National Anthem Comparison
Malaysia vs Singapore
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
1
1 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Malaysia and Singapore, both Asia nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Malaysia's "My Country" was written in 1957, while Singapore's "Onward Singapore" dates to 1958.
Both anthems share themes of unity and prosperity. Malaysia additionally explores love of homeland, god / faith and monarchy, while Singapore also touches on hope.
The emotional tones differ: Malaysia's anthem is majestic, while Singapore's is hopeful.
Shared themes
Malaysia
❤ Love of homeland 🤝 Unity 🌾 Prosperity ✝ God / Faith 👑 Monarchy
Singapore
🤝 Unity 🌅 Hope 🌾 Prosperity
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity 🌾 Prosperity
Metadata
| Malaysia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1957 | 1958 |
| Adopted | 1957 | 1965 |
| Lyricist | Collective | Zubir Said |
| Composer | Melody of 'La Rosalie' (attributed to Pierre-Jean de Béranger) | Zubir Said |
| Language | ms | ms |
| Region | Southeast Asia | Southeast Asia |
Lyrics Side by Side
Malaysia
Negaraku
Original
Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku,
Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju,
Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita selamat bertakhta.
Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita selamat bertakhta.
Translation
My country, my native land,
The people live united and progressive,
May God bestow blessing and happiness,
May our King reign in peace.
May God bestow blessing and happiness,
May our King reign in peace.
Singapore
Majulah Singapura
Original
Mari kita rakyat Singapura
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya Singapura
Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura
Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura
Translation
Come, fellow Singaporeans,
Let us march together towards happiness.
Our noble aspiration
Is a successful Singapore.
Come, let us unite
With a new spirit.
Together we proclaim:
Onward Singapore!
Onward Singapore!
Come, let us unite
With a new spirit.
Together we proclaim:
Onward Singapore!
Onward Singapore!
Interesting facts
Malaysia
- 1. The melody is usually traced to 'La Rosalie', a 19th-century French love song often attributed to Pierre-Jean de Béranger; by the best-known account it was heard in the Seychelles, where Sultan Abdullah of Perak lived in exile, and became Perak's state anthem, though versions of the story differ
- 2. Malaysia's king is elected for a five-year term by and from the rulers of the nine Malay states, seven of whom are sultans; in practice the office rotates among them, making Malaysia one of the world's few elective monarchies
- 3. The anthem is sung in Malay, which serves as the national language uniting Malaysia's diverse Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous communities
Singapore
- 1. Even though the majority of Singapore's population is ethnically Chinese, the anthem may only be sung in its original Malay words: under the National Symbols Regulations 2023, knowingly singing a translation is an offence punishable by a fine of up to S$5,000
- 2. Composer Zubir Said was actually born in Indonesia and immigrated to Singapore in the 1920s
- 3. Singapore's anthem was originally written for the reopening of the Victoria Theatre in 1958
- 4. When the state anthem was chosen in 1959, Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye argued that it should be in Malay, 'the indigenous language of the region', which would appeal to all races
Listen
Malaysia
Singapore
