History of Singapore II, Singapore was conquered and occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1942 to 1945. When the war ended, Singapore reverted to British control, with increasing levels of self-government being granted, culminating in Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963. However, social unrest and disputes between Singapore's ruling People's Action Party and Malaysia's Alliance Party resulted in Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia. Singapore became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Facing severe unemployment and a housing crisis, Singapore embarked on a modernization programme beginning in the late 1960s through the 1970s that focused on establishing a
Federation of British Industries Robert Sinclair (1949–1951), Sir Archibald Forbes (1951–1953), Sir Harry Pilkington (1953–1955), Sir Graham Hayman (1955–1957), Sir Hugh Beaver (1957–1959), Sir William McFadzean (1959–1961), Sir Cyril Harrison (1961–1963), and Sir Peter Runge (1963–1965). Directors (later retitled director-general) included Sir Roland Nugent from 1916 to 1917 and 1919 to 1932, Sir Guy Locock from 1932 to 1945, and Sir Norman Kipping from 1946 to 1965. Federation of British Industries The Federation of British Industries (FBI) was an employers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by the Midlands industrialist Dudley Docker in 1916 as the United British Industries' Association, but renamed later that