So, What's the REAL Story on Singapore, anyway?
And, while we're at it, how about Malaysia too?
November 12, 1995Prepared by: Frank Hunt, SSCT
Singapore is an independent city-state located in southeastern Asia
comprising one major island and more than 50 small adjacent islets.
Located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is
separated on the north by the narrow Johor Strait. On the south, it is
separated from the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia by Singapore Strait, an
important shipping channel linking the Indian Ocean to the west with the
South China Sea on the east. The CITY of Singapore is located on the
southeastern end of the ISLAND of Singapore. The population is
ethically diverse and consists principally of Chinese (about 78%),
Malays (14%) and Indians - real ones (7%). The country has four
official languages - English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
English is the language of administration. The principal religions of
Singapore are Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism and Christianity.
Singapore has one of the highest standards of living of any country in
Asia. In the late 1980's the gross domestic product was estimated at
$23.7 billion in revenue and $6.2 billion in expenditure.
Fun facts: Highest elevation is 176 Meters (577 Ft.)
The climate is wet and tropical
Average annual rainfall is 2413 mm (95 inches)
Average annual temperature is 27.2 C (81 F)
The 1990 population was 3,002,800 or 5186 persons
per sq Km (13,405 per sq mile).
The HP 200LX is made in Singapore
The Malaysia $ is about 70% of the US $
Singapore is truly a "fine" city, in fact:
the fine schedule is ...
$500 for Jaywalking
$500 for Urinating in a public area
$150 for not flushing
$500 for smoking
$500 for littering
$500 for flower picking
$2,000 for vandalism
$500 for spitting
$10,000 for importing chewing gum
Well, Malaysia is a consitituional monarchy (like Thailand), within the
Commonwealth of Nations. Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia on the
South China Sea. Malaysia consists of 13 states and a federal territory
divided into two regions: West Malaysia, comprising 11 states and the
federal territory of Kuala Lampur, on the Malay Peninsula, south of
Thailand and north of Singapore; and East Malaysia, comprising the
states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan on
northern Borneo Island (Kalimantan). East and West Malaysia are
separated by about 640 Km (400 miles) of open sea. The capital and
largest city is Kuala Lampur. The population is about half Malay
with Chinese making up a significant portion also.
Islam is the official religion of about half the people of Malaysia.
The Chinese are largely Buddhist, Confucian or Taoist and the Indians are
mostly Hindus. Christians make up a small minority, and in Sabah and
Sarawak the indigenous peoples most follow traditional beliefs. Bahasa
Malaysia, based on Malay, is the official language of Malaysia. Other
principal languages are English, Chinese and Tamil.
Fun facts: Malaysia gots mountains up to 13,455 Ft high
It is partially swampy in some coastal areas.
It is HOT and HUMID with average daily temperatures ranging
from 21 to 32 C (70 to 90 F)
Some areas get as much as 5080 mm (200 inches) of rainfall
The 1989 population was 17,421,000 or 53 people per sq Km
(137 per sq mile).
The only locally designed and manufactured car is the
Proton, a small (like a Geo) to medium (like a Honda) sized
car with an average reputation. They sell well since there
is a 150% tax on imported cars (so a Mercedes 300 costs
over $100 Kbucks of US $)!!!
The currency of Malaysia is the Ringitt (2.5 Ringitt per US $)
