MALAY HEAD OF STATE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 8

MALAY HEAD OF STATE

' Singapore’s Choice (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SINGAPORE, December 2. Bells and ships' sirens will mingle with roars of “merdeka” (independence) as a new flag, new State emblem, and new national anthem, are introduced to the people of Singapore tomorrow, together with their first Malayan-born Yang DiPertuan Negara, or Head of State. Inche Yusof Bin Ishak, a Malay, was officially named today as new Yang Di-Pertuan Negara, at a moment described by a Government spokesman as a “milestone in our history.” The Minister of Culture (Mr S. Rajaratnam) in a recent broadcast over Radio Singapore said “the advent of a Malayan-born Yang Di-Pertuan Negara means we are no longer instruments of alien rulers.

By this act, the British formally recognise the right of the people of Singapore to run their own affairs in the interests of the the people of this country.” Inche Yusof, an orchid enthusiast, and former journalist and athlete, takes over on December 3 after Sir William Goode, his predecessor, takes his departure tomorrow for his new post as Governor of British North Borneo.

Although Singapore is a predominantly Chinese community, the choice of a Malay Head of State is seen here as Significant in the light of the island Government’s hopes for eventual merger with the neighbouring Federation of Malaya. Inche Yusof is the brother of Inche Abdul Aziz Bin Ishak, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives in the Federation Government.