Singapore: Past Perfect, Future Tense?

Towards this end, the GoS chose to focus its efforts on developing Singapore as a hub for service industries like education, health care services, arbitration and legal services, digital technology, biotechnology (research), and tourism. However, the country faced several challenges like the emergence of competing regional hubs, growth in illegal activities, and the threat from global terrorism. Also, Singapore came in for a lot of criticism for its record on human rights, and for curbing the freedom of the press and the right to information. Some political analysts felt that Singapore's political system was not truly democratic. Some analysts even took the view that with the growth and prosperity of other Asian economies, Singapore would cease to be a hub and would eventually decline in importance.

From the 16th century to the early 19th century, Singapore remained a part of the Sultanate of Johor, a small kingdom in present day Malaysia.

In 1819, the British East India Company needed a trading post to conduct trade with China. Singapore, with its natural, deep harbor and strategic location (for ships traveling between East Asia and Europe), was an ideal choice. So, the East India Company entered into a treaty with the Sultan of Johor to set up a trading post at Singapore. Over time, Singapore became a major port of call for ships. In 1824, Singapore became a crown colony of Britain. In 1826, Singapore, together with Malacca and Penang, came under the control of British India.