The Republic of Singapore

The Republic of Singapore

The Flag

The Origin
The National Flag of Singapore is a symbol of statehood. It replaced the Union Jack, which had flown over Singapore for 140 years (1819-1959). It was the committee headed by Dr Toh Chin Chye, the then Deputy Prime Minister, which first conceived and created the flag. Together with the State Crest and the National Anthem, it was unveiled on 3 December 1959, at the installation of the new Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, at the City Hall steps. Upon independence in 1965, it was adopted as the National Flag.

The Meaning
Our National Flag consists of two equal horizontal sections, red above white. In the upper left canton is a white crescent moon beside five white stars within a circle. The features of the flag were not arbitrarily chosen – each feature has its own distinctive meaning and significance: red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man; white signifies pervading and everlasting purity and virtue; the crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascendant; and the five stars stand for the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

Our National Anthem

MAJULAH SINGAPURA
Mari kita rakyat Singapura
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya Singapura

Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura

The Lion Head Symbol

The Origin
As recorded in the 13th century Malay Annals, a prince from Palembang was shipwrecked and washed ashore to an unknown island. Subsequently, he saw a creature which he believed was a lion and named the island "Singa Pura" ("Lion City") - from which the name Singapore was derived.

The Lion Head Symbol was first introduced in 1986 as an alternative National Symbol. This is so since the National Flag and State Crest have legal restrictions which prohibit their use for non-government and commercial purposes. The then Ministry of Communications and Information had launched a search among art institutions and advertising agencies for a logo that could best exemplify the characteristics of a nation. Eventually, the Lion Head Symbol was chosen because of the nation's reputation as the Lion City.

The Meaning
The lion, from which the name Singapore was derived, symbolises courage, strength and excellence. It is in solid red against a white background - the colours of the National Flag. Its mane's five partings, representing the five ideals - democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality - are as embodied in the five stars of the National Flag. The lion's tenacious mien symbolises the nation's single-minded resolve to face any challenges and overcome any obstacles.

All information above is from www.sg <the National Website>

Disclaimer: The contents above are only meant for informative and NOT ADVISORY purposes. We do not encourage anyone to rely wholly on the information in whatsoever decision making.