Proclamation of Singapore
| Proclamation of Singapore | |
|---|---|
Proclamation of Singapore, published in the Singapore Government Gazette No. 1824/1965 | |
| Created | 9 August 1965 |
| Location | National Archives of Singapore |
| Author(s) | Edmund W. Barker |
| Signatories | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Purpose | Declaring Singapore's separation from Malaysia and its establishment as a fully sovereign state |
The Proclamation of Singapore[a] was the official declaration that marked Singapore's separation from Malaysia and its emergence as an independent and sovereign nation. The document was drafted by E. W. Barker, Minister for Law, and signed by Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, on 9 August 1965.[1] Its announcement marked the end of Singapore's status as a constituent state within the Federation of Malaysia, established on 16 September 1963, and signified the beginning of a new chapter of full sovereignty and national responsibility in both domestic governance and international affairs.
The Proclamation was broadcast nationwide over Radio Singapore at 10:00 SST on the same day, with the official reading performed by announcer Steven Lee.[2] It was also published in the Government Gazette, reinforcing its legal and constitutional weight.[1] The original signed copy of the document is currently preserved in the National Archives of Singapore, and remains an enduring artefact of the republic's founding moment.[3]
In 2015, to commemorate Singapore's 50th year of independence, a 2012 audio recording of the Proclamation read by Lee Kuan Yew was broadcast as part of the National Day celebrations.[2][4] Meanwhile, a distinct but related document, the Proclamation on Singapore, was issued by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to formally acknowledge Singapore's independence. This Malaysian proclamation was appended to the Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965 as an annex, affirming the bilateral and international recognition of Singapore's sovereign status.
See also
- Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965
- Proclamation of Malaysia
- Succession of states
- Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties
Notes
References
- ^ a b "The Proclamation of Singapore, signed by the then Prime …". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ a b "The man behind historic broadcast of Proclamation of Independence". The Straits Times. 2015-08-06. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ Chin, Eric (Apr–Jun 2019). "Encountering Evidence in the Archives (in many ways and of many things)" (PDF). BiblioAsia. 15 (1): 8.
- ^ "Mr Lee Kuan Yew's reading of the Proclamation of Independence kicks off National Day celebrations". The Straits Times. 2015-08-09. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
External links
- Singapore Statutes Online: Proclamation of Singapore
- National Archives of Singapore, Archives Online: full text of the Proclamation of Singapore