First National Day

Singapore celebrated its first National Day on 9 August 1966. The main event of the day was a National Day parade involving 23,000 men, women and children which was held at the Padang. Other notable activities include an official cocktail party at the Istana Negara, a special variety show staged at the National Theatre and a spectacular fireworks display at Fort Canning in the evening. An estimated 350,000 people turned out in the city to celebrate and commemorate Singapore's first year of Independence.

The Parade
At exactly 9 am was the arrival of the Republic's first President, Yusof bin Ishak, resplendent in the uniform of Colonel of the Singapore Infantry Regiment.  He was met by Defence Minister and Colonel of the Singapore Artillery, Dr Goh Keng Swee. Already seated on the Grandstand were Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Cabinet Members, Members of Parliament, and a host of VIP guests. Then the National Anthem was played with a Presidential salute, and then, escorted by Goh, the President reviewed the parade to booms of a 21-gun salute which originated from the Raffles Institution grounds.

The mood revved up with the start of the march past. On City Hall steps, on the grandstand dais, the President accompanied by Goh took the salute. The march past was led by Singapore's military men of the Infantry Regiment, and the People's Defence Force, on parade for the first time, with six contingents including four Government Ministers in the Officer Cadet group; the Police contingent followed and were led by their well-known Police Band, the Cadets, and the parade pageant theme was obviously 'youth' from the great numbers of young Singaporeans from uniformed youth groups to groups of dancers from the schools of all language streams, reflected the young nation, Singapore. They displayed the colour and rhythm of the four cultures of Singapore. Marching next, members of the People's Action Party (PAP), Singapore's ruling party, were well represented and dressed 'all white'. The large contingent turnout for the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) also looked extra smart for the occasion.

The finale brought crashing cymbals, gongs, thundering drums and a mass display of 60 lions and dragons performing simultaneously in the biggest concentration of 'lions and dragons in a dance' ever staged in Singapore. It was a rousing climax, ending the parade at 10.30 am, seven minutes before it rained.

After leaving the parade, the troops continued their march, for the first time, through heavily populated Chinatown to the Tanjong Pagar area, and were warmly greeted with cheers from the packed crowds on five-foot-ways and roadsides, and people on balconies and bridges, lined up along the route. It was a well organised and disciplined parade of 23,000 participants on the Padang, and included for the first time the show of military defence together with colourful contingents of youth organisations and other lay groups. It was also the first time that Government Ministers of the Republic of Singapore donned military uniforms and marched in the ranks of the Peoples Defence Force (PDF). The entire parade was televised 'live' to enable thousands more at home and elsewhere to catch the event. It was certainly a morning to remember.

Commemorative Activities
Commemorative Postal Stamps
For this special occasion, 'one year old as a new Republic of Singapore', an issue of 'Commemorative First Day Covers' with new 15 cents, 20 cents, and 30 cents denomination stamps, had hundreds of stamp collectors eagerly queuing early, outside the General Post Office, and at other sub-post offices around the island. The stamps depicted a theme of Singapore's policy of 'progress through industrialisation'.

Colours of the City
Singapore that day of course was gaily dressed for the occasion, the town was bedecked and draped with the finest festive fittings. At night, the city was aglow with thousands of multi-coloured lights everywhere, festooning streets, buildings, temples, churches, mosques, parks, and along waterfronts by the river and the sea.

Garden Cocktails
In the evening, at the Istana Negara, the President and his wife, Pun Noor Aisha, hosted a garden cocktail party with about 1000 guests including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye, other ministers, members of diplomatic corp, High Court judges, senior government officials, business and community leaders, and other dignitaries. Most of the VIP guests were accompanied by their wives. The party had a vantage view of the fireworks display at Fort Canning, with the Istana's own coloured lights to added effect.

Fireworks
The city and its environs had come alive that night too and choked as traffic jams snarled up the heart of town. Many thousands of people thronged Fort Canning to watch the highlight of the evening, the fireworks display. In the surrounding vicinity, the traffic virtually came to a standstill long before the fireworks began at 7.30 pm And then for 90-minutes the night sky dazzled with explosive streaks and starburst of colour, light and smoke, to the delight of cheering crowds watching the display. It was after all a show of light.

Other Activities
At the National Theatre, a Variety Show attended by the Prime Minister and his wife, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Culture and Social Affairs Mr Othman Wok, and other VIPs.  They were treated to a marvellous mix of multi-racial and multi-cultural performances by the Metro Philharmonic Society, Sriwana Malay Dance group, Singapore Ballet Academy, Nam Hwa Girls School, Performing Arts Studio, Suara Singapura Singers, Singapore Amateur Players, Mareoti & his Band, Bhaskar's Academy of Dance, and Maureen Lim Dancers.

Community centres held their own celebration dinners and cultural shows, around the island. Special cultural shows were staged too, at Hong Lim Green Park, and at Geylang Serai.

Meanwhile on the coast between Collyer Quay and Tanjong Rhu, especially the popular stretch along Elizabeth Walk to Nicoll Highway through 'Merdeka Bridge', one could see the Sea Dragon, a giant illuminated dragon with 12,500 light bulbs, towed by six lighters on a slow and graceful glide, floating along the waterfronts. Throngs of thousands of people were excited to see and photograph the Sea Dragon or be awed by the fireworks display.

Going by the huge crowd turnout in the city estimated at 350,000 people, it was a special day for the citizens who joined in and were part of the colour, fun and joy in the anniversary celebrations for the Republic of Singapore's first year of independence, a day many will remember.



Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama



References 
Negara bebas: National Day of the Republic of Singapore. (1966). Singapore: Malaysian Enterprises. 
(Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 NB)

Singapore Government. (1966). Singapore Year Book (pp. 1-3). Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)

Big fireworks display on Padang tonight [Microfilm: NL 4597]. (1966, August 10). The Malay Mail, p. 7.

Cultural shows at Hong Lim Park [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 9). The Straits Times, p. 2.

Day and night of joy and fun in Singapore [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Time, p. 1.

End of a day of joy [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Times, p. 4.

Fairy lights tattoo in Singapore on two nights [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 9). The Straits Times, p. 11.

N-Day stamps rush on till closing time [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Times, p. 7. 

National Day joy [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Times, p. 20.

National Day joy in pictures [Microfilm: NL 4597]. (1966, August 10). The Malay Mail, p. 4.

National Day party at Istana [Microfilm: NL 4597]. (1966, August 10). The Malay Mail, p. 1. 

National Day tattoo [Microfilm: NL 4597]. (1966, August 11). The Malay Mail, p. 1.

Riot of colour in the night sky [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Times, p. 6. 

Sea dragon that throws out jewels... [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1966, August 8). The Straits Times, p. 9. 

Singapore goes gay [Microfilm: NL 4597]. (1966, August 9). The Malay Mail, p. 1.

Singapore National Day stamps on sale [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 9). The Straits Times, p. 11. 

The big parade on the padang [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Times, p. 6. 

The will and skill to survive [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 9). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Tramp, tramp in South Bridge Road [Microfilm: NL 12184]. (1996, August 10). The Straits Times, p. 7. 



The information in this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we can 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>>Historical Periods>>Independence and Nation-Building (1965-)
Events>>National Celebrations
National Day (Singapore)
Holidays--Singapore
Singapore--History
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore



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