The Republic of Singapore is an independent nation in Southeast Asia, located off the tip of the Malay Peninsula and connected to Malaysia by causeway. Formerly a British crown colony and then part of the Federation of Malaysia, it became independent in 1965. The name Singa Pur (Sanskrit for "city of the lion") was given by Sumatran settlers in the 13th century. It is a densely populated and prosperous nation whose people enjoy one of the …showed first 75 words of 1214 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1214 total…party leader in 1992, although he remained in the government; his son, Lee Hsien Loong, is deputy prime minister. Former deputy prime minister Ong Teng Cheong won Singapore's first direct presidential elections in 1993. The PAP won 81 of 83 seats in the January 1997 legislative elections, but the opposition contested only 36 seats. In August 1999 diplomat S. R. Nathan, the sole presidential candidate declared eligible for the office by the Presidential Elections Committee, automatically succeeded Ong Teng Cheong as president.