1959 in Singapore explained

The following lists events that happened during 1959 in Singapore.

Incumbents

• Governor of Singapore
  • Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode (until 2 June)
• Yang di-Pertuan Negara
  • Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode (from 3 June to 2 December)
  • Yusof Ishak (from 3 December)
• Chief Minister – Lim Yew Hock (until June 3)
• Prime Minister – Lee Kuan Yew (from 5 June)
• Chief Secretary: Edgeworth Beresford David (till 2 June)

Events

May

• 30 May – The 1959 General Elections was held. Lee Kuan Yew was elected as Prime Minister of Singapore.^{[1] [2]}

June

• 3 June – The 1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted, allowing for self-governance in Singapore.^[3]
• 5 June – The first Cabinet is sworn into power.^[4]
• 8 June – A campaign against decadent lifestyles is launched.^[5]
• 20 June – The Ministry of National Development will start a team with seven Assembly members from 22 June, with many departments to be consolidated under MND. The Singapore Improvement Trust will also be brought under the Ministry in future.^[6]
• 25 June – The Ministry of National Development forms the Primary Production Department to better serve farmers and fishermen.^{[7] [8]}

October

• 23 October – Various departments of the City Council and Rural Board will be absorbed into the Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour and Law.^[9]

November

• 11 November- The National Anthem "Majulah Singapura" was selected as the National Anthem of Singapore.

December

• 3 December – Encik Yusof bin Ishak is sworn in as Singapore's second Yang di-Pertuan Negara.^[10] On the same day, the National Flag of Singapore,^[11] the Coat of arms of Singapore and the national anthem, Majulah Singapura, are unveiled.
• 12–17 December – Singapore participates in the 1959 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, the first SEAP event. It came in fourth with 33 medals.

Births

• 9 February – Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry.
• 26 February – Lim Hwee Hua, former politician, first woman in Singapore's Cabinet.
• 26 March – K. Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law.
• 24 June – Raymond Lim, former politician.

See also

• List of years in Singapore
• 1959 Singaporean general election
• 1959

Notes and References

1. Web site: LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1959 . Singapore Elections . 16 July 2018 . 29 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191129234832/http://www.singapore-elections.com/general-election/1959/ . usurped .
2. Web site: 1959 Legislative Assembly General Election. NLB . 10 August 2019.
3. Web site: 1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted. NLB . 10 August 2019.
4. Web site: The First Cabinet is sworn in. NLB . 10 August 2019.
5. Web site: Campaign against yellow culture is launched. NLB . 10 August 2019.
6. Web site: Ong sets up seven-man team to hear grouses from the public . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) . 3 November 2021 . 21 June 1959.
7. Web site: Dr. THAM IS HEAD OF NEW DEPT. OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION. The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 10 August 2019. 26 June 1959.
8. Web site: Primary Production Department is formed. NLB . 10 August 2019.
9. Web site: Three Ministries absorb Council departments . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) . 3 November 2021 . 24 October 1959.
10. Web site: Yusof bin Ishak . . 16 July 2018.
11. Singapore State Arms and Flag and National Anthem Ordinance 1959 (No. 70 of 1959), now the .