On This Date In 1959, The Flag Of Singapore, Majulah Singapura, And Coat Of Arms Were Unveiled

On this date 65 years ago (3 Dec 1959), the very first day of National Loyalty Week was held. It was a 7-day affair designed to rally the people around the new state of Singapore – a self-governing state under British rule.

This milestone moment saw the unveiling of our national symbols: the state flag, the national anthem Majulah Singapura, and the state crest.

Day 1 of National Loyalty Week

The celebrations began at City Hall (now the National Gallery) where Yusof Ishak was sworn in as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara. A 17-gun salute thundered across the Padang as the new Head of State made his appearance on the steps of City Hall.

At precisely 11.20am, Singapore’s brand-new state flag was unfurled to the rousing strains of Majulah Singapura, played for the first time as our national anthem; 25,000 Singaporeans gathered at the Padang to witness history in the making.

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew addressed the crowd, calling on Singaporeans to unite under our new symbols of identity and pledge our loyalty to the nation.

The flag, national anthem, and state crest were the result of months of meticulous work by a committee led by then-Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye. Here’s how they came to be:

IMAGE: UNSPLASH/@JUSTINLIM

Our national flag flying high

The Singapore flag’s design was finalised in just two months. The red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality, while white stands for purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents Singapore as a young, rising nation, and the five stars stand for democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.

Several designs were considered including an all-blue flag, and a flag with both blue and white. Dr Toh had originally wanted an all-red flag, but that idea was scrapped due to its potential association with communism.

When it was decided to go with red and white, there was one concept with only three stars. Two more stars were added later. The crescent was the final touch, because the stars did not look “balanced” on their own.

Zubir Said's handwritten score displayed at the National Museum of Singapore. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Majulah Singapura, a song for the nation

Before Majulah Singapura became our national anthem, it was commissioned by the City Council of Singapore in 1958. Ong Eng Guan, then-mayor of the city council, wanted an official song for the council’s functions.

Written by composer Zubir Said, the tune is as uplifting as its title, which means "Onward Singapore" in Malay. The original Majulah Singapura was performed by the Singapore Chamber Ensemble on 6 Sep 1958 to celebrate the Victoria Theatre’s reopening.

When Singapore gained self-governance in 1959, Ong reminded Dr Toh about Majulah Singapura. It was a natural choice for the national anthem for its patriotic lyrics. 

It was shortened and polished by Zubir and a team of musicians: Paul Abisheganaden, conductor of the Singapore Chamber Ensemble; Dick Abel, a conductor with the Radio Singapore Orchestra; the Military Forces Band, and the Berlin Chamber Orchestra.

By the end of 1959, schools were teaching it to students, and the anthem was unanimously accepted by our first state government, the Legislative Assembly.

Fun fact: during National Loyalty Week, a special phone line let Singaporeans dial in to listen to the anthem – a service so popular it overloaded the phone system!

The Singapore Coat of Arms on the Gates of the Istana. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The Singapore Coat of Arms in colour. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The national coat of arms, our symbol of pride

The state crest (or our coat of arms) was also revealed on 3 Dec 1959, designed to symbolise Singapore as a self-governing state.

The crest features a red shield bearing the iconic crescent moon and five stars, flanked by a lion and a tiger. The tiger symbolises Singapore’s historic ties with Malaya, while the lion represents the island itself, bold and unyielding. A banner with the words “Majulah Singapura” sits proudly below the shield, tying everything together with patriotic flair.

The colours red and white carry the same meaning as on the flag: brotherhood, equality, purity, and virtue. The crescent moon and stars further embody Singapore’s ideals and its status as a young nation with big dreams.

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