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[[Image:Map_of_Singapore.jpg|thumb|right|240px|[[1888]] [[Germany| German]] map of Singapore]]
During [[World War II]], [[Japan| Japanese]] forces seized [[Malaya]] and the surrounding region. Despite numerical superiority the unprepared British were defeated, surrendering in [[1942]] to the Japanese. The Japanese renamed Singapore as Syonan-to (Light of the South) and held it till [[September]] [[1945]], when they were defeated by the Allies. In [[1959]], Singapore became a self-governing [[crown colony]] with [[Lee Kuan Yew]] from the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) becoming the first Prime Minister of Singapore following the 1959 elections. [[1962 Merger Referendum of Singapore|After a national referendum]], it later joined the [[Federation of Malaysia]] along with Malaya, [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] as an [[autonomy|autonomous]] territory on [[September]] [[1963]] till [[August]] [[1965]].
After [[PAP-UMNO relations|intense ideological conflict]] developed between the [[People's Action Party]] and the Federal Government in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia on [[7 August]], [[1965]], gaining official sovereignty two days later on [[August 9]] with [[Malaysia]] becoming the first country to recognize it as a sovereign nation. Among the problems the fledgling nation faced included mass unemployment, housing problems, lack of natural resources and land. From [[1959]] to [[1990]], [[Lee Kuan Yew]] was Prime Minister. During his term , his administration curbed unemployment, raised the standard of living, developed Singapore's economic revenue and infrastructure, and overcame Singapore's initial problems of lack of housing, social stability and independent national defence. This elevated the nation to become that of a [[developed country|developed]] status, initially termed a [[developing nation]].
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