On 21 November 1958 with the establishment of a new Constitution, Singapore obtained self-government under a Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Sir William Goode. Defence and external affairs came under the purview of the UK government. The swearing-in and appointment of the Prime Minister and Ministers of the new Government took place on 5 June 1959 at 4pm at City Hall.

Group photograph of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (right) and his ministers after the swearing-in of the new Government at City Hall. From left: Yong Nyuk Lin, Minister for Education, Ong Eng Guan, Minister for National Development, S Rajaratnam, Minister for Culture, Ahmad Ibrahim, Minister for Health, Ong Pang Boon, Minister for Home Affairs, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Minister of Finance, Dr Toh Chin Chye, Deputy Prime Minister, K M Byrne, Minister for Labour and Law, Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister

S Rajaratnam became the first Minister of Culture and assumed the responsibilities of public relations, press, cultural activities and the state annual report. The objectives of the Ministry of Culture were:  

• The creation of a sense of national identity
• The elimination of communal divisions and attitudes
• The propagation of democratic values, conducive to the ultimate creation of a more just society
• The creation of a wide acceptance of the National Language
• The propagation of an awareness of the ultimate objectives of complete independence through merger and the ideals of a democratic socialist way of life

Group photograph of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (centre) and his ministers at the steps of City Hall after the swearing-in of the new Government

Seven divisions within the Ministry of Culture were formed – headquarters, news, publicity, broadcasting, library, museum and printing divisions. The Ministry had the mandate to manage the mass media and to break down barriers in language through promoting multi-lingualism, with an emphasis on the National Language. Cultural activities such as the organisation of the National Loyalty Week and the Aneka Ragam Rakyat or People’s Cultural Concerts were promoted to break down communal barriers and foster national loyalty.

Photos courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.

The vines in the logo above indicate growth and honour, a visual representation of how MICA has grown and developed through the years. This logo was designed by MICA's Khoo Li Yen from DesignSingapore.

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