Tan Cheng Bock welcomes new rendition of Singapore National Anthem

Progress Singapore Party (PSP) secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock has welcomed the new rendition of the Singapore National Anthem that was released yesterday (Dec 3).

Asserting that “the National Anthem belongs to all Singaporeans,” Dr Tan praised the artists and groups involved in the making of the new rendition.

In a Facebook post published yesterday, Dr Tan expressed his appreciation for the updated recording. Noting the key differences in the various recordings of the National Anthem that were released in the past, Dr Tan – who is musically inclined himself – wrote:

“Today (3 Dec), a new recording of our National Anthem Majulah Singapura was played in public for the first time. This is the latest recording of the anthem since it was unveiled 60 years ago in 1959. Before this, we had the 1989 recordings (in the key of G) and the 2001 recordings (in the lower key of F to make it easier for everyone to sing to).

“This 2019 recording, has the same key and arrangement as the 2001 recording, with a slightly faster timing. Kudos to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the voices of the Singapore Symphony Chorus, Singapore Symphony Youth Choir and the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir.”

The new rendition of the National Anthem was produced to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s National Symbols – the anthem, the flag and the state crest – that were introduced to Singaporeans on the same day that Yusof Ishak was sworn in as the nation’s very first head of state.

The National Heritage Board said that the updated recording is “of a higher quality, allowing Singaporeans to better appreciate the nuances of the music arrangement, especially in larger venues and modern sound systems.”

Dr Tan is the very first ex-People’s Action Party (PAP) parliamentarian to start his own opposition party in Singapore’s history. He was MP for Ayer Rajah Single Member SMC from 1980 to 2006.

A beloved politician, Dr Tan gained the highest margin of victory for the PAP in his last election as a PAP candidate in 2001, with 88 per cent of votes. During his time with the PAP, he also mentored younger politicians like Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, and Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.

In the coming election, Dr Tan will be clashing with his former party as the leader of the PSP – an opposition party that is making waves in Singapore, despite the fact that it is the newest political party in Singapore, having been founded in January this year.

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