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Singapore

Singapore Flag
Singapore
Singapore Flag
Flag

The current flag of Singapore has been unveiled in 1959, by the self-ruling government before independence. It has been used since then and even after independence in 1965. The red on the upper half of the flag symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man, while the white on the lower half stands for purity and virtue. The five stars stand for the ideals of democracy, peace, progress, equality, and justice, while the crescent moon represents the new Singapore heading for the five ideals.

Emblem

Singapore's national coat of arms is formed by a shield with a white crescent and five stars, a tiger standing on the right of the shield and a lion on the left. The lion represents Singapore itself and the tiger symbolizes the history related to Malaysia. The Malay lettering below the shield translates to "Onward Singapore."

Singapore Flag
Singapore Map
Capital : Singapore
  • Population

    5.64 million
    (2018)

  • Area

    718㎢
    (1.2 times larger than the Korean Peninsula)

  • Time zone

    GMT+8

  • Official name

    Republic of Singapore

  • Independence

    August 9, 1965 (Independence Day)

  • Climate

    Tropical climate with high temperatures and high humidity

  • Religion(s)

    Buddhist (33%), Muslim (18%), Christian (15%), Taoist (11%), Hindu (5%), others (19%)

  • Language(s)

    English (lingua franca), Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, Tamil

Singapore Timeline

  • 1824
    • Ceded in perpetuity to Britain's East India Company
  • 1942
    • Occupied by the Japanese Empire (until 1945)
  • 1946
    • Reverted to British control
  • 1959
    • Inauguration of Lee Kuan Yew as the first Prime Minister of Singapore
      Formation of a self-government
  • 1963
    • Merged to the Federation of Malaysia
  • 1965
    • Yusof bin Ishak appointed as the first president
      Gained independence from the Federation of Malaysia and amended the constitution (official name: Republic of Singapore)
  • 1967
    • Founded ASEAN
  • 1970
    • Death of President Yusof bin Ishak
  • 1971
    • Benjamin Sheares appointed as the second president
      British Far East Command disbanded
  • 1981
    • C. V. Devan Nair inaugurated as
      Death of former President Benjamin Sheares
  • 1985
    • Wee Kim Wee inaugurated as the fourth president
      C. V. Devan Nair resigned from presidency
  • 1990
    • Goh Chok Tong inaugurated as the second prime minister
      Normalization of diplomatic relations with China
  • 1991
    • Revision of the constitution; adoption of Direct presidential election (6-year term of presidency)
  • 1993
    • Presidential election
      Ong Teng Cheong inaugurated as the fifth president
  • 1999
    • Death of President S. R. Nathan Nathan elected and inaugurated as the sixth president
  • 2003
    • Dispute with Malaysia on the sovereignty over Pedra Branca
      Joint submission of the dispute to the ICJ
  • 2004
    • Lee Hsien Loong inaugurated as the third prime minister
  • 2005
    • Death of President S. R. Nathan Nathan reelected and inaugurated as president
  • 2011
    • New Cabinet line-up of Lee Hsien Loong (Senior Advisor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong resigned from the Cabinet)
  • 2015
    • Death of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
  • 2016
    • Death of President S. R. Nathan
  • 2017
    • Halimah Yacob elected and inaugurated as the eighth president
 
 
 
TipUseful information on the culture of Singapore
  • Singapore, as a multiracial country, respects the unique cultures and religious beliefs of different ethnic groups, pursuing harmonization within diversity. It encourages cultural events of different ethnicities, including Chinese, Malay, and Indian. - There is no state religion, but at least one religious holiday is observed per religion per year. The country is comprised of 33% of Buddhists, 18% of Christians (usually Chinese), 15% of Muslims (usually Malays), 11% of Taoists, 5% of Hindus (usually Indians), and more.
Major Cultural Events
  • Big events and festivals are held almost every month based on its multiracial and multicultural features.
  • River Hongbao : Held at the iconic Marina Bay floating platform to celebrate the Lunar New Year, visitors enjoy the appearance of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac as well as amusement ride, carnival games, and street performances.
  • Chingay Parade : The largest street performance of Asia started in 1973 as a street festival in celebration of the Chinese New Year. It developed over time to become an annual event where the cultural heritages of Singapore as a multiracial nation are presented. Cars with fancy decorations and dancing dragons appear in the parade.
  • Singapore International Festival of Arts : Since its commencement in 1977, the annual event hosted by the National Arts Council is held around May and June with different themes every year. The program is comprised of performing arts, such as plays, dances, and visual arts, as well as contemporary music with overseas performers.
  • Singapore Writers Festival : An annual event hosted by the National Arts Council of Singapore every November is a festival participated by professional writers from Asia and the world. The program is composed of book exhibitions, storytelling, meeting authors, and panel discussions.
  • Grand Prix Season Singapore : A motor racing event and one of the Formula One World Drivers' Champions that made its opening in 2008 and held every September. It is Asia's first F1 race held on the roads.
  • National Day Parade : The Singapore National Day Parade is an annual parade held every August 9 in celebration of the national independence. Visitors can enjoy military parades, multicultural singing and dancing performances, air shows, and fireworks.
  • Singapore International Film Festival : This film festival that has been held every November since 1987 is Singapore's largest film festival with the longest history.
Cultural Facilities and Organizations
  • Marina Bay Sands : The integrated resort that opened on April 27, 2010 is located in front of the Marina Bay with a hotel, casino, convention center, shopping mall, theater, and a museum. A total of USD 5.5 billion has been invested, being Singapore's greatest landmark since its opening. Two state-of-the-art theater with 4,000 seats features domestic and overseas performances from Broadway to Bollywood, as well as various concerts and gala shows. The ArtScience Museum with a lotus-shaped facade draws the attention of tourists and serves as a space where art-lovers can stop by and enjoy.
  • Esplanade - Theatre on the Bay : A total of SGD 600 million was invested to construct this main performance hall of Singapore, which was completed in October 2002. The facade shaped like a durian features performance halls with cutting-edge facilities and a shopping mall, making it the symbol of Singapore's culture and arts. There are a variety of performing halls, including a concert hall with 1,600 seats, a theater with 1,600 seats, a studio with 300 seats, and an outdoor performance hall.