Do you know …

Majulah Singapura, meaning “Onward Singapore” was originally composed as an anthem for the City Council in 1958 to commemorate the reopening of Victoria Theatre after a major restoration.

Mr Ong Pang Boon, Deputy Mayor of the City Council of Singapore approached Encik Zubir Said, music composer for Cathay-Keris Film Company, in 1958, to write a theme song for the Council’s official functions. Encik Zubir Said subsequently made changes to the lyrics and tweaked the melody from the original City Council version into the version that became our state national anthem.

After some modifications and adaptations initiated by Dr Toh, “Majulah Singapura” was launched on 3 December 1959.

“Majulah Singapura”, as it is sung today is a new recording by Cultural Medallion winner, Mr Phoon Yew Tien. He launched it with a “grander and more inspiring
arrangement” as he wanted the national anthem to be “more accessible to all Singaporeans”.

Source MICA

In his oral history interview in 1984, Encik Zubir Said explained how he composed Majulah Singapura: “But the difficulty is in such a short melody, I have to put in all the words …it must be very simple, understandable for all the races in Singapore… I consult also an author in Malay language so that I can do it in proper Malay language but not too deep and not too difficult”.²

Source MICA

Why is the national anthem sung in Malay?

According to Dr Toh, the national anthem should be in Malay, “the indigenous language of the region, as English is not native to this part of the world.” He felt that the “Malay version of the national anthem would appeal to all races… it can be easily understood. And at the same time can be easily remembered…it must be brief, to the point; … and can be sung”.³

Source MICA

The original score of Majulah Singapura by Encik Zubir Said.

Source MICA

The current re-arranged version of “Majulah Singapura”.

² Oral History Interview, Zubir Said, 1984, National Archvies of Singapore, Accession 292
³ Oral History Interview, Dr Toh Chin Chye, National Archives of Singapore, 1989, Accession No. A1063, Reel 1