For most of Singapore’s colonial history, English was a minority language that was mastered by a small elite and its use was limited to official purposes. However, after Singapore’s independence from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, the government began actively promoting the use of English as it was seen as key to the nation’s economic survival. Because Singapore possessed no natural resources, proficiency in English was considered necessary for attracting foreign investment and for providing access to scientific and technological know-how.