“The Albatross File: Inside Separation” is an essential read for anyone keen to take a deeper dive into Singapore’s independence and the tumultuous period leading up to it.
What’s clear from the 488-page book is that Singapore’s 1963 merger with Malaysia indicated troubling signs from the outset, with the 1964 race riots further straining ties.
Dr Goh Keng Swee, then the Finance Minister, kept a private file he code-named “Albatross”, a reference to the burdened sailor in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous 1798 poem, The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner.
If any one of the numerous decisions and events had unfolded differently at that time, Singapore’s trajectory would have been vastly different.
For instance, if Malaysian authorities had detained then-Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the eventual separation might not have occurred.
The latest declassified documents and handwritten notes by Dr Goh provide a firsthand account of how the decision came to fruition.
Documents inside the file range from an early Cabinet memo by then PM Lee to the final Separation Agreement, and include Dr Goh’s handwritten notes of his meetings with Malaysian leaders.
Dr Goh played a pivotal role in Singapore’s separation. He led the talks for Singapore with Malaysian counterparts, the central figure being then-Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Within the Singapore leadership, views differed. While Dr Goh viewed going separate ways as the best option, Ministers Toh Chin Chye and S. Rajaratnam were against separation once they learned of it.
It was only in 1994, when Mr Lee got permission to read Dr Goh’s oral history, that he found out Dr Goh had pushed for separation from the start and never attempted for a looser federation.
Like a bonus gift highlighting this pivotal period of Singapore’s history, a new permanent exhibition titled “The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified” opened to the public at the National Library Building on Dec 8.
The recent documents, presented in a compelling book format and complemented by an insightful exhibition, come in a timely manner as Singapore commemorates its 60th birthday.
With the nation now embarking on its 4G leadership journey, it is imperative to delve into our foundational narrative.
These newly revealed facts regarding our inception and separation will serve as a powerful catalyst for heightened understanding and continued national bonding in our ongoing nation-building journey.
tabla! highly encourages the Indian community to visit the exhibition.
While admission is free, access is ticketed. The exhibition is recommended for those aged 10 and above, and the experience takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Those interested can book their tickets at: thealbatrossfile.nlb.gov.sg
svenga@sph.com.sg
