New rendition of Majulah Singapura to be broadcast on Dec 3

SINGAPORE — Less than four months after local rock legend Ramli Sarip belted out his heartfelt rendition of Majulah Singapura at the National Day Parade, the national anthem will undergo another remake, this time to mark its 60th anniversary.

The new version will be broadcast across all Mediacorp, Singapore Press Holdings and Safra radio stations at 11.20am on Tuesday (Dec 3), 60 years after the anthem, the national flag and the state crest were unveiled.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu announced this on Sunday at the One Community Fiesta family sports festival held at Jurong Lake Gardens.

She did not disclose details on the newly recorded version other than that it is a rendition by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

“I think 60 years on, Singaporeans are wearing the flag proudly. They are singing the anthem proudly,” said Ms Fu.

Referring to the Southeast Asian games in the Philippines, she added: “Right now, our Team Singapore athletes are wearing the flag on their sleeves, proudly representing Singapore and if they win, they will be on the podium and the national anthem will be played.”

Majulah Singapura — which means onward Singapore — was composed by the late local composer Zubir Said in 1958 as an official song for the city council at the time.

When Singapore attained self-governance in 1959, then deputy prime minister Toh Chin Chye expressed interest in the song as it represented the region’s indigenous language and would appeal to all races.

It was later adapted and introduced as Singapore’s national anthem on Dec 3 that year.