1959 in Singapore

The following lists events that happened during 1959 in Singapore.

← 1958 1957 1956 1959 in Singapore → 1960 1961 1962
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	Other events of 1959 Timeline of Singaporean history

Incumbents

• Yang di-Pertuan Negara – Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode (till 2 December)
• Yang di-Pertuan Negara – Yusof Ishak (from 3 December)
• Prime Minister – Lee Kuan Yew (from 25 April)

Events

April

• 25 April – 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]
• 25 June – The Ministry of National Development forms the Primary Production Department to better serve farmers and fishermen.[6][7]

December

• 3 December – Encik Yusof bin Ishak is sworn in as Singapore's second Yang di-Pertuan Negara.[8] On the same day, the National Flag of Singapore,[9] 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 of Health.
• 26 March – K. Shanmugam, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Law.
• 24 June – Raymond Lim, former politician.

See also

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

References

1. "LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1959". Singapore Elections. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
2. "1959 Legislative Assembly General Election". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
3. "1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
4. "The First Cabinet is sworn in". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
5. "Campaign against yellow culture is launched". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
6. "Dr. THAM IS HEAD OF NEW DEPT. OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 26 June 1959. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
7. "Primary Production Department is formed". NLB. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
8. "Yusof bin Ishak". National Library Board. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
9. Singapore State Arms and Flag and National Anthem Ordinance 1959 (No. 70 of 1959), now the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Act (Cap. 296, 1985 Rev. Ed.).