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Singapore (National) pledge
By Zaubidah Mohamed written on 2003-04-10
National Library Board Singapore
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
The National Pledge embodies the ideals for building a united
Singapore. It was written in August 1966 by Mr S. Rajaratnam,
the then Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the
then Prime Minister of Singapore, refined it before submitting
it to the Cabinet for approval.
History
The National Pledge was written in the mid-1960s
in the aftermath of the racial riots that had affected communal
harmony in Malaysia and Singapore. Rajaratnam believed that
race, language and religion were the main factors contributing
to the division of the people. In wording the Pledge he sought
to bring across the message that these differences can be
overcome if Singaporeans were committed to and caring enough
for their country. The dream for Singapore is spelt out in the
ideals of the Pledge. It calls for a sense of nationhood to be
fostered despite differences, and encourages all to bring
reality to the dream of building a country which all
Singaporeans could be proud of. Rajaratnam remembered taking
only a day or two to pen the words although it was refined
further by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew before submissions to
the Cabinet. Some sources suggest Ong Pang Boon had a hand in
the writing of the Pledge, but generally, Rajaratnam is
credited for its entirety.
On 25 August 1966, about 500,000 students from 529 government
and aided schools recited the National Pledge, the first
time the Pledge was recited in schools. Led by
teachers, the recital was done at the instruction of the
Ministry of Education (MOE) which then said that pupils were to
observe this ceremony with solemnity and respect, and to
face the National Flag with their right hands raised. From 27
June 1988 however, students have been reciting the Pledge with
their right fists clenched to their chests, a change which
according to MOE was to better reflect the emotional aspect of
saying the Pledge. The Pledge has since been recited on
occasions of national importance such as the National Day
Parade. Unlike the National Anthem and the Flag, there
had been hardly any early newspaper coverage of the
Pledge.
Versions
The Pledge is available in the four official
languages.
The Pledge in English
We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united
people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a
democratic society, based on justice and equality so as to
achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our
nation.
The Pledge in Malay
Kami, warganegara Singapura, sebagai rakyat yang bersatu padu,
tidak kira apa bangsa, bahasa, atau ugama, berikrar untok
membina suatu masyarakat yang demokratik, berdasarkan kepada
keadilan dan persamaan untok mencapai kebahagian, kemakmuran
dan kemajuan bagi negara Kami.
Guidelines
Extracted from Guidelines on the use of the
National Symbols (The National Pledge). (July 1999). Ministry
of Information and the Arts.
Guidelines for Use
1. The National Pledge is recited during school assemblies,
during SAF Day, during National Day Parade, and at National Day
Observance Ceremonies.
2. Individuals reciting the Pledge shall clench their right
fists to the left side of their chest as a gesture symbolizing
loyalty to the nation.
3. The Pledge shall not be used for any commercial purposes.
Organisations seeking to use the Pledge in print or in any
other medium should obtain prior approval from the Prime
Minister's Office.
Author
Zubaidah Mohamed
References
Ministry of Information and the Arts. (1999). The national
symbols kit, [kit]. Singapore: Author.
(Call No.: YRSING 320.54095957027 NAT)
Air of determination when pledge was recited in '60s.
(1996, June 12). The Straits Times, Life at
Large.
Koh, B. P. (1996, June 12). The dream was about building
"a Singapore we are proud of". The Straits
Times, Life!, p. 2.
Singapore. Ministry of Education. Annual report
[Microfilm: NL 9335). (1966).
Singapore: Printed at the Govt. Print. Off.
(Call no.: RCLOS 370.95951 SIN
year 1966)
SM thinks of Raja and chokes with emotion. (1996, June 9).
The Straits Times, p.1.
Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts. (2002).
National symbols: The pledge. Retrieved April 8, 2003,
from http://www.sg/explore/symbols_pledge.htm
The information in this article is valid as at 1998 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Subject
Politics and Government>>National Symbols
Nation-building--Singapore
Pledges(Law)--Singapore
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore
Law and government>>National development
Law and government>>Political ideologies>>Nationalism
>> The national flag of Singapore
>> The Singapore national anthem
All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2004.