Adopted on December 3, 1959, after Singapore gained it’s independence from Malaysia, this flag consists of two horizontal stripes. The top stripe is red which stands for the universal brotherhood and the equality of man. The white, represents purity and virtue. On the left hand side of the red stripe sits a white crescent moon with five white pointed stars clustered to its right. The moon represents the young countries of Singapore on the rise and the five stars represent the nation’s ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.