Ask yourself as Singaporeans, how many can remember the words to Majulah Singapura 100% and truly knows the meaning of each word? Then ask your friends around you the same question.
It may sound like a sensitive proposition, but Singapore is well known for changing with times. The younger generations have no grasp of the supposedly official language Malay. For most of them, it is simply just memorising the song and singing it during school assemblies and some functions. The effects of a national anthem should be one that people can easily identify with and that citizens embed the meaning behind those words that they will experience some fervent patriotism to their homeland.
Bearing that in mind, shouldn’t the National Anthem be in English where most people on the island would easily identify the language and meaning? Frankly, I think there are more people who could sing, “Stand Up For Singapore” or “Count On Me Singapore” than Majulah Singapura.
If the official language of the country is Malay, why should we change the national anthem to English? I think that the school should teach the students what the words of the national anthem mean. At least then, they’ll know the meaning behind it and not murder the words of the national anthem with their awful pronunciation.
I agree
Why do you want to change it?
After all Singapore is part of the Malay Archipelago
I agree with changing it to English. I have no idea what the national anthem means even though I can sing it. Doesn’t make any sense.
Mintea - Singapore has 4 official languages, not just Malay. The author was not proposing changing the language to Mandarin or Tamil, but English which EVERYBODY has to learn to speak, not just a subset of the population.
Sultan - What does being part of the Malay Archipelago have to do with the language of the national anthem? Shouldn’t it be something that people can understand and identify with?
Another thing - why are all army commands in Malay? Again, make it easier for everyone and do the commands in English.