THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

 

 

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When the first fully-elected City Council in Singapore came into being 1057, it needed a theme song for its official functions.

The responsibility for composing it fell on Zubir Said who was then a popular song -writer of film music. "Majulah Singapura" was composed. Its title means "onward Singapore". The song was first performed in1958 at the opening of the newly-renovated Victoria Theatre

"Majulah Singapura" was adopted as the National Anthem when Singapore attained internal self-government in1959.

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 inn Malay, the national language of Singapore.