Floyd Cowan Photos and additional words

(Singapore, December 2025) My understanding of the separation of Malaysia and Singapore into two distinct countries has always been that Malaysia wanted Singapore to leave. It culminated with Mr Lee Kuan Yew crying on television when he announced to the nation that Singapore had to go it alone. The reason, often told, was that Malaysia was afraid that Mr Lee, his political party and the Chinese would dominate predominantly Islamic Malaysia. While there is truth in that, the reality was a lot more complicated.

According to what was learned from the Albatross File is that Mr Lee was not crying because he was worried about the future of Singapore, but for those he left behind in Malaysia. He had utmost confidence in the future of the new republic and was sure it would do better than Malaysia.

To mark Singapore’s 60 years of independence, a new permanent exhibition, The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified invites visitors to an introspective experience of the nation’s defining moments, from merger to separation. It will change your view on various aspects of what occurred. This SG60 capstone event offers visitors immersive storytelling, historical replays, and first-person narratives from Singapore’s founding fathers and key players involved in Singapore’s journey to independence. 

Jointly developed by the National Library Board and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified is now open to the public at Level 10 of the National Library Building. 

Based on the book, The Albatross File: Inside Separation, visitors can view original artefacts that are on display for the first time, including declassified extracts of oral histories from Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew and former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee.  

There were many things revealed that surprised me. Separation of the two States was something they both wanted and had been in the works on both sides of the causeway for some time before it was announced. It was so named because the “Albatross File’ is what Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore’s then Finance Minister and one of the nation’s founding fathers, called his private collection of cabinet papers, handwritten notes and records from 1964–1965  that documented negotiations for the separation from Malaysia. Malaysia was viewed as an albatross on Singapore, holding it back.

When I asked Gene Tan, Executive Creative Director, Chief Librarian/Chief Innovation Officer, NLB who masterfully curated the exhibition along with his creative team, if anything surprised him as he assembled the material. He thoughtfully replied, “Often when we look at historic figures, we see them as being confident and assured in what they were doing. This isn’t always the case. These people were not sure they were doing the right thing. They had doubts, they worried and they sometimes struggled to make a decision.”

You can come to your own conclusion about the events as the extensive exhibition features four interactive sections for visitors to delve into. Visitors will gain a more nuanced understanding and greater appreciation of Singapore’s journey to independence. The four sections are: 

ROOM, a dramatised retelling of what went on behind closed doors in the year leading up to Separation, blending archival footage and oral history interviews with cinematic reenactments to bring these moments to life. If you have ever wondered about the nature of the young LKY you will see him at the height of his oral powers, but a careful reading reveals a less dominating presence than what he later became. He says things such as: ‘if that is what everyone wants, I will go along with it.’

RECORDS, where visitors can hear the voices of key players from their oral history interviews, and examine the official documents and handwritten notes, including declassified Albatross File documents, offering an intimate perspective into the anxieties and convictions of key players involved in the Separation.

ATLAS, the centerpiece of the exhibition, features an interactive wall that brings visitors through a countdown of the pivotal months, days and hours leading up to Separation. Visitors can also trace the movements of key figures and watch how Separation unfolded across time and space through a dramatic set called ‘Spacetime Clock’. 

CHATBOOK, where visitors can converse with a Generative AI-powered chat service, which draws its insights from The Albatross File: Inside Separation book and the content on Singapore’s history from the National Library and the National Archives under NLB.

The exhibition brings to life the rich content from the book, The Albatross File: Inside Separation, and creates an up-close and personal experience with the events and people featured in the book. At over 500 pages, the book offers an in-depth analysis of the situation and features 23 newly declassified documents, such as cabinet papers between 1964 and 1965, secret cabinet memos, and Dr Goh Keng Swee’s handwritten notes of his discussions with Malaysian leaders. These artefacts are among the original artefacts that can be viewed at the exhibition.

NLB Chief Executive Officer Melissa Tam said: “This is part of NLB’s goal, the nation’s memory institution, to share more Singapore Stories with everyone. Through the National Archives of Singapore’s hard work in collecting and preserving the Albatross File and other historical recounts, and in close partnership with various partners including media partners, we are able to present this exhibition as a SG60 gift to the nation. We hope the exhibition and book will allow Singaporeans to develop a richer understanding of the tumultuous journey our forefathers underwent during this difficult time in our nation’s history.”

Admission is free, and access to the exhibition is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The experience is recommended for visitors aged 10 years and above. Visitors can anticipate spending about 60 minutes in the exhibition. 

https://go.gov.sg/albatrosstickets. To stay updated on the latest information, follow on NLB’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

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