 The National Flag |
 The National Anthem |
 The National Coat of Arms |
 The National Pledge |
 The Lion Head Symbol |
 The National Flower |
It was the year 1959. Singapore was about to embark on a brand new path in her history. On 30 May 1959, the People’s Action Party (PAP) won the first General Elections for a fully elected government and from June 1959, Singapore became a self-governing nation with Mr Lee Kuan Yew as the first Prime Minister of Singapore.
Self-rule meant that Singapore would henceforth be governed by a Prime Minister and Cabinet drawn from a Legislative Assembly voted in by adult citizens. The Cabinet would have control over all domestic policies, while foreign affairs and external defence remained in the hands of the British, who were then still the colonial ruler of Singapore.
The young nation-state needed symbols that could represent Singapore in the world as well as unite all citizens as one nation. The first three National Symbols – the National Flag, State Crest (National Coat of Arms) and National Anthem were unveiled during the installation of Encik Yusof bin Ishak as the first Malayan-born Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) on 3 December 1959 at the City Hall Chambers.
The National Pledge was written in 1966, a year after Singapore declared full independence. The other two National Symbols – the National Flower and the Lion Head Symbol – were introduced in the 1980s.
Former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Toh Chin Chye, who in 1959 headed a committee to conceive and create the National Flag and the State Crest, explained the need for National Symbols in an oral history interview with the National Archives of Singapore:
"They were necessary symbols… since although we were not really independent in 1959 but self-governing, it was necessary right from the beginning that we should rally enough different races together as a Singapore nation."
Dr Toh Chin Chye, 1989.
Click on the symbols above to discover the origins of Singapore’s National Symbols, as well as the significance of each National Symbol and the guidelines for their use.
Education and Outreach Division
National Heritage Board
2009
Back to National Symbols
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