpromising relic of the British Empire into a glittering commercial Success and test tube for social change. The country s motto is let Singapore. and it has. Across the Street Tram the Raffles hotel a surviving landmark that is celebrating is tooth birthday is the just opened. 73-Slory Weslin Stamford touted As the world s tallest hotel. So much of the old Chinatown sector has been bulldozed in the name of Urban renewal that a once typical neighbourhood had to be fabricated Tor period television shows. A new subway system a being built and rickshaws were replaced years ago by the Trishaw a bicycle with a Sidecar a Republic nol much larger than Chicago Singapore has no natural resources except a strategically located Harbor and the skills of ils 2.5 million people. Bui the per capita income is More than $6,620 a year More irian live times whal it was 25 years ago a growth second Only to that in saudi Arabia. Yet More Hian half of Singapore s adults have no belter than a primary education and almost one of four. Has no formal education at All. Mora own 76 percent of the population Are ethnic chinese. Malays comprise 15 percent and indians 6 percent. Malay is the National language but English is the language of administration. Singapore which consists of the main Island and some 57 islets within its territorial Waters and is linked to the malay Peninsula by a causeway prospers As the Region s financial Center. Its citizens enjoy the Best Standard of living in Asia outside Japan. One recent caller . Ambassador to the United nations Vernon Walters said there May be incompetent singaporeans but they keep them Well hidden from visitors. I be never met any Leo s government has a reputation Lor honesty and efficiency. Obedience hard work cleanliness and a High sense of direction All feature in the rugged society he helped fashion. No crude Oil is found under this steamy tropical Island 85 Miles North of the Equator but it ranks As the world s third largest Petroleum refining Center the cloy St to has in Changi Airport one of the newest most efficient major airports in Asia superhighways and numerous air conditioned shopping centers. The National airline recently ordered 14 new Boeing 747-Iqos, at a Price of $3.3 billion one of the largest orders in commercial aviation history. The airline currently has Only 31 planes. Besides the new order it has options or six More some say the Success of Singapore airlines is due in part to the Youthful Charm of chinese malay. Indian and eurasian hostesses who Wesr a sultry version of a malay Sarong designed by Pierre Balmain and Enchant passengers Weslh warm smiles moist towels and copious attention. Hostesses Are grounded at age 35. There is Progress on other fronts As Well. Backers of a new science Park Hope it will grow into an Oriental version of California s Silicon Valley. The Lisl trains Are due to Roll on the new subway system in two years. More than 80 percent of the population lives in government built apartments erected since i960. The water is Safe to drink and household trash is collected Dairy. The streets Are squeaky clean Iree from muggers and lined with flowering Trees. Tipping littering and discourtesy Are denounced in massive publicity drives. Those suspected of More serious transgressions such As subversion and drug abuse 20 convicted traffickers have been hanged can expect no mercy. Lee a lawyer who at 62 has held Power for 27 years. He guides the government with an authoritarian rein. The free Enterprise Economy was so carefully programmed and managed thai at limes it seemed More like communist Central planning than capitalism. Lee s people s action party took Power in 1959 on a wave of anti colonialism and with the help of communists whom the Pap later purged. The Pap has been returned to Power in seven consecutive elections and controls All but two seats in the 79-member parliament. Voting is compulsory for citizens 21 or cider. The Trade Union movement is closely connected to the government. Normal collective bargaining was in effect suspended for Twe years beginning in 1979 e extra Large wage increases were decreed. That a part of 8 Campaign to promote High technology Atlle labor industries. Depending heavily on Oil refining and shipbuilding and repair is Economy boomed every year for. 20 years. But Gross Domestic product declined Las i Yusaf and a not expected to do much belter this year. Lag says he expects no real recovery before 1986.-. The recession has Cost 40.000 jobs and Al a 30,000 Are Idle for other reasons. Yet them and 100,000 foreigners working in a. Thus far the economic slump has not Dauwd. Difficulties for the be Ops action parly. This Jjck minister does nol have to Call elections for Chr Elimore years. I former health minister Howe Yoon Chong a trim two years ago that an asian version of the yup feb Page 14 the stars and stripes i Uttalhuvtrvrtmr-11
