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Our
National Anthem...
The responsibility for composing it fell on Zubir Said, then a popular songwriter of file music. "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) was first performed in 1958 at the opening of the newly-renovated Victoria Theatre. "Majulah Singapura" was adopted as the National Anthem when Singapore attained internal self-government in 1959. It was formally launched in December 1959 during "Loyalty Week", which marked the installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara as Singapore's first Head of State. When Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965, "Majulah Singapura" was retained as the Republic's anthem. It is sung in Malay, our national language.
The Pledge embodies our national creed and its recital during morning assemblies in our schools, is done with the right fist clenched over the heart to show sincerity. The words were penned by Mr S. Rajaratnam, then a Cabinet Minister, who had started his working life as a journalist.
A lesser known fact is that the lion's tenacious mien symbolises the nation's single-minded resolve to face any challenges and overcome any obstacles.
Each flower can bear up to 12 buds and is about 5 centimeter wide and 6 centimeter tall. The petals and dorsal sepal are pink with shades of violet while the lateral sepals are almost white.
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The
Lion symbolises courage, strength and excellence. Based on Singapore's
national colours, the Singapore Lion is red, set against a white background.
The five partings in its mane, like the five stars in the National Flag
signify the five ideals of democracy, pace, progress, justice and equality.
Our
National Flower is the Vanda Miss Joaquim, an orchid hybrid between the
species V Teres and V Hookeriana. It was first discovered in Singapore
in 1893 in the garden of Miss Agnes Joaquim (hence its name) but only chosen
to be the National Flower in 1981.
