SINGAPORE - The first SG50 commemorative birth certificate was handed out on Friday at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Baby Zayn Qushairi Zulkifli, who was born at 12.45am on Jan 1 and weighed 3.2kg, was the first to have his birth registered at 8am on Friday morning, and received a special certificate.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu presented the document to the baby's parents, customer service executive Nur Qasrina Nerva, 28, and technician Zulkifli Maswari, 27.

The couple have been married for three years and have two daughters, aged three and two, and were hoping for a son this time round.

"Now I will have a fishing kaki (buddy)," said Mr Zulkifli, a fishing enthusiast.

The baby's mother added: "I hope he'll be like his father - handsome, ambitious and hardworking. And maybe like Zayn Malik from (British boy band) One Direction."

She said that she liked the unique design of the certificate and its golden folder.

Created by local designer Wang Shijia, it features the SG50 logo and motifs of the national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim.

The special birth certificate, which every SG50 baby will receive, also comes with a message signed off by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Part of the message that baby Zayn received said: "Every child is precious. We work hard to give them better lives, and raise them to be the best that they can be. We place our hopes and dreams in them and love them unconditionally. Into their hands we will entrust Singapore's future.

"Our parents and grandparents worked hard to make this a beautiful home for all of us. They built a country which nurtures our children, and gives everyone every opportunity to fulfil his potential. I hope that baby Zayn Qushairi and his generation will build on this, to make Singapore an even better country for us all.

"My very best wishes to you and your family!"