Background Following revisions to the
Constitution in 1959, which granted Singapore (then the
Colony of Singapore) self-governance from the United Kingdom, the ceremonial office of Yang di-Pertuan Negara replaced the colonial office of
Governor as the representative of the
British monarch in Singapore. Under a transitional arrangement, the last Governor of Singapore, Sir
William Goode, served as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara from 3 June to 3 December 1959. He was succeeded by
Yusof Ishak, who was sworn into office on the same day as the country's
state flag,
coat of arms, and
national anthem were adopted. Initially, the office bearer was sometimes referred to as "Head of State". This was despite him constitutionally only a
de facto, not
de jure,
head of state, acting as a
vice-regal representative in lieu of a typical
Governor-General. The title was retained on 31 August 1963 when Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom and acceded to Malaysia as a
state on 16 September 1963. The officeholder then acted as the vice-regal representative of the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of
Malaysia., On 9 August 1965, Singapore was separated from the federation to become an independent state within the
Commonwealth of Nations. On 22 December of that year, the Constitution was amended to make the country a republic, and the title of Yang di-Pertuan Negara was changed to
President with retroactive effect from the date of independence.
List of officeholders ==Brunei==