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MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release

LAUNCH OF THE PARLIAMENT IN SINGAPORE HISTORY EXHIBITION AND

PARLIAMENTARIANS’ REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY FOR FOUNDING PRIME MINISTER LEE KUAN YEW

Guest-of-Honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu; and VIPs on a guided tour of The Parliament in Singapore History exhibition at The Arts House.

Parliamentarians’ Remembrance Ceremony for Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

(Photos courtesy of the National Heritage Board)

Singapore, 23 March 2016 – A Scottish merchant’s residence; a colonial Court House; the

Republic’s first Parliament House; Singapore’s 27th National Monument, and, finally, The

Arts House – the multi-disciplinary arts centre it is today. Also fondly remembered by many

as the Old Parliament House, The Arts House has served multiple roles in its almost 200-

year history.

2 Today, it stands as Singapore’s oldest government and public building, and is most

recognised for its role as Singapore’s first Parliament House from 1965 to 1999. Within its

Chamber was where Singapore’s first Parliament sat, debated, and passed the laws that

helped build and define our nation. The rich history of the building, and more, are chronicled

and remembered through a new exhibition titled, The Parliament in Singapore History.

3 Launched at The Arts House earlier today by Guest-of-Honour Prime Minister Lee

Hsien Loong, and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu, The Parliament

in Singapore History exhibition presents a fresh narrative of the historic building, and charts

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its history from 1827 to 1999, as well as the defining moments and milestones of

Singapore’s Parliament. Opened to the public from 24 March 2016, the exhibition is

presented by The Arts House, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Community and

Youth, and National Heritage Board.

The Parliament in Singapore History Exhibition

4 The Parliament in Singapore History features critical historical milestones, presented

chronologically. They are: Colonial Court House; The Road to Rendel; Struggle for Self-

Rule; Self-Rule to Merger; “A Moment of Anguish”; Parliament in Progress; and Milestones

of Parliament. The exhibition captures the spirit of our early nation-building days, and the

values and principles for which our Parliament stand for, such as meritocracy, justice, multi-

racialism, and integrity. These values are entrenched in the memorable speeches delivered

in Parliament by our pioneer leaders such as Singapore's founding Prime Minister Mr Lee

Kuan Yew, Dr Toh Chin Chye, Dr Goh Keng Swee and Mr S Rajaratnam. Accompanying

these quotes in the exhibition are rare archival images that help illustrate the spirit and

values of our Parliament through the years.

5 The exhibition also highlights the development of a legislature that has contributed to

Singapore’s growth and progress as a multi-cultural parliamentary democracy. For instance,

one of the Parliament’s first acts was to form a constitutional commission, whose proposals

led to the establishment of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, which scrutinises new

legislation for clauses that may discriminate against any minority.

6 Ms Lee Chor Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Arts House Limited said: “This exhibition

presents in great succinct detail the long history of the Old Parliament House, which has

since 2004 become a multipurpose space dedicated to the arts. Itself a reflection of

Singapore history, this building has weathered the tide of time, and grown together with

Singaporeans. I hope the exhibition will help visitors to remember the spirit and tenacity of

our generation of pioneer leaders, and better understand the key role of our Parliament. The

oldest public building in Singapore, the building of The Arts House was where critical

historical events took place, and where the House played an important role in the growth of

our nation.”

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7 Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to view a special documentary clip featuring

excerpts of founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s memorable speeches delivered in

Parliament, in the Chamber of The Arts House from 24 March to 31 March 2016. Guided

tours of the exhibition will be available from 24 March to 29 May 2016.

Parliamentarians’ Remembrance Ceremony for Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

8 Following the launch of The Parliament in Singapore History exhibition was the

Parliamentarians’ Remembrance Ceremony for our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan

Yew. When he passed away on 23 March 2015, Singaporeans came together, as one

nation, to pay tribute to the man and his legacy. Many recalled how Mr Lee and team rallied

Singaporeans through tumultuous times to build our modern nation, as well as reflected on

their beliefs, which still hold true today.

9 Today, on the first anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s passing, Members of

Parliament, both past and present, came together in the Chamber of The Arts House, to

remember the values that Mr Lee and his generation stood for, and the principles they

steadfastly upheld in this House. These are the values that continue to bind us as one

people, as we move into the Singapore of tomorrow.

10 Speaking at the Ceremony, Minister Grace Fu said: “Mr Lee [Kuan Yew] and his

team left subsequent generations of leaders a rich legacy – that of strong institutions and

systems based on multi-racialism, self-reliance, meritocracy, integrity and rule of law –

values and principles that remain precious and important to us in this present day.” She

added that “As we honour Mr Lee’s memory today … let us emulate his spirit, and build on

this inheritance to bring Singapore to greater heights.”

11 Former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament, Mr Wong Kan Seng, and

former Minister, Speaker and Member of Parliament, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, the two guest

speakers, also recounted their experiences in Parliament, and shared their memories of the

late Mr Lee Kuan Yew through their speeches.

12 Said Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: “My own description of Mr Lee was that he was always

“Proper”. This single description, for me, somehow encapsulates everything the man was.

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His sense of integrity and of right and wrong, his discipline and standards, his vision.

Everything must be done right: nothing was too small or too unimportant.”

13 Mr Wong Kan Seng shared: “A 35 year old Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said, “This will be

an era which will light up the dark pages of the history of Singapore”. The page was turned

during Mr Lee’s leadership. His legacy lives on in Singapore, in the values, principles and

high standards that moved Singapore from third world to first. Successive generations of

Singaporeans will do well to remember how we got here. I fervently hope that Singaporeans

are committed to same purpose as Mr Lee had dedicated his life towards – and that is

fighting for a better future for us all.”

14 The Ceremony also featured a video installation by Singapore filmmaker Royston

Tan, titled A Moment of Unity, also shown at the National Museum of Singapore.

15 For more details, please refer to the following Annexes:

Annex A Speech by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth

Annex B Information about The Parliament in Singapore History exhibition and guided

tours

Annex C Information about video of founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s

memorable speeches delivered in Parliament

Annex D Information about A Moment of Unity video installation and We Built A Nation

special exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore

Resources: Hi-res images and footage

For selected hi-res archival images from The Parliament in Singapore History exhibition,

please download from:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_OCtS3XEmzDcmNFUDNuQ0Z3WUU

(Please refer to the credit lines in the PDF file)

For selected footage from the video featuring excepts of founding Prime Minister Mr Lee

Kuan Yew’s speeches delivered in Parliament, please download from:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_OCtS3XEmzDQWhGRGtOaTJoS3M

(Please refer to the credit line in the PDF file – i.e. Credit to: Mediacorp, Ministry of

Communications and Information, and National Archives of Singapore)

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- END -

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sylvia Goh

National Heritage Board

DID: 6332 4485

Mobile: 9873 7746

Email: Sylvia_GOH@nhb.gov.sg

Elizabeth Tang

National Heritage Board

DID: 6332 3921

Mobile: 9176 9182

Email: Elizabeth_TANG@nhb.gov.sg

About The Arts House

Occupying the almost 200-year-old building that was Singapore’s first Parliament House,

The Arts House has played an active role in the Singapore arts and creative scene. The

House promotes and presents multidisciplinary programmes and festivals such as literary

arts, film, performing and visual arts. The Arts House is run and managed by Arts House

Limited. For more information, visit www.theartshouse.sg.

About the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) seeks to inspire Singaporeans

through the arts and sports, strengthen community bonds, and promote volunteerism and

philanthropy. Since its inception in November 2012, MCCY has been actively engaging the

arts, heritage, sports, community and youth sectors.

The Ministry aims to bring into sharper focus the efforts to build a more cohesive and vibrant

society, and to deepen a sense of identity and belonging to the nation. MCCY will work with

its stakeholders to create an environment where Singaporeans can pursue their aspirations

for a better quality of life and together, build a gracious and caring society we are proud to

call home.

About the National Heritage Board

The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. As the custodian of

Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing the

Singaporean experience and imparting our Singapore spirit.

NHB’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities,

for the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the

national museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to heritage sites,

monuments and the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB curates

heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future

generations of Singaporeans. NHB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture,

Community and Youth. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more information.

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ANNEX A

SPEECH BY MS GRACE FU, MINISTER OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH FOR

THE PARLIAMENTARIANS’ REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY FOR FOUNDING PRIME

MINISTER LEE KUAN YEW ON WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 2016 AT 11.15AM

Prime Minister

Parliamentarians

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning.

Introduction

Thank you for joining us today to launch a special exhibition on the history of our Parliament

– an institution that has shaped the lives of all Singaporeans.

The History and Significance of Old Parliament House

1 This building is a place of great historical significance for Singapore, especially for

the parliamentarians in our midst. This Old Chamber stood witness when you, as elected

representatives, debated many important issues and took decisions in the course of nation-

building that have profoundly influenced the lives of Singaporeans.

2 This building has been the seat of government, first as the Legislative Assembly, and

later, the Parliament of Singapore. The building was declared a national monument on 14

February 1992. In 1999, when Parliament moved to a new complex next door, this building

was converted into an arts centre and reopened as The Arts House on 26 March 2004.

3 Even though this building has been repurposed, it is important to remember and

celebrate its past. That is why we have launched the exhibition entitled “The Parliament in

Singapore History”.

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4 The exhibition traces Singapore’s judicial and legislative history, from the colonial

days to 1999 when the Old Parliament House last housed the Parliament. It features

important legislation passed in this Chamber, including the National Service (Amendment)

Bill, introduced in 1967 to establish mandatory National Service for male citizens; and the

Employment Bill, introduced in 1968 to standardize and regulate the terms and conditions of

employment. Members of our 1st Parliament who are present today, including Mr Ong Pang

Boon and Mr Jek Yeun Thong, would have participated in the intense discussions that led to

these landmark bills.

5 The exhibition panels are placed on the walls of the 2nd storey of Old Parliament

House, so that visitors can learn about the history of Parliament as they walk through the

building. In this Chamber, members of the public can listen to excerpts of key speeches by

parliamentarians. Over the next week, they will also be able to watch a commemorative

video on Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s speeches in Parliament over the years.

Paying Tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew

6 No history of our Parliament would be complete without mention of Mr Lee Kuan

Yew. Our gathering today coincides with the first anniversary of his passing, and it is fitting

that we pay tribute to the late Mr Lee. His parliamentary career began at the age of 31, when

in 1955, he won the seat of Tanjong Pagar in Singapore’s Legislative Assembly elections.

He would continue to serve as Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar for the next 60

years, until 2015 – the longest period for any MP in Singapore.

7 As we all know, Mr. Lee was a brilliant orator. He spoke with conviction and passion,

captivating the attention of his listeners, and moving the masses with his persuasive power

and force of personality.

8 But more than a powerful orator, Mr Lee was a man of integrity, who expected high

standards from his fellow parliamentarians. He kept his word and delivered what he

promised. He never shied away from making hard decisions, many of which were taken, and

defended, in this very chamber.

9 His abiding vision of Singapore as a multi-racial nation ensured that the protection of

minority rights and representation were enshrined in our Constitution. Later, he introduced

the NCMP system to ensure that opposition voices would never be absent from the

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Chamber, and the GRC system to guarantee minorities that they would always have a place

in our Parliament.

10 Mr Lee’s personal leadership helped set the tone and shaped the Parliament that we

know today. He was deeply committed to improving the lives of Singaporeans, and devoted

his entire life to ensuring Singapore’s success.

Building on Mr Lee’s Legacy

11 One of Mr Lee’s greatest legacies was preparing Singapore to flourish beyond his

premiership. He made way early as Prime Minister, to enable younger leaders to run

government effectively. For many of us here, he continued to be our mentor even after

stepping down as Prime Minister in 1990. When critical issues arose, he would express his

views, but leave us to make the decisions. Mr Lee and his team left subsequent generations

of leaders a rich legacy – strong institutions and systems based on multi-racialism, self-

reliance, meritocracy, integrity and rule of law – values and principles that remain precious

and important to us in this present day.

12 2015 was a momentous year for Singapore. It was with great sadness that a year

ago, we bade farewell to Mr Lee. Together, we grieved as one people, one nation. Yet

together, we celebrated SG50 as one people, one nation.

13 In the next 50 years, there will be many defining moments. Some will bring joy,

others, sadness. But what is crucial is that we face them together, as one people, as one

nation. Mr Lee’s legacy and the values that he and his generation represent, are the

common inheritance that we all share.

14 As we honour Mr Lee’s memory today, let us resolve to uphold the integrity and

honour of our Parliament. As Mr Lee once said, the importance of this House depends not

on its size or grandeur, but on the quality of the men and women who represent the people

of Singapore. Let us emulate his spirit, and build on this inheritance to bring Singapore to

greater heights. Thank you.

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ANNEX B

“THE PARLIAMENT IN SINGAPORE HISTORY” EXHIBITION

Presented by The Arts House, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Community and

Youth, and the National Heritage Board

Venue: Level 2, The Arts House

(1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429)

Dates: Opens to the public from Thursday, 24 March 2016

Time: 10am to 10pm daily

Admission: Free

The Arts House is presenting a fresh narrative of the varied career path of its building. This

new narrative display charts the history of The Arts House from 1827 to 1999. View the story

of a house that has witnessed the birth of a nation as well as the development of a

legislature that has contributed to Singapore’s growth and progress as a multi-cultural

parliamentary democracy. Through rare archival images and spoken words of pioneer

Parliamentarians such as Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng

Swee and Mr S Rajaratnam, the exhibition captures the spirit of our nation-building journey.

The oldest government and public building in the Republic, the most significant years of The

Arts House must have been those between 1965 and 1999. During this period, this neo-

classical colonial building was the seat of independent Singapore’s Parliament, where

important historical milestones were planted. Here, our political pioneers and nation builders

deliberated key issues that were to chart the path of Singapore’s development, and to define

the style of our politics.

Exhibition guided tours

Guided tours of the exhibition are available from 24 March to 29 May 2016. The tours are on

a first-come-first-served basis, no registration is required. Each tour can accommodate a

maximum of 20 participants (including children). Tour schedule as follows:

Dates Time Type Remarks

24, 25, 26 & 27 March

2016 (Opening weekend)

11am Family Tour Family tours are generally

geared towards families with

children 10 years and below.

The tour will have pop quizzes

and family team challenges.

1pm & 3pm Public Tour

Every Saturday and

Sunday from 2 April to 29

May 2016

11am Family Tour

1pm Public Tour

More information on the tours can be found on www.theartshouse.sg

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ANNEX C

INFORMATION ABOUT VIDEO OF FOUNDING PRIME MINISTER MR LEE KUAN YEW’S

MEMORABLE SPEECHES DELIVERED IN PARLIAMENT

Mr Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore’s longest serving Member of Parliament. His parliamentary

career started in 1955 when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly. In Parliament, Mr

Lee made many memorable speeches which encapsulate the values and principles that he

upheld such as multiracialism, self-reliance, quality leadership and responsible government.

This short video captures excerpts of some of the speeches, and serves as reminder to the

future generations to uphold the enduring values and ideals that Singapore was founded

upon, and build on the legacy of Mr Lee and his Parliamentary colleagues to take Singapore

forward.

The video will be screened in the Chamber of The Arts House from 24 March to 31 March

2016.

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ANNEX D

“A MOMENT OF UNITY” VIDEO INSTALLATION

A three-minute video installation by Singapore filmmaker Royston Tan; commissioned by the

National Museum of Singapore

One year after the passing of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, A Moment of

Unity features photographs captured on the day Singaporeans came together to pay tribute

to the man who led a dedicated and talented team to build modern Singapore on

foundations which put us in good stead for the future.

These photographs are brought to life with the use of modern technology to give it a new life.

Each picture is carefully picked to show the emotions of individual Singaporeans, from the

young to the old, to reflect the ‘Singapore spirit’. Rain features as a central element, serving

as a recollection of the downpour that marked the State Funeral Procession on 29 March

2015.

A Moment of Unity is not only an emotive piece that Singaporeans can identify with, but also

uplifts the spirit and shows that Singaporeans will continue to be one united people and

nation.

The video installation is currently presented at the ongoing We Built A Nation special

exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore, which chronicles the contributions made by

the nation’s founding team of leaders in the first 10 pivotal years of Singapore’s

independence (1965 to 1975). It will run from 23 March till 2 October 2016.

“WE BUILT A NATION” SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Venue: Level 1, National Museum of Singapore

Dates: Ongoing

Time: 10am to 7pm daily

Admission: Free admission for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, as well as

children under the age of six.

Singapore’s Golden Jubilee is an opportunity for Singaporeans to reflect on our history and

the contributions of the pioneer generation of leaders in the early independence years.

Through a selection of more than 100 artefacts, many never seen before, and archival

images and documents, this exhibition explores the leadership of Singapore’s first Prime

Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his team who laid the foundations for modern Singapore.

The exhibition is dedicated to an exploration of the first ten pivotal years of independence

(1965 to 1975) that shaped Singapore’s history, and the important roles played by the

founding leaders in developing Singapore’s economy, foreign policy and diplomacy, security

and defence, education and infrastructure. It pays tribute to Lee Kuan Yew’s contributions to

Singapore, and the ideals and convictions that shaped him and his generation of leaders.

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Highlights include artefacts from a major donation from the Estate of Lee Kuan Yew, recently

declassified material from Dr Goh Keng Swee from the National Archives of Singapore, as

well as donations and loans from the families of many of the founding leaders.