Forum: In 2025, let’s also mark the 80th year of Singapore’s liberation
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We celebrate SG60 in 2025 because there was SG01.
However we did not have SG01 just because we were kicked out of Malaysia.
The seeds for SG01 began 20 years earlier in 1945 when Singapore was liberated from the Japanese.
Singapore was officially returned to British colonial rule on Sept 12, 1945, and 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Singapore.
According to history books, the quick surrender of the colonial masters and the harsh experiences under Japanese occupation led to a desire for self-determination among the local population.
Each year, on Total Defence Day, Feb 15, we mark the fall of Singapore.
However, there is little coverage on the liberation of Singapore – the emergence of Singapore from one of our darkest periods in recent history.
We should not let the 80th anniversary of Singapore’s liberation pass off as another normal day.
Without stealing the thunder from the SG60 celebrations, I do hope that the memories of this day can be remembered in a more significant way.
Cheah Kok Keong
