# Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Rules 2003

Incorporating corrigenda published on G.N. No. S 1/2004 Date of revocation: 1 August 2023 (S 533/2023) Revoked by the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (Miscellaneous) (Revocation) Rules 2023, replaced by National Symbols Regulations 2023 (S 536/2023).
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​First published in the Government Gazette, Electronic Edition, on 31st December 2003 at 5:00 pm.
SINGAPORE ARMS AND FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM ACT (CHAPTER 296)
SINGAPORE ARMS AND FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM RULES 2003
ARRANGEMENT OF RULES
PART I PRELIMINARY :
| Rule | |
| 1. | Citation and commencement |
| 2. | Definitions |
| PART II USE AND DISPLAY OF ARMS ||
| 3. | Restricted use of Arms |
| PART III NATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY AUTHORITY AND COMMITTEE ||
| 4. | Display of Flag outside buildings |
| 5. | Flying of Flag on vehicles, vessels and aircraft |
| 6. | Manner of display of Flag |
| 7. | Hanging of Flag |
| 8. | Damaged Flag |
| 9. | Respect for Flag |
| 10. | Lowering to half-mast |
| PART IV NATIONAL ANTHEM ||
| 11. | Occasions for performing National Anthem |
| 12. | Respect for National Anthem |
| 13. | Musical arrangements of National Anthem ​ |
| PART V MISCELLANEOUS ||
| 14. | Penalties |
| 15. | Revocation |
| | The Schedules |
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Act, the President hereby makes the following Rules:
PART I PRELIMINARY
Citation and commencement
1. These Rules may be cited as the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Rules 2003 and shall come into operation on 1st January 2004.
Definitions
2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires—
"Arms" means the national coat of arms or State Crest of Singapore, which is depicted and described in the First Schedule;
"authorised officer" means any public officer authorised in writing by the Minister to exercise the powers conferred, and perform the duties imposed, on an authorised officer under these Rules;
"display", in relation to the Flag, includes exhibiting, flying or hanging the Flag;
"Flag" means the national flag of Singapore, which is depicted and described in the Second Schedule;
"Government department" means any department or office of the Executive, Legislative or Judicial branch of the Government;
​"National Anthem" means the national anthem of Singapore, the music score for the official arrangement and the official lyrics of which are set out in the Third Schedule;
"perform", in relation to the National Anthem, includes playing a recording of the National Anthem.
PART II USE AND DISPLAY OF ARMS
Restricted use of Arms
3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), no person shall, without the prior written permission of the Minister or any authorised officer—
    (a) print, publish, manufacture, sell, offer for sale or exhibit for sale;
    (b) cause to be printed, published, manufactured, sold, offered for sale or exhibited for sale;
    (c) send, distribute or deliver to, or serve on, any other person; or
    (d) cause to be sent, distributed or delivered to, or served on, any other person,
any writing, material or object in or on which appears the Arms or any token, insignia, emblem or other thing that so nearly resembles the Arms as to be capable of being mistaken for the Arms.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), no person shall, without the prior written permission of the Minister or any authorised officer, use or apply the Arms on any writing, material or object.
(3) This rule shall not prohibit—
    (a) the display of the Arms by any Government department on or within the premises of any building owned by the Government or occupied by one or more Government departments; or
    (b) the use or application of the Arms on any writing, material or object produced or commissioned by any Government department, or any public officer, for the purposes of the Government.
PART III USE AND DISPLAY OF FLAG
Display of Flag outside buildings
4.—(1) When the Flag is displayed outside a building, it shall be displayed on or in front of the building.
(2) At any time other than during the period referred to in paragraph (3), when the Flag is displayed outside a building or in an open space—
    (a) it shall be flown from a flagpole; and
    (b) it shall not be flown at night unless it is properly illuminated.
(3) At any time during the period starting from 1st August and ending on 31st August of each year, when the Flag is displayed outside a building or in an open space—
    (a) it may, but need not, be flown from a flagpole; and
    (b) it may be displayed at night without being properly illuminated.
Flying of Flag on vehicles, vessels and aircraft
5.—(1) The Flag shall not be flown on any motor vehicle except a motor vehicle in which—
    (a) the President is travelling; or
    (b) any Minister is travelling on official business.
(2) The Flag shall not be flown on any vessel or aircraft except—
    (a) a Government vessel or aircraft; or
    (b) such other vessel or aircraft as may be authorised under any written law to fly the Flag.
Manner of display of Flag
6.—(1) Subject to international practice, the Flag shall take precedence over all other flags when displayed in Singapore.
(2) When the Flag is displayed with any other flag or flags, the Flag shall be displayed prominently, in the position of honour and, where practicable, above all other flags.
​(3) When raised or carried in a procession with any other flag or flags, the Flag shall be raised or carried—
    (a) in front of the other flag or flags in a single file, or in the position of honour if the other flag or flags are carried side-by-side with the Flag; and
    (b) high on the right shoulder of the standard bearer.
(4) The Flag shall not be displayed below any other flag, emblem or object.
(5) When the Flag is displayed on a platform or stage, the Flag shall—
    (a) be above all decorations;
    (b) subject to sub-paragraph (c), be behind and above any person speaking from the platform or stage; and
    (c) if displayed from a staff standing on the platform or stage, be on the right side of any person speaking from the platform or stage.
(6) The Flag shall not be displayed or carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(7) The Flag shall not be dipped in salute to any person or thing.
(8) In this rule, unless the context otherwise requires—
    "flag" means any flag that is not the national flag of another State;
    "position of honour", in relation to the display of the Flag side-by-side with, and at the same level as, any other flag or flags, means—
       (a) the left as seen by any spectator facing—
          (i) the Flag and the other flag or flags; or
          (ii) the building on which, or in front of which, the Flag and the other flag or flags are flown; or
       (b) where the Flag and the other flag or flags are carried in a procession, the right as seen by the standard bearers.
​Hanging of Flag
7. When the Flag is hung—
    (a) the Flag shall be hung against a vertical wall or other vertical flat surface; and
    (b) the crescent and stars shall be on the top left position as seen by any spectator facing the Flag and the wall or surface, as the case may be.
Damaged Flag
8. No person shall display, or cause to be displayed, any Flag that is damaged or faded.
Respect for Flag
9.—(1) No person shall treat the Flag with disrespect.
(2) No person in possession of the Flag shall allow or cause the Flag to touch the floor or ground, even when lowering the Flag from a staff or flagpole.
(3) The Flag shall not be—
    (a) used in any trademark or for any commercial purpose;
    (b) used as a means, or for the purposes, of advertisement;
    (c) used as, or as part of, any furnishings, decoration, covering or receptacle;
    (d) displayed or used at any private funeral activity; or
    (e) incorporated or worn as part of any costume or attire.
(4) No person shall produce or display any flag which bears any graphics or word superimposed on the design of the Flag.
(5) Paragraph (4) shall not apply to the production by or on behalf of, or the display by, any Government department of its flag.
Lowering to half-mast
10.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Flag shall be flown at full mast.
(2) The Flag may be lowered to half-mast in the event of the death of an important personage or mourning affecting the nation.
PART IV NATIONAL ANTHEM
Occasions for performing National Anthem
11.—(1) The National Anthem shall be performed when the President receives a general salute.
(2) The National Anthem may be performed or sung on any appropriate occasion.
Respect for National Anthem
12. When the National Anthem is performed or sung, every person present shall stand up as a mark of respect.
Musical arrangements of National Anthem
13.—(1) Any person performing or singing the National Anthem shall perform or sing the National Anthem according to the official arrangement in the Third Schedule or any other arrangement permitted under paragraph (2).
(2) The National Anthem may be rearranged in any manner that is in keeping with the dignity due to the National Anthem, subject to the following conditions:
    (a) the National Anthem shall not be incorporated into any other composition or medley; and
    (b) every arrangement of the National Anthem shall accurately reflect the complete tune and the complete official lyrics of the National Anthem.
(3) Any person who sings the National Anthem—
    (a) shall follow the official lyrics in the Third Schedule; and
    (b) shall not sing any translation of those lyrics.
PART V MISCELLANEOUS
Penalties
14.—(1) Any person who knowingly contravenes rule 3 (1) or (2) in relation to the Arms shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(2) Any person who knowingly—
    (a) does any act in relation to the Flag in contravention of any of the provisions of rule 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 (3) or 10; or
    (b) contravenes rule 8 or 9 (4) in relation to the Flag,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(3) Any person who knowingly performs or sings the National Anthem in contravention of rule 13 (1) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(4) Any person, who without reasonable excuse, contravenes rule 9 (1) or (2) or 12 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Revocation
15. The Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Rules (R 1) are revoked.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Rule 2
NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS OF SINGAPORE
The National Coat of Arms of Singapore or State Crest consists of a shield on which is emblazoned a white crescent moon and 5 white stars against a red background. Supporting the shield shall be a lion on the left and a tiger on the right. Below the shield shall be a banner with the words "Majulah Singapura" inscribed on it.
SECOND SCHEDULE
Rule 2
NATIONAL FLAG
The National Flag consists of 2 equal horizontal sections, red above white. In the upper left canton is a white crescent moon beside 5 white stars arranged in a circle. The red colour symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man. The white colour signifies pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascendant, and the 5 stars stand for the nation’s ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
THIRD SCHEDULE
Rules 2 and 13 (1) and (3)
NATIONAL ANTHEM
MAJULAH SINGAPURA
Mari kita rakyat Singapura Sama-sama menuju bahagia Cita-cita kita yang mulia Berjaya Singapura
Marilah kita bersatu Dengan semangat yang baru Semua kita berseru Majulah Singapura Majulah Singapura
​Made this 23rd day of December 2003.
By Command, ONG KOK MIN Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore.
This work is Singaporean legislation (Act of Parliament or subsidiary legislation), which is copyrighted in Singapore for 70 years after publication pursuant to
* sections 114(1) and 136(1)(b) of the Copyright Act 2021, or
* section 197(3)(b) of the repealed Copyright Act (Cap. 63, 2006 Rev. Ed.) for legislation published before 21 November 2021.
However, as an edict of a government, it is in the public domain in the U.S.
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