According to Singapore at a Glance, the national flag of Singapore is red and white, divided in half horizontally. The bottom half is white, while the top half is red and has, in the upper left-hand corner, a white crescent moon and five white stars arranged in a pentagon shape.
Singapore is located just off the very southern tip of the island nation of Malaysia, which made it an ideal site for trading with Asian nations. According to Singapore at a Glance, Great Britain established a trading port at Singapore in 1819. Britain continued to rule Singapore for another 140 years.
After decades of increasing demand by the natives of Singapore for more control over their government, the nation held its first general election in May 1959 and chose representatives for its new legislature. Gov. Sir William Goode proclaimed the new constitution in force on June 3. Lew Kuan Yew took on the role of Singapore's first prime minister two days later.
In preparation for the installation of Gov. Goode as Yang de-Pertuan Negara, or official head of state, a committee led by Dr. Toh Chin Chye designed a new national flag to replace the British Union Jack. On Dec. 3, 1959, the public saw the flag for the first time. The new state crest and new national anthem were introduced then, as well. When Singapore became completely independent in 1965, it officially adopted the national flag as its permanent symbol.
The color red in the flag stands for the equality of man and universal brotherhood. The color white symbolizes purity and virtue. According to Singapore at a Glance, "The crescent moon represents a rising young nation. The five stars stand for the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality." While acknowledging the diverse origins of the people who make up Singapore's population, the nation continues to express its commitment to these egalitarian concepts through the design of its flag.
