Coat of arms of Singapore

Golden coat of arms of Singapore found at the gate of Istana Singapore.

The coat of arms of Singapore was adopted in 1959, along with the other national symbols of Singapore. Using elements from the national flag, the coat of arms symbolises the current state and honours its cultural links with Malaysia. While the use of the coat of arms is restricted to the government, the symbol enjoys wide use on the national currency, state decorations and appears on the cover of the national passport.

Contents

History

When Singapore achieved the right of self-government in 1959, the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew needed a state coat of arms, among other symbols, to be created for the new state. Before self-governance, the coat of arms used by Singapore was the coat of arms of the United Kingdom.[1] A committee was formed to create the state symbols, which was headed by deputy prime minister Toh Chin Chye. Just like with the national flag, Toh wanted the state symbols of Singapore to signify the united multi-ethnic society of the country. In the span of two months, the state coat of arms and the flag were completed by Toh and his committee. A law establishing the state symbols of Singapore was presented to the National Assembly by the Minister of Culture, S Rajaratnam. The National Assembly approved it in November 1959. On 3 December 1959, the state coat of arms, flag and anthem was presented to the people of Singapore for the first time.[2]

When tasked with the creation of the state symbols, Toh said in a 1989 interview that "[A]part from the anthem we have to produce the flag and the crest" and he felt that the new flag of Singapore should be flying next to the Union Jack.[3] Toh further stated about the design of the state coat of arms:

In the case of the state crest, again we got the five stars and the new moon… A lion next to the tiger. Tiger of course is a more local animal than the lion. The old City Council had a lion. It did merge with our own ideas of self governing of Singapore.[3]

Symbolism

The central emblem of the coat of arms is a red shield with five white stars resting above a white crescent. The crescent and five stars are also used on the Singapore flag and other various national symbols, such as the national ensign for civilian ships. The symbolism of the red colour, along with the white crescent and stars is the same as that of the national flag.[4] The supporters of the shield are a lion and a tiger; the tiger symbolizes the historical connections to Malaysia and the lion represents Singapore.[5] Below the supporters is a blue ribbon with the national motto, "Majulah Singapura" written in gold.[5] "Majulah Singapura", which is Malay for "Onward Singapore", is also the title of the national anthem of Singapore.

Uses

Reverse of the 10 cent coin, with the coat of arms in the centre

Starting in 1985, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) began to issue their second series of coins for circulation. On the reverse of the coins, the coat of arms is placed, surrounded by the name of Singapore in the four official languages (Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English) and the year of minting. In 1987, the dollar coin was circulated, also with this same pattern.[6] Also, according to the MAS, the coat of arms appears on all Singaporean banknotes since the Orchid series of 1967.[7] State decorations of Singapore also use depictions of the coat of arms on the medallions. For example, the Darjah Utama Temasek and the Sijil Kemuliaan uses the full achievement of arms on the medallion[8][9], while the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang uses the shield on the front of the medal.[10]

Guidelines

According to the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Rules, the use of the coat of arms is restricted to the government. Without explicit permission from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), a person or group are not allow to physically print, manufacture, display or selling anything that has a depiction of the coat of arms and not allow to cause such actions to happen. It is also forbidden to use a symbol that can be easily mistaken for the coat of arms. Persons who wish to use the coat of arms in a literary work must also obtain permission before use from MICA. The only exceptions provided by the Rules is the arms can be used by government officials and ministries on their building exteriors and on printed documents.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "State Crest". Singapore: The Encyclopedia. Editions Didier Millet and the National Heritage Board. 2008. http://wwww.singapedia.com.sg/entries/s/state_crest.html. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
  2. ↑ Zaubidah Mohamed (9 June 2003). "National coat of arms (State crest)". Infopedia. National Library Board Singapore. http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_54_2005-01-25.html. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Toh, Chin Chye (1989). Dr. Toh Chin Chye [oral history interview, accession no. A1063, reel 1]. National Archives of Singapore. : "State symbols". Access to Archives Online (a2o), National Archives of Singapore. http://www.a2o.com.sg/a2o/public/html/etc/07_symbol.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-04. 
  4. ↑ Second Schedule of the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Rules (Cap. 296, R 1, 2004 Rev. Ed.), as amended by the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (Amendment) Rules 2007 (S 377/2007). See also Lee, Kuan Yew (1998). The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore: Times Editions. pp. 342–343. ISBN 9812049835 (hbk.). 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The National Coat of Arms (State Crest)". Ministry of Information,Communications and the Arts. 2004. http://www.sg/explore/symbols_coatarms.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-24. 
  6. ↑ "Singapore Circulation Coins - Second Series". Monetary Authority of Singapore. 19 March 2007. http://www.mas.gov.sg/currency/currency_info/coins/second_series/Singapore_Circulation_Coins_Second_Series.html. Retrieved 2008-12-24. 
  7. ↑ "Singapore Circulation Notes - Orchid Series". Monetary Authority of Singapore. 19 March 2007. http://www.mas.gov.sg/currency/currency_info/notes/orchid_series/Singapore_Circulation_Notes_Orchid_Series.html. Retrieved 2008-12-24. 
  8. ↑ "National Honours and Awards - The Order of Temasek". Office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. 11 December 2008. http://www.pmo.gov.sg/NationalHonoursandAwards/Darjah+Utama+Temasek+(The+Order+of+Temasek).htm. Retrieved 2008-12-24. 
  9. ↑ "National Honours and Awards - The Certificate of Honour". Office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. 26 September 2008. http://www.pmo.gov.sg/NationalHonoursandAwards/Sijil+Kemuliaan+(The+Certificate+of+Honour).htm. Retrieved 2008-12-24. 
  10. ↑ "National Honours and Awards - The Distinguished Service Order". Office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. 26 September 2008. http://www.pmo.gov.sg/NationalHonoursandAwards/Darjah+Utama+Bakti+Cemerlang+(The+Distinguished+Service+Order).htm. Retrieved 2008-12-24. 
  11. ↑ Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Rules (Cap. 296, R 1, 2004 Rev. Ed.), as amended by the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (Amendment) Rules 2007 (S 377/2007).

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