:1959 in Singapore
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{{Use Singapore English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Year in Singapore|1959}}
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.{{cite web |title=LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1959 |url=https://sg-elections.com/general-election/1959/ |publisher=Singapore Elections |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=29 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129234832/http://www.singapore-elections.com/general-election/1959/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=1959 Legislative Assembly General Election|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/bad3de1d-21ce-48de-99b6-6e717e47328e |publisher=NLB |access-date=10 August 2019}}
=June=
- 3 June – The 1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted, allowing for self-governance in Singapore.{{cite web |title=1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/be12893b-2734-4297-b6df-c7229bb05259 |publisher=NLB |access-date=10 August 2019}}
- 5 June – The first Cabinet is sworn into power.{{cite web |title=The First Cabinet is sworn in|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/c51f9647-32ea-43a7-8c65-82b76e4f22ae |publisher=NLB |access-date=10 August 2019}}
- 8 June – A campaign against decadent lifestyles is launched.{{cite web |title=Campaign against yellow culture is launched|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/47129576-377a-44fe-a05f-fefddf0cb765 |publisher=NLB |access-date=10 August 2019}}
- 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.{{cite web |title=Ong sets up seven-man team to hear grouses from the public |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19590621-1.2.25 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=3 November 2021 |date=21 June 1959}}
- 25 June – The Ministry of National Development forms the Primary Production Department to better serve farmers and fishermen.{{cite web |title=Dr. THAM IS HEAD OF NEW DEPT. OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19590626-1.2.49 |publisher=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB)|access-date=10 August 2019|date=26 June 1959}}{{cite web |title=Primary Production Department is formed|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/14f36ce1-a54c-4bb3-8993-91c57fee7c50#1 |publisher=NLB |access-date=10 August 2019}}
=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.{{cite web |title=Three Ministries absorb Council departments |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19591024-1.2.38 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=3 November 2021 |date=24 October 1959}}
= 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.{{cite web |title=Yusof bin Ishak |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1097_2006-07-28.html |publisher=National Library Board |access-date=16 July 2018}} On the same day, the National Flag of Singapore,Singapore State Arms and Flag and National Anthem Ordinance 1959 (No. 70 of 1959), now the {{Singapore legislation|title=Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Act|cap=296|ed=1985}}. 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.
- 12 March – Kenneth Jeyaratnam, politician and hedge fund manager.
- 26 March – K. Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law.
- 24 June – Raymond Lim, former politician.
- 25 September – Leong Mun Wai, politician and former investment banker.
- 25 November – Marrie Lee, director, producer, writer and actress.
- 9 December – Denise Phua, politician.
Deaths
- 14 March – Tan Thoon Lip, lawyer and public official (b. 1910).{{Cite web |title=Tan Thoon Lip |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=2f166cca-ccc1-451d-9ea6-f016eac39f49 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.nlb.gov.sg}}
- 30 March – James Lornie, Scottish colonial administrator (b. 1876).{{Cite news |date=31 March 1959 |title=Obituary |work=Times |pages=10}}
- 5 April – Teo Eng Hock, rubber tycoon and one of the founders of the Singapore branch of the Tongmenghui (b. 1872).{{Cite web |date=1959-04-11 |title=FORMER SINGAPORE 'RUBBER KING' DIES IN HONG KONG |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19590411-1.2.15 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=NewspaperSG}}
See also
References
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{{Year in Asia|1959}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1959 In Singapore}}
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