RAFFLES NATIONAL LIBRARY (CHANGE OF NAME) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

5.41 p.m.

The Minister for Culture (Mr S. Rajaratnam): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill to change the name of "Raffles National Library" to "National Library" is not a manifestation of oversensitive nationalism nor is it an attempt to obliterate the name of Raffles from the history of Singapore. His name will continue to find a place in the history of Singapore though the place accorded to him in the future may be somewhat different from that accorded him by imperial romantics.

Where before the dreams and ideals of Raffles were the motivating force of the ruling class, today new ideals and aspirations have replaced those of Raffles. It is therefore fitting that an institution like our library should reflect these ideals not only in spirit but in name as well. If the spirit of Sir Stamford Raffles is, at this very moment, hovering in this august chamber, I am sure he will accept this inevitable change with good grace.

He could have no objection to a national institution, like the library, becoming a symbol of national loyalty and aspiration. After all, Sir, modern Singapore is not the creation of Sir Stamford Raffles alone. Hundreds of thousands of nameless people contributed to its growth by their blood, sweat and tears.

Therefore, by this change of name, we are merely acknowledging a historical fact which fanciful historians sometimes overlook.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Rajaratnam].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.