National Icon

Do you think the Merlion would make the best national icon for Singapore?

"The Merlion is the best icon to represent SG".

I think that this statement is not true. To me, Merlion is just one of a sculpture for tourist attraction.Why is it not the best? I think that other icons like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Changi Airport, or even iconic food such as durian and chili crab can be used to represent Singapore.


Chili Crab, a famous dish in SG.


Durian that is only found in SG.


MBS, famous tourist attrsction


Changi Airport, world's 2nd best airport.

According to research, Merlions do not feature in any local folklore or myths of Singapore, it was only used in Singapore initially as the logo for tourism board.
As mentioned in the source, Merlions do not feature in any local folklore or myths of Singapore and I think, to be a national icon, I needs to show the uniqueness of Singapore and the history of us. However, Merlion don't really reflect on these 2 points. Although it is popular over years, I think it is just a tourist attraction and not a national icon. Some people think and assume that Merlion is build based on the Sang Nila Ultama story which is just a myth and is not true.
Instead of Merlion, another icon struck me. It is the Singapore River. Singapore River is already in Singapore since the building years from 1960s and even before, when Sir Stamford Raffles came to Singapore in 1819. It was there so much before when the Merlion was built on 1972. It "witnessed" Singapore through many years. More significantly, it shows the history of Singapore as it was a trading port that was of great importance, but smelled and was filled with rubbish in the past.


Singapore River in the 1900s.

In comparison to now, Singapore River is a clean river that flows through the central business district (CBD), where water can be taken from, for drinking. This showed Singapore's development with the cleaning of Singapore River. This is also an indication of how Singapore become a first world country from a third world country. Also, after the cleaning up, Mr Lee Kuan Yew often took strolls along the bank of the river.
Singapore River, to me, is a very special and unique icon where other countries do not have and signifies the history of Singapore too.


Singapore River in the present.