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Proclamation of Independence read by Mr Lee to be broadcast on N-Day

SINGAPORE — Fifty years after it was issued, Singaporeans will get to hear the Proclamation of Independence read out for the first time by the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, in a recording made three years ago.

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SINGAPORE — Fifty years after it was issued, Singaporeans will get to hear the Proclamation of Independence read out for the first time by the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, in a recording made three years ago.  

The recording will be played at 9am on National Day at the various National Day Observance Ceremonies (NDOCs) being held islandwide, and on local TV and radio channels. 

It will be the first time that people in Singapore hear the Proclamation in the late Mr Lee’s voice, as Mr Lee did not himself read it 50 years ago. 

Although issued in his name, the Proclamation — which declared Singapore’s separation from Malaysia — was read by an announcer over Radio Singapore. 

To make up for this, Mr Lee agreed three years ago to do a recording of him reading the Proclamation that declared Singapore “shall forever be a sovereign democratic and independent nation”, said the People’s Association (PA) today (July 10).  

All households will receive a Proclamation of Independence Card in their SG Funpacks. The broadcast will be preceded by the sounding of sirens across Singapore at 8.59am. After the reading, residents at the NDOCs will sing the National Anthem and recite the Pledge at the same time.  

More than 500,000 residents will participate in the NDOCs in over 200 locations islandwide, which comprise 82 grassroots-led NDOCs and others led by PA’s corporate and community partners with support from PA. 

The Proclamation was drafted by Mr E W Barker, then Minister for Law. Mr Barker was also responsible for drafting an Amendment relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state, and an Act to amend the Constitution of Malaysia and the Malaysia Act to give Singapore independence. 

The documents were eventually finalised on Aug 7 after rounds of negotiation between Singapore and Malaysia.

Among the organisations holding an NDOC on National Day is CapitaLand. The developer will broadcast the recording of the late Mr Lee reading the Proclamation on the media screens at seven of its properties — shopping malls ION Orchard, Westgate, Bugis Junction, Junction 8, The Star Vista and JCube, and commercial property Wilkie Edge. 

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