The Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore was a title for the head of the State of Singapore from 1959 to 1965. Following the state's independence from Malaysia on 9 August 1965 to became the Republic of Singapore, the title was changed to President of Singapore.
History Following revisions to the Constitution in 1959, which granted the former Colony of Singapore self-governance from the United Kingdom as the State of Singapore, the ceremonial office of Yang di-Pertuan Negara replaced the colonial-era office of Governor as the representative of Elizabeth II, the British monarch, in Singapore.
Under a transitional arrangement, the last Governor of Singapore, Sir William Goode, served as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara from 3 June to 3 December 1959.The Istana, K. K. Seet, Peter Mealin, Times Editions, 2000, page 88 He was succeeded by Yusof Ishak, who was sworn into office on the same day as the country's state flag, coat of arms, and national anthem were adopted.
Initially, the office bearer was sometimes referred to as "Head of State".Goode becomes Head of State, Singapore Free Press, 3 June 1959, page 1Yusof Head of State, The Straits Times, 2 December 1959, page 1 This was despite him constitutionally only a de facto, not de jure, head of state, acting as a vice-regal representative in lieu of a typical Governor-General.The head of state in Singapore: An historical perspective in Managing Political Change in Singapore: The Elected Presidency', Kevin Tan, Peng Er Lam, Routledge, 1997, page 9
The title was retained on 31 August 1963 when Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom and acceded to Malaysia as a state on 16 September 1963. The officeholder then acted as the vice-regal representative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, reappointed by Putra of Perlis at his own discretion, after the consultation the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew.Constitution of the State of Singapore, Statutory Instruments, Issues 870-1507, H.M. Stationery Office, 1963, page 2712
On 9 August 1965, Singapore was separated from the federation to become an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations. On 22 December of that year, the Constitution was amended to make the country a republic as the Republic of Singapore, and the title of Yang di-Pertuan Negara was changed to President with retroactive effect from the date of independence.Republic of Singapore Independence Act (Original Enactment: Act 9 of 1965)
List of officeholders
№PortraitNameTerm of OfficeOriginBackground orPrevious AppointmentMonarch RefTook officeLeft officeDuration1Sir William Goode3 June 19592 December 1959Middlesex, EnglandChief Secretary of Singapore, Governor of Singapore Elizabeth II 2 Yusof Ishak3 December 19599 August 1965Taiping, PerakChairman of the Public Service Commission of Singapore Elizabeth II
Putra of Perlis
References