Declassified documents from S'pore's journey to independence at exhibition

Open to public from Dec 8, they include handwritten notes by founding leaders

- Chin Soo Fang Senior Correspondent

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, accompanied by NLB chief executive Ng Cher Pong (in light blue), viewing a marriage certificate from 1933 displayed at the Donors' Appreciation Night. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

(KEVIN LIM)

Once-secret handwritten notes and Cabinet papers by Singapore's founding leaders will be part of a new permanent exhibition featuring declassified documents from Singapore's journey to independence.

The exhibition, named The Albatross File: Singapore's Independence Declassified, will be open to the public from Dec 8 at the National Library Building in Victoria Street. Tickets can be booked online and the exhibition is free.

It is based on an upcoming book titled The Albatross File: Inside Separation.

Both the exhibition and the book will be launched on Dec 7, in commemoration of Singapore's 60 years of independence and the National Library Board's (NLB) 30th anniversary.

The Albatross file is a collection of newly declassified documents, handwritten notes and Cabinet papers between 1964 and 1965 compiled by Dr Goh Keng Swee, one of Singapore's founding fathers. It sheds light on the negotiations leading up to Singapore's separation from Malaysia in 1965 that Dr Goh played a key role in.

Announcing details of the exhibition at the NLB annual Donors' Appreciation Night on Oct 24, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said the Albatross file is a significant collection as it captures in detail the deliberations and negotiations leading up to the separation.