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Singapore marks 50 years of independence

Tourists sit in a capsule on the Singapore flyer observatory wheel overlooking the skyline of the central business district in Singapore July 16, 2015.

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Singapore is also able to celebrate 50 years of peace and security, largely due to the efforts of generations of National Servicemen.

Singapore, an island state without resources, came out of the Malaysian Federation in 1965 and built its economy through industrial and infrastructure developments, becoming among others an Asian financial hub.

The federal government intends to showcase its success in an elaborate parade that may embrace a flypast by fighter jets and fireworks for an viewers of 200,000 in addition to tens of millions watching on tv from their dwelling rooms. From this base camp, we can also look forward to new peaks ahead. “The journey ahead is uncharted”.

The Jubilee Weekend festivities, which started on Friday, will culminate with several major events today, including the broadcast of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s reading of Singapore’s Proclamation of Independence at 9am.

Lee spoke at the Victoria Concert Hall, where his father, the country’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, launched the People’s Action Party in 1954.

“On the occasion of their National Day, I convey my greetings to the people of Singapore”.

The official emblem for the celebration is a pink dot, a logo of satisfaction and defiance because the 1990s when an Indonesian chief was reported to have referred to Singapore dismissively as “a bit of purple dot” on the map.

Prime Minister Lee, is extensively anticipated to name the subsequent election as early as September.

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The last election saw the PAP suffer its worst performance, though it still kept 80 of the 87 seats. Singapore’s 50th anniversary on Sunday commemorates its leap from a poor colonial port to a wealthy metropolis, but leaders are bracing themselves for an uncertain future as resentment continues to grow over political restrictions, an influx of foreigners and high cost of living.

At 50 Singapore celebrates success amid challenges of political restrictions