Singapore’s 50th marked with show of military might
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INDEPENDENT Singapore turned 50 yesterday with fireworks, a massive military parade and a tribute to late founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, who helped transform it from a colonial backwater to regional powerhouse.
Lee, who died in March aged 91, was honored with a video on his life and times at the beginning of the annual National Day Parade, the first he had missed.
The crowd — decked in the red and white Singapore colors and many in tears — greeted the tribute with a robust round of applause.
The festivities that followed featured about 2,000 marchers, 50 military aircraft, 177 tanks and other security hardware, underscoring the Singapore military’s status as the best armed in the region.
One of the highlights was a fly-past by a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 superjumbo adorned with the republic’s red-and-white flag featuring a crescent and four stars. SIA became the first airline worldwide to operate the double-decker plane in October 2007.
The crowd also cheered when 20 F-16 fighter jets formed the number “50” as they roared overhead. Minutes later, helicopters including Apache attack choppers flew by. Battle tanks led the mobile column that showcased the city-state’s powerful military arsenal, including ground-to-air missiles and drones.
Around 250,000 spectators were said to have been watching the celebrations centered on the historic Padang waterfront district, while thousands more at home followed the live broadcast which ended with a prolonged fireworks display.
The procession was the high point of a jubilee year largely choreographed and funded by the government, which is expected to call a general election soon to extend its rule against a divided opposition.
Singapore became a republic on August 9, 1965, when it was ejected from the Malay federation following a stormy two-year union to face an uncertain future in a turbulent region.
The tiny island with no natural resources has since surpassed vastly larger neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia in terms of development, with per capita gross domestic product of US$56,284 in 2014.
Yesterday, sirens blared at 9am before national TV and radio stations broadcast a 2012 recording of Lee Kuan Yew reading the original declaration of independence.
On the eve of the parade his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said in a televised message that “at 50 years, as we stand at a high base camp, we look back and marvel at how far we have come.”
The prime minister was joined at the parade by leaders and top officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations along with officials from China, Australia and Japan. Former colonial ruler Britain was represented by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Prince Andrew, while the United States sent former trade representative Ron Kirk.
Lee Kuan Yew’s death on March 23 triggered an unprecedented outpouring of grief. A bouquet was placed on his customary seat at the parade.
Lee came to power in 1959 as prime minister when Britain granted the island a degree of self-rule and stayed as premier until 1990.
He handed over power to his deputy Goh Chok Tong, who in turn stepped down in favor of the former leader’s son in 2004.
Analysts expect elections to be held as early as September.
The ruling People’s Action Party suffered its worst electoral performance in 2011 when it won 60 percent of votes cast, despite retaining 80 of the 87 seats in a block-voting system. Popular opposition to immigration was blamed for the PAP’s weakened showing at the last election.
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