The Padang Gazetted as Singapore’s 75th National Monument

Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, at the event commemorating the gazette of the Padang on 8 Aug 2022

Mr Tan Kok Hiang, Chair of the Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board,

Mr Chang Yeh Hong, President of the Singapore Recreation Club,

Mr Zoher Saleh Motiwalla, President of the Singapore Cricket Club,

Members of the Singapore Armed Forces Veterans’ League,

Distinguished Guests, friends, and fellow Singaporeans,

1. A very good afternoon to everyone.
2. I am very happy to join everyone here on this historic and momentous occasion as we gazette the Padang as a National Monument tomorrow, on 9 August 2022, our 57^th National Day.
3. I’m sure all of us have our own special memory of the Padang.
   
   a. Our first National Day Parade as an independent nation was held here in 1966. It was a historic and monumental occasion.
   
   b. And today, I want to say a big thank you to the privilege that all our veterans have given us – for being here and sharing this occasion with us. You are the people who were involved in the first NDP at the Padang.
   
   c. These veterans were part of the 23,000 men and women who marched with unity and pride, showcasing our resolve, determination and strength as we embark on our journey post-separation as an independent country.
   
   d. It rained that day, on 9 August 1966. But that did not matter one bit. The military and marching displays continued as if nothing happened. We put up a superb show, for the spectators young and old, reflecting the confidence of our fledgling nation, even in the face of an uncertain future. The Padang will always embody this special occasion in our history,
   
   Origins of the Padang
4. This open space stands out amidst surrounding colonial and commercial buildings.
   
   a. The idea of leaving an open field in the city centre of Singapore for public use could be traced back to Sir Stamford Raffles’ vision in his town plans.
   
   b. This open area appeared in the Jackson Plan, drawn up from Raffles’ instructions between 1822 and 1823, as an “Open Square”. It was subsequently referred to as the Plain, the Esplanade, and finally the Padang, around 1907.
   
   c. The Padang was distinguished by its public nature, as one of only a few open spaces accessible to the public in the colonial period. This has facilitated its evolution into the prominent commemorative, social and community space as we know it today.
   
   Padang as a Significant Site in our History and Collective Memory
5. The Padang will be the first green, open space to join our list of National Monuments. Together with our 74 other National Monuments, it preserves and celebrates the stories that define Singapore and its people.
   
   a. While there are no physical structures that define this new National Monument, the open space itself is the site of many of our shared memories as a people and a nation.
6. Generations of people have gathered here and witnessed key milestones in Singapore’s history. It stands as a testament to Singapore’s historical journey. Our journey, our trials or tribulations or progress, have all been witnessed by this open space here. It anchors our Singaporean identity and reflects our place in the world.
   
   a. This is where we held victory parades celebrating the formal surrender of the Japanese in 1945.
   
   b. This is where we witnessed the swearing-in of Encik Yusof Ishak as Head-Of-State in December 1959 when we gained self-governance, and when we introduced our first National Symbols - the state flag, coat of arms and national anthem. This is where we declared merger with the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, and celebrated Singapore’s subsequent independence with our first National Day Parade ins 1966.
7. It is also one of the oldest open spaces in Singapore continuously used for public and social recreation since the 1800s.
8. As a community space, it embodies our shared experiences and memories, binding different and many generations of Singaporeans together, across race, religion and time.
   
   a. Besides being a place to commemorate royal birthdays, jubilees, and coronations, it was also used as a playing field for games, such as cricket matches and the annual New Year’s Day sports event, as well as for celebrations and festivities such as Lunar New Year, Thaipusam and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.
9. Today, the Padang continues to be a well-loved public space where our people and communities gather to enjoy festivals and celebrations, sporting events and recreational activities.
   
   a. Major sporting events such as the Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby Sevens are held at the Padang. It also serves as the starting and end-point of the Singapore Marathon.
   
   b. Singaporeans from all walks of life have gathered here to enjoy performances and festivals, such as the Civic District Outdoor Festival, and the Light to Night Festival.
   
   c. Many of us have also casually come and strolled across the Padang, taking in the sights around the Padang, picnicked with our friends and family or taken a stroll here, to relax amidst the lush greenery, and to interact, connect, socialise and bond with one another.
10. As we look out towards the Padang, we feel of these – our past, our heritage and our history – come alive and be part of us today.
11. This open space is a tangible reminder of how we came to be and how far we have come since the days of our independence as a nation and people.
    
    a. Our forefathers fought for the right to chart our own course, to determine for ourselves who we are as Singapore and which direction we take as Singaporeans.
    
    b. We believed in the ideal of a multi-racial and multi-religious society, and brought everyone together to build a nation where no one race is superior to the other, where we all exist multi-culturally, multi-racially and multi-ethnically – not just as a slogan, but as a lived experience.
12. It also reminds us of the precious moments we enjoyed with our friends, family and fellow Singaporeans.
13. The gazetting of the Padang as a National Monument will protect it, as it is now, from alteration and change which would affect its character and significance, while allowing it to continue to be a social and community space enjoyed by all Singaporeans.
    
    Conclusion
14. Let me end by thanking all the organisations which have worked very hard to preserve and celebrate our shared heritage, including the National Heritage Board, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore Land Authority, Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore Recreation Club, and Singapore Cricket Club. Some of you are present here today and I thank you all once again for sharing this occasion with us.
15. Thank you for preserving and caring for our tangible heritage that will tell future and successive generations of Singaporeans our Singapore story. We now have in this gazetting – an occasion, a place and a monument with which to tell this story.
16. Thank you very much, and I wish you an enjoyable afternoon.