ReTRIeVIA

President Yusof bin Ishak (1910-1970)

The year 1959 marked two major events in local history. The first was the granting of self-government status to Singapore. The second major event was the PAP’s overwhelming victory in the general elections and, with it, the appointment of Yusof bin Ishak as the first local-born person to become the Head of State of Singapore (Yang di-Pertuan Negara).

In 1965, when Singapore became fully independent, he remained as the Head of State with the title of President of the Republic of Singapore.

Besides the stamps issued in his honour, there are currency notes bearing his portrait. His name also graces Yusof Ishak Secondary School and Yusof Ishak Hall in the National University of Singapore (NUS).

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Stamps: Top 1999 Sep Bottom 1998 Jul
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Lee Kuan Yew (1923 – )

Many people remember that Lee Kuan Yew was the Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. Under his leadership Singapore faced, and overcame, many challenges to become a developed country.

The challenges that he faced are described in two books that every Singaporean should read. The two books are:

“Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew” (1998) and
“Singapore Story: From Third World to First” (2000).

Lee Kuan Yew stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990 to become Senior Minister. His name graces the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) in the National University of Singapore.

Presently 84 years of age, he still serves Singapore tirelessly as Minister Mentor in the Cabinet.

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Stamp sheet: 1998 Jul
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Dr Toh Chin Chye (1921 – )

If Dr Toh had not been interested in politics, he would probably have been a scientist and physiology professor. In 1954, Dr Toh became the founding chairman of the People’s Action Party and stayed in politics for more than 30 years until he retired in 1988. In the 1959 elections he became the MP for Rochore and Deputy Prime Minister. Dr Toh was also responsible for a very important Singapore icon: the Singapore Flag. He headed the group which designed the flag in 1959.

K M Byrne (1913-1990)

Kenneth Michael Byrne came from a big family; he was the second of 11 sons. In the 1959 elections he became the MP for Crawford and Minister for Law & Labour. However, in the 1963 elections he lost to S T Bani of the Barisan Sosialis Party and retired from politics. He became the chairman of the Central Provident Fund.

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The pictures show Dr Toh Chin Chye (top) and K M Byrne (bottom)
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Ong Pang Boon (1929 – )

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Ong Pang Boon studied in the University of Malaya in Singapore (now the National University of Singapore) and graduated in 1954. During his studies, Ong became friends with Lee Kuan Yew who was the lawyer defending several university students accused of sedition. In 1955, Ong was asked by Lee to become the PAP’s full-time organising secretary. In the 1959 elections, Ong Pang Boon became the MP for Telok Ayer and Minister for Home Affairs.

Dr Goh Keng Swee (1918 – )

Have you visited the Jurong Bird Park? This park would not have been built if it were not for Goh Keng Swee. But Dr Goh, with a Ph D in Economics, played much more important roles for Singapore. As Minister of Finance, he was the guiding force in developing Singapore into the financial and industrial hub it is today. He also played a big role in developing Singapore’s defence capabilities.

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The pictures show Ong Pang Boon (top) and Dr Goh Keng Swee (bottom)
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S Rajaratnam (1915-2006 )

“We, the citizens of Singapore…” is the pledge that is recited every morning in school. It was written by Rajaratnam, who became the MP for Kampong Glam and Minister for Culture after the 1959 elections. Rajaratnam believed in a democratic society where all races would enjoy equal opportunity. He wrote the Pledge in 1966. Besides the Pledge, his name is remembered in the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in the Nanyang Technological University.

Ahmad bin Ibrahim (1927-1962)

After the 1959 elections, Ahmad bin Ibrahim became the MP for Sembawang and Minister for Health. Sadly, he was in poor health and his political career was a short one. He died in 1962 at the young age of 35. Today, we remember him through the places named after him: the highway known as Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim and Ahmad Ibrahim School.

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The picture shows S Rajaratnam (left) and Ahmad Ibrahim (right)
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Yong Nyuk Lin (1918 – )

Born in Seremban in Negri Sembilan, Yong Nyuk Lin studied in Singapore. He was the general manager of the Overseas Assurance Company in 1959 when he resigned to stand for elections. After the elections he became the MP for Geylang West and Minister for Education. In later years, he served as the Minister for Health and Minister for Communications.

Ong Eng Guan (1925 – )

Ong Eng Guan was Singapore’s first mayor. He was elected in the 1957 City Council elections. However, meetings in City Hall turned out to be so chaotic that two years later the City Council was dismantled. The same year in 1959, he stood for elections and became the MP for Hong Lim Constituency and Minister for National Development.

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The pictures show Yong Nyuk Lin (top) and Ong Eng Guan (bottom).
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In the 1959 General Elections the People’s Action Party (PAP) won 43 out of 51 seats. With this majority, the PAP was able to form the government. The stamp here shows a row of nine men with congratulatory garlands. These nine VIPs were the ministers of the 1959 government.

The ministers (from left to right) are:
Yong Nyuk Lin, Ong Eng Guan, S Rajaratnam, Ahmad bin Ibrahim, Ong Pang Boon, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Dr Toh Chin Chye, K M Byrne and Lee Kuan Yew

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Stamp: 1998 Jul     Picture from National Archives of Singapore
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The 1959 Cabinet of Ministers

The date was 30 May 1959 and general elections fever was at its peak. This particular year was especially important because it was the first time that Singapore was recognised as a state, a separate political entity.

In this 1959 election, Singaporeans would be electing all the representatives to form the government to rule and run Singapore as a country. The stamp sheet commemorates this important milestone event in Singapore’s history.

Who were the ministers in this new government? Turn the page to find out!

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Stamps: Souvenir sheet issued with 1998 July stamps
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CONTEMPORARY PIONEERS

One of the effects of World War II was that many former colonies, including Singapore, lost confidence in the ability and attitude of the European powers to protect them in times of war and other difficulties. The inhabitants of these colonies began to seek independence.

In some colonies, there was much violence and bloodshed before and after the newly-found independence. Singapore’s road to independence was also a stormy one. The two stamps on this page remind us of those turbulent years.

The stamps on the next few pages show some of the post-war VIPs who helped to make Singapore what it is today.

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Stamps: Top 1995 Jun     Bottom 1998 Jul
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General Itagaki Seishiro (1885-1948)

General Itagaki Seishiro is the bespectacled man shown in the stamp on the right. At the time of the Japanese surrender, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Seventh Area Army in Singapore.

While the people of Singapore were jubilant that the war was finally over, there were many problems ahead: jobs, education, housing, etc. were all lacking.

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Stamps: 1995 Jun     The small stamps within the large stamps show King George VI

Stamp caption: Mountbatten and Itagaki signing documents
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