Do You Know?
state
symbols
Although Singapore
became a Republic only on 9 August 1965,
the state symbols – National Flag, Anthem and State Crest were created
when Singapore attained self-government in 1959 as recalled by DPM
Dr Toh Chin Chye in 1989:
“… although we were self
governing it was necessary
right from the beginning that
we should rally enough different
races together as a Singapore
nation … apart from the
anthem we have to produce the
flag and the crest, we insisted
that it was a Singapore state
flag and should be flown side
by side with the Union Jack.”
Source: MICA
“The design of the flag of course is well known now. The five stars
standing for five principles — democracy, justice, peace, prosperity,
equality. And the crescent moon which signifies that we are a new nation.”
Extract of oral history interview with Dr Toh Chin Chye, 1989.
Mr S Rajaratnam, Minister for Culture, when presenting the motion on State
Arms and Flag and State National Anthem to the Legislative Assembly on
11 November 1959, said,
“National flags, crest and
anthem express symbolically
the hopes and ideals of a
people … The possession of a
national flag and crest is, for a
people, symbolic of self-respect.”
Source: MICA
PM Lee Kuan Yew also declared that the national anthem is to invoke in the hearts
and minds of the people, “feelings of loyalty and unity towards the state of which
they are constituent members.”
“In the case of the state crest, again we got the five stars and the new
moon … A lion next to the tiger. Tiger of course is a more local animal
than the lion. The old City Council had a lion. It did merge with our own
ideas of self governing of Singapore.”
Extract of oral history interview with Dr Toh Chin Chye, 1989.