Singapore

Republic of Singapore, Hsin-chia-p'o Kung-ho-kuo, Republik Singapura, Singapore Kudiyarasu

Last modified: 2005-04-09 by santiago dotor
Keywords: singapore | singapura | republic of singapore | stars: 5 (white) | crescent: points to fly (white) | coat of arms (singapore) | asean |
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2:3
Flag adopted 3rd December 1959, coat-of-arms adopted 26th November 1959

• Description
• Presidential Standard (Bendera Yang di-Pertuan Negara)
• Civil Ensign
• State Ensign
• War Ensign
• Armed Forces (Singapore Armed Forces, Tentera Singapura)
• Police Force (Republic of Singapore Police, Polis Repablik Singapura)
• Civil Defence Force
• Coat-of-Arms
• The Lion Symbol
• Historical Flags:
  • British Straits Settlements 1826-1946
  • Crown Colony of Singapore 1946-1959
  • Federation of Malaysia 1963-1965
  • Unidentified 1960-1961 Flag
• Political Parties
• House Flags of Singaporean Shipping Companies

See also:

• Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Other sites:

• Singapore Flag at the Expat Singapore website
• Singapore Coat of Arms and the Lion Symbol at the Expat Singapore website
• The Mathematics and Astronomy of the Singapore Flag

The colours of the Singapore flag represent red for brotherhood and equality; white for purity and virtue. The crescent moon originally served as a symbol of assurance to the Malays in 1959 —the year the flag was designed— that Singapore was not a Chinese state. Today it is generally said that the moon signified a young nation rising. The flag was designed initially to have three stars, until leaders such as then Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye expressed concern that Singapore might be perceived to have associations with the Malayan Communist Party, the flag of which also had three stars. The flag was originally meant to be red as red is a very traditional Chinese color. But because of the fear of Communism in those days, a completely red flag was abandoned.

Jan Oskar Engene, 26 January 1998

Remember that Singapore with its 80% Chinese majority has always been aware of its sensitive positioning with the 15 million Muslims of Malaysia just a few kilometres North and with the 170(?