.Friday, January 26, 2007@ 3:35 PM Y
Have you ever wondered who is the real founder of Singapore? In my opinion, Sir Stamford Raffles is the real founder of Singapura, which is used to be called Temasek. Raffles holds a popularly regarded and honoured reputation. We can find many of Raffles' statue at many corners of the present Singapore. Many evidence prove that Raffles is the one who founded Sinagpore, although William Farqhuar and John Crawfurd played a part in it too. Some might even think it is Sang Nila Utama, where there is only evidence from Sejarah Melayu. There is no existing corroboration at all. Raffles was concerned about the Dutch spreading their monopoly of trade and extending their authority over the Archipelago. This prompted the British to search for a new British trading settlement south of Dutch Melaka. So, Raffles began his search for an ideal place for the British to start a new trading settlement. And so, Raffles found Singapore and believed that Singapore was suitable as a port with its natural advantages such as an excellent harbour and good supply of drinking water.
However, later Raffles found out that the island was ruled by Sultan Abdul Rahman of the Johor-Riau Sultanate, who was under the control of the Dutch. So, singapura was indirectly under the Dutch who did not allow the British to occupy Singapore. After listening to the story of how Tengku Abdul Rahman had became the Sultan instead of his elder brother, Tengku Hussein, Raffles decided to recognise Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan and then obtain his permission to start the settlement. When Tengku Hussen met Raffles, he agreed to be recognised by British as Sultan. However, later on, the Dutch found out about it and was strongly against this matter but due to the determination of Raffles, Singapore finally became under the control of the British.
