Singapore is home to many cultures, ethnic groups and religions. Since the beginning of the 19th century, immigrants from China, India and all over the Malay Archipelago have settled in Singapore in search of a better life and growth to form the multi-cultural society that the island nation is today.
Singapore is also described as a clean and green city. “The Keep Singapore Clean” campaign was one of its first national campaigns as an independent nation. Launched on Oct 1, 1968, by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the month-long campaign aimed to make Singapore the cleanest and greenest city in the region by addressing the problem of inconsiderate littering.
After independence from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore built strong relations with Cambodia after the latter became the first country at that time to recognise the former as a sovereign nation in its own right. Both countries share a similar history of colonisation and background. However, Cambodia won its independence, from France, in 1953, 12 years earlier.
During that time Cambodia had engaged with many countries around the world for the development of the Kingdom, Singapore being one of them. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew visited Cambodia to strengthen relations between both countries and to build the economy of Cambodia, said Sombo Manara, a Cambodian historian and also the senior vice-president of the Khmer Studies Centre at Pannasastra University, Phnom Penh.
Cambodia had developed its own culture many centuries ago. However, after 1965, when Singaporeans visited Cambodia in order to conduct trade and build relations, part of Khmer culture began being absorbed by the Singaporeans, said Manara.
“Many investors from Singapore came to the Kingdom in order to invest and help develop our economy and education,” he said.
The historian added: “Another major role that Singapore has played for Cambodia is in the field of education. The education that Singapore has brought to Cambodia is the best education that the Cambodian students can ever get and I have personally learnt a lot from the Singaporean teachers here. The embassy of Singapore has also started giving scholarships for Cambodian students to study in Singapore and get the best education in various fields.” He also noted that last year the Singapore embassy in Cambodia organised the Street Arts Fest ++ to celebrate the 55 years of bilateral ties between both countries through arts and culture. More than 15,000 people visited the two-week festival, including many artists from Singapore and Cambodia. It was filled with music, dance performances, street food and other activities.
Singaporean muralist Yip Yew Chong along with Cambodian-Canadian street artist FONKi joined up to paint seven walls over the fortnight.
“This fest was organised in order to make the friendship between the two countries stronger than before,” added Manara. The exchange rate between Cambodian and Singaporean currencies has also come into play. Singapore has also helped in sending their specialist doctors and establishing Singaporean medical centres and hospitals to provide high quality and advanced medical services to Cambodian citizens. During the Covid-19 outbreak, Singapore has come forward to help Cambodia by giving Coronavirus test kits and medical supplies to the Kingdom, added Manara.