As it turns 50, Singapore celebrates success amid challenges

Minutes later, helicopters including Apache attack choppers flew by.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force performs a “50” formation during an aerial display in Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The next few years were rocky, typified by mounting unrest and racial tension, until on August 9, 1965, the Parliament of Malaysia voted unanimously to expel Singapore from the federation. Returning to the Padang this year – a site of deep historic significance as the venue for Singapore’s first National Day Parade in 1966 – the parade drew some 26,000 people who were seated at the Padang and over 200,000 more around the Marina Bay downtown area.

This marked the first time Singaporeans are able to hear Mr Lee read the Proclamation.

Lee, who was prime minister for more than three decades, had little tolerance for political dissent. A bouquet was placed on his customary seat at the parade.

He was prime minister from 1959, when colonial ruler Britain granted Singapore self-rule, to 1990.

“We value and look forward to expanding our partnership and strengthening our bonds of friendship with Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond”, Kerry said in a statement. The journey ahead is uncharted.

His son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, is now steering Singapore with similar restrictions, and is facing a general election expected to be held on September12.

“We want the government to know that we are not happy, and you can’t push everything down our throats”. The celebration that has remained in energy since independence.

But politics was put aside on Sunday when national TV and radio stations broadcast a 2012 recording of Lee Kuan Yew reading the original declaration of independence.

The prospects for this fledgling nation seemed meagre – unemployment was high, housing standards poor, education uncertain, and there was a lack of natural resources and space for the nation to grow and develop.

But the party, which suffered significant losses in 2011 elections, will have to contend with a series of voter gripes, including the high cost of living, immigration policy, rising healthcare costs and one of the widest incomes gaps in the world.

The prime ministers of Malaysia and Thailand, along with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla will attend along with officials from China, Australia and Japan.

Concluding his message, delivered from the newly refurbished Victoria Concert Hall, PM Lee noted that it was there that his father and his colleagues launched the People’s Action Party and its long struggle for a fair and just society.

An unpopular authorities coverage paper in 2013 predicted that foreigners will make up nearly half of the inhabitants of 6.5-6.9 million by 2030 to offset low delivery charges and help an getting old inhabitants.