Long-form name: Republic of Singapore

Type: republic within Commonwealth

Capital: Singapore

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)

Branches: ceremonial president; executive power exercised by prime minister and Cabinet responsible to unicameral legislature (Parliament)

Leaders: WEE Kim Wee, President (since September 1985); LEE Kuan Yew, Prime Minister (since June 1959)

Suffrage: universal and compulsory over age 20

Elections: normally held every five years; last held 3 September 1988

Political parties and leaders: government--People's Action Party (PAP), Lee Kuan Yew; opposition--Barisan Sosialis (BS), Dr. Lee Siew Choh; Workers' Party (WP), J. B. Jeyaretnam; United People's Front (UPF), Harbans Singh; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Chiam See Tong; Communist party illegal

Voting strength: (1988 election) PAP won 80 of 81 seats in Parliament and received 62% of the popular vote; SDP 1 seat

Communists: 200-500; Barisan Sosialis infiltrated by Communists

Member of: ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Tommy T. B. KOH; Chancery at 1824 R Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 667-7555; US--Ambassador Daryl ARNOLD; Embassy at 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 (mailing address is FPO San Francisco 96699); telephone �65� 338-0251

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

NOTE: The information regarding Singapore on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Singapore Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Singapore Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.