9781422275566

Singapore’s flag is fairly simple, consisting of two horizontal stripes that split the flag in half. Red is on the top, with white on the bottom. The red represents the equality of men, as

F L A G

well as brotherhood. White stands for purity and virtue. The upper left corner has a white image of a crescent moon and five stars forming a circle within its points. The flag was adopted in 1959, the year that the country became self- governing while still part of the British Empire. When the nation became independent in 1965, the flag was reconfirmed. Prior to 2004, individuals and nongovernmental organizations were not allowed to fly the flag except during the month of August, which marks the country’s anniversary of independence. That rule has since been relaxed. .

O F

S I D G A P O R E

8 SINGAPORE