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National Day Awards

The National Day Awards (NDA) is a means of recognising various types of merit and service to the nation. At the annual ceremony, the National Day Awards investiture, Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans are honoured for their excellent contribution in the civil or military service, social and community work or for excellent performance in their fields.

History
The first national awards were established in 1962 - the Order of Temasek, Certificate of Honour, Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Long Service Medal for Civil Servants who have served for at least 25 years of service.

Through the years, several other awards were established; for example, the Public Administration Medal (gold, silver and bronze) was introduced in 1963 for outstanding civil servants and the Medal of Valour was introduced in 1987. The Public Service Medal can be awarded to people of all backgrounds. Today, there are 17 awards, with the highest being the Star of Temasek (Bintang Temasek) and the lowest being the Long Service Award (Pingat Bakti Setia).

The first National Day Awards (NDA) started in Aug 1965 as gazetted in the Singapore Government Gazette dated 9 August 1965.

Process
The NDA has stringent criteria and an elaborate system of nomination and short-listing award winners. The process usually takes four to five months of nomination, consideration and approval by the President before the award winners are announced. The criteria for the different awards differ from medal to medal. For example, the Star of Temasek is given to those who have contributed significantly in defence and military scenarios.

An elaborate system of nominations and short-listing award winners begins around February to April each year. Ministries, statutory boards and grassroots organisations make nominations for the awards. The government's personnel boards and ad hoc committees select the deserved recipients. The recommendations are submitted to the Cabinet for clearance and then sent to the President's office for final approval. The names of the winners are announced on 9 August.

During the NDA investiture ceremony in November, the President hands out the medals to the winners. Each year, about 3,000 people receive the awards. The majority of the recipients receive the Long Service Award. The various government bodies hand out the lower medals (the Long Service Award and the Efficiency Medal) on behalf of the President.

Recipients of NDA receive a medal and a collar pin. The medal can be worn at national and important functions such as the National Day Parade, the Prime Minister's reception for private sector establishments and the launching of national campaigns, while the pin can be worn any time.

Recipients can also use the awarded titles. For example, a person, Alan Tan who is awarded with the Public Service Medal or Pingat Bakti Masyarakat can be addressed as Alan Tan, PBM.



Author
Sara Pek



References 
Chiang, Y. P., & Tan, K. S. (1993, November 06). Singapore's National Award: Highly-prized or mere metal? The Straits Times, Insight, p. 30.

History and background of the National Award. (1993, November 6). The Straits Times, Insight, p. 30. 

Ho, K. (2002, August 25). No good enough? Should comedian-filmaker Jack Neo get a National Day Award? The Straits Times, Life!, p. 2. 

Government Gazette: Extraordinary (pp. 33, 44). (2002, August 9). Singapore: National Printers..

Prime Minister's Office. (2001). National honours and awards. Annex A. Retrieved October 6, 2003, from www.pmo.gov.sg/honours.htm


Further Readings
Investiture of the National Day awards. (1971- ). Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Call no.: RSING 929.79995957 INDA) 

The medal yearbook. (2003). Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 737.22 MY)

Singapore Legislative Assembly. (1962). Honours and decorations. Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Call no.: RCLOS 929.7 SIN) 



The information in this article is valid as at 2003 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
Events>>National Campaigns
Politics and Government
Awards--Singapore
Law and Government>>National development



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