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.
June 3 June – The 1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted, allowing for self-governance in Singapore. 5 June – The first Cabinet is sworn into power. 8 June – A campaign against decadent lifestyles is launched. 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. 25 June – The Ministry of National Development forms the Primary Production Department to better serve farmers and fishermen.
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.
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. 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 . 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). 30 March – James Lornie, Scottish colonial administrator (b. 1876). 5 April – Teo Eng Hock, rubber tycoon and one of the founders of the Singapore branch of the Tongmenghui (b. 1872).
See also List of years in Singapore 1959 Singaporean general election 1959
References