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Marking the National Pledge at 60
The values embedded in the Pledge crafted by S. Rajaratnam 60 years ago continue to resonate and inspire to this day.
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More should be done to help schoolchildren better appreciate the significance of the national pledge, says the writer.
PHOTO: MDDI
Irene Ng
Exactly 60 years ago on this date, on Feb 17, 1966, Mr S. Rajaratnam was wrestling with the words that would define the nation: the Singapore Pledge.
He was still raw from the trauma of Singapore’s sudden separation from Malaysia on Aug 9, 1965 – barely six months ago. As the new foreign minister, he had been dealing with one crisis after another: Building a ministry from scratch. Coping with external threats from unfriendly neighbours. Facing down internal threats of communist subversion, racial troubles and political unrest.
