singaporeanewsettlement

Sir Stamford Raffle is popularly regarded and honoured as the "founder and architect of Singapore". Many places which were named after him have good reputations.

However, do you know why Raffles (British), chose Singapore out of all the places in the Malay Archipelago? Read on the find out.

Firstly, we must understand the relationship between the British and the Dutch in the 19th Century.

The British and the Dutch East India Company were competing fiercely for profit and the monopoly of trade routes.

The Britain had developed commerce with China, India and the Malay Archipelago. The opium trade between the British and the Chinese in China were very lucrative. The British sold Opium from India and traded with Tea from China.

And...

The Dutch, however, had developed most of the Malay Archipelago, and controlled a large part of it including Java and Melaka routes.

All Asian trading ships had to fly a Dutch flag and carry a permit or a pass.

The trading ships could only trade with Dutch controlled ports. These rules allowed the Dutch to enjoy a trade monopoly.

They became the British's biggest rival for trade in Southeast Asia.

Controlling Java and Melaka meant that they could control the Sunda straits and the Straits of Melaka. And the Straits of Melaka was the easiest way for British and China to trade the opium and tea.

And the British trading ships would have to pay high amount of taxes in order to use the Straits of Melaka and trade at their ports.

Thus the British set off to find a new suitable port that has to be south of the straits of Melaka. With Penang and the new port, they can protect British shipping and trade along the straits of Melaka. This would eventually lead to the control of the straits of Melaka.

But why Singapore?

Because... It was located at the South of Dutch’s Melaka, which could be used with Penang to protect the British shipping. Then, this would allow them to control the Straits of Melaka. & It was an excellent harbour with a good supply of drinking water. There are deep waters also for a harbour Finally, The Orang Lauts told the British that there was not any Dutch on the island.