National Pledge

How Singapore's National Pledge Began

Singapore became independent on 9 August 1965. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were many problems, like fights between different races and groups. So, Singapore needed something to help people of all races and religions feel like one big family.

Mr Ong Pang Boon, the Minister for Education back then, wanted to bring people together. He thought having a pledge—a promise everyone could say—might help. In October 1965, Mr William Cheng from the Ministry of Education suggested this idea. Mr Philip Liau and Mr George Thomson worked on the first drafts of the Pledge. Then, it was sent to Mr S. Rajaratnam, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and later checked by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and other leaders before it was approved.

In August 1966, students started reciting the National Pledge in schools every morning. At first, most schools said it in classrooms because there were no big spaces for assemblies. Today, the Pledge is also said during National Day celebrations and parades. It was translated into different languages—Chinese, Malay, and Tamil—so everyone could understand it.

Mr S. Rajaratnam wanted the Pledge to remind people that no matter their language, race, or religion, Singaporeans could work together to build a country they would all be proud of.