National Day celebrations . Singaporeans are encouraged to display the national flag outside their homes during
National Day celebrations, and residents' committees, particularly those of public housing estates, often arrange co-ordinated displays. However, some Singaporeans decline to do so as they associate it with the ruling
People's Action Party, rather than with the nation. During the period beginning 1 July and ending on 30 September of each year, any person may, without the need for the approval of the Minister under paragraph (4), "incorporate the Flag or an image thereof as part of any costume or attire except that he shall do so in a manner that does not give rise to any disrespect to the Flag". Since 1970, as part of the National Day celebrations, a large national flag is flown around by a helicopter across Singapore. From 1970 to 1979, the
Alouette III was used, and in its first appearance the flag was around the size of a pool table. The Alouette III was followed by the
UH-1H Huey from 1980 to 1985, and the
Super Puma from 1986 to 2000. Since 2000, the
CH-47 Chinook has flown the flag for National Day celebrations, with its size being around that of a basketball court. In 2019, it was reintroduced as the Fly Our Flag segment of the National Day celebrations, where two CH-47 Chinooks fly the national flag around the
western and
eastern areas of Singapore before converging back in
central; they are accompanied by two
AH-64D Apaches. On National Day in 2007 at the
Padang, 8,667 volunteers holding up red and white umbrellas formed the largest-ever representation of Singapore's flag at an event organised by Young NTUC, a youth movement associated with the
National Trades Union Congress.
At other times Outside the National Day celebrations period, the national flag of Singapore is flown from all buildings housing government and government-related departments, such as armed forces installations, court houses, offices, and educational institutions. A picture of the flag is commonly found in each classroom, and schools conduct ceremonies at the beginning and/or the end of the school day at which the national flag is raised, the
national anthem is sung and the
national pledge is taken. The national flag is sometimes flown by Singapore-registered vessels, although this is considered incorrect, as such vessels are required to hoist proper
national colours either when entering or leaving port. The
ensign is red and charged with a circle enclosing a crescent surmounted by five stars in a circle, all in white. The government makes announcements regarding the lowering of the flag to half-mast in the event of a death of an important personage or mourning affecting the nation. on 9 January 2005 as a mark of respect for those who perished in the
2004 Asian tsunami disaster, and on 19 September 2022 on the day of
the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
In popular culture . with the national flag at the
2023 SEA Games. Singaporean composer Lim Su Chong composed a song in 1969 entitled "Five Stars Arising" which took the elements of the national flag as its theme. The lyrics of the song speak of a new moon, five stars, and a new flag "arising out of the stormy sea". The moon is "youthful and bright and bearing hope, and tranquil as can be", each of the stars is "a lamp to guide our way; a lamp for all to see" and the flag is "crimson as the blood of all mankind, yet white and pure and free". The song is one of
Singapore's patriotic songs and often sung during National Day celebrations. There have been several notable cases on the misuse of the flag. In January 2003, Singaporean artist Justin Lee Chee Kong was prevented by the
Media Development Authority (MDA) from exhibiting a painting entitled
Double Happiness— A Fantasy in Red, which consisted of the flag with red
Chinese characters for
double happiness on it. The MDA cited the move on the grounds that "the National Flag is a national symbol and no words or graphics should be superimposed on it". Lee reported that the work was simply a display of one's love for their country and an expression of joy at Singapore's success, and in a press statement, he asked that the piece be "treated as an artistic and complimentary interpretation of a national icon". When interviewed by
The New Paper, he said "I know as a citizen that we are not allowed to do it, but this is art and I am an artist." He also complained about double standards as a Chinese artist,
Gu Wenda, had recently exhibited a national flag made of hair at the
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Lee felt the use of hair to create the nation's flag meant that the flag was in the wrong colours, and was distasteful.
The Rolling Stones performed in Singapore as part of their 2002/2003
Licks World Tour. At the first performance, there were two
inflatable dolls on stage. Both of the dolls had flags placed in their crotch area; one had the Rolling Stones logo and the other had a Singapore flag. The dolls and the flags were removed from the second concert by the organiser. In August 2007, a Singaporean pub, Loof, sent an email to at least 1,500 members on its mailing list featuring a close-up shot of the crotch of a female model wearing a red swimsuit or pair of underpants bearing the crescent and five stars. This was done as part of the pub's publicity campaign for its National Day events. According to Loof's marketing manager, "[T]he ad was definitely not meant as an insult to the country or anyone. I hope that the ad will be taken in the spirit of humour and fun." A majority of people polled by
The New Paper felt the advertisement was disrespectful and in bad taste. MICA eventually stated that the advertisement did not breach the law as it did not fully incorporate the flag's design, with the red and white background being left out. However, director of MICA's National Resilience Division K. U. Menon said: "MICA does not encourage such ads which treat the national flag with disrespect. [...] Symbols should be treated with some measure of dignity and we hope Loof will withdraw the ad on its own initiative." During the
2010 Asian Games held in China, the Singaporean men's water polo team's swim trunks came under controversy for inappropriately displaying the crescent moon positioned in the centre of the brief, directly over the crotch area. Critics deemed the garment insulting and an embarrassment to the country. The team was unable to modify the design further as competition rules did not permit the changing of a uniform midway through the Games. The team was apologetic over the blunder and promised to tweak the design after the competition. The garment had been designed by the team without prior approval from the authorities. ==Variant flags==