Singapore National Pledge

An animated display at the National Museum of Singapore featuring a portion of the National Pledge. The remainder of the Pledge, which does not appear in the photograph, is "[... so as to achieve ha]ppiness, prosperity and progress for our nation".

The Singapore National Pledge is an oath of allegiance to Singapore. It is commonly recited by Singaporeans in unison at public events, especially in schools, in the Singapore Armed Forces and during the National Day Parade.

Origin

The National Pledge was written by Sinnathamby Rajaratnam in 1966 shortly after Singapore's independence. Rajaratnam revealed that the dream was to build "a Singapore we are proud of". He believed that language, race and religion were divisive factors, but the Pledge emphasises that these differences can be overcome if Singaporeans cared enough about their country. The draft text was handed to the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who polished the text before submitting it to the Cabinet.

The Pledge

The National Pledge is:

English version

We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a "democratic" society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity
and progress for our nation.

Malay version

Kami, warganegara Singapura,
sebagai rakyat yang bersatu padu,
tidak kira apa bangsa, bahasa, atau agama,
berikrar untuk membina suatu masyarakat yang demokratik,
berdasarkan kepada keadilan dan persamaan
untuk mencapai kebahagiaan,
kemakmuran dan kemajuan bagi negara kami.

Chinese version

Simplified Chinese	Traditional Chinese	Pinyin
我们是新加坡公民， 誓愿不分种族、言语、宗教，团结一致， 建设公正平等的民主社会， 并为实现国家之幸福、繁荣与进步，共同努力。	我們是新加坡公民， 誓願不分種族、言語、宗教，團結一致， 建設公正平等的民主社會， 並為實現國家之幸福、繁榮與進步，共同努力。	Wǒ men shì Xīnjiāpō gōngmín, shìyuàn bù fēn zhǒngzú, yányǔ, zōngjiào, tuánjié yīzhì, jiànshè gōngzhèng píngděng de mínzhǔ shèhuì, bìng wèi shíxiàn guójiā zhī xìngfú, fánróng yǔ jìnbù, gòngtóng nǔlì.

Tamil version

Tamil script	Romanization
சிங்கப்பூர் குடிமக்களாகிய நாம் இனம்,மொழி,மதம் ஆகிய வேற்றுமைகளை மறந்து ஒன்றுபட்டு,நம் நாடு மகிழ்ச்சி,வளம்,முன்னேற்றம் ஆகியவற்றை அடையும் வண்ணம் சமத்துவத்தையும்,நீதியையும் அடிபடையாக கொன்ட ஐனாயக சமுதாயத்தை உருவாக்குவதற்கு உறுதி மேற்கொள்வோமாக!	Singapoor Kudimakkalaagiya naam,inam,mozhi,madham aaghiya vaetrumaeygalai marranthu,ondrupattu,nam naadu magizhchi,valam,munnethram aaghiya-vatrai adaiyum vannam samathuva-thayum,neethiyaiyum adippadaiyaaga kondha jananaayagha samuthaayathai uruvaakuvatharku uruthi merkolvom magal.

Guidelines for usage

The Singapore government's guidelines for the use of the pledge are:

1. The National Pledge is recited in schools on all school days ,either in the morning or afternoon, during SAF Day, during the National Day Parade, and at National Day Observance Ceremonies.
2. Individuals reciting the Pledge shall clench their right fists to the left side of their chests as a gesture to symbolise loyalty to the nation.
3. The Pledge shall not be used for any commercial purposes. (However, the pledge is used as the bridge of the National Day song "We are Singapore".)

References

External links

• National Pledge