Flag of Malaysia

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The flag of Malaysia, or known as Jalur Gemilang ("Stripes of Glory") comprises a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes along the fly and a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the Bintang Persekutuan or Federal Star. The 14 stripes, of equal width, represent the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government, while the 14 points of the star represent the unity between these entities. ^[1] The crescent represents Islam, the country's official religion; the yellow of the star and crescent is the royal colour of the Malay rulers; the blue canton symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people. This blue canton was originally chosen to represent a connection between the federation and the Commonwealth but this was gradually downplayed and eventually supplanted by its current interpretation. ^[2]

The flag of Malaysia was said to have been inspired by the flag of the United States and both share a field of alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton. It is also posited that the flag of Malaysia was inspired by red-and-white alternating striped flag that were used by the British East India Company, which was very active in the region.^[3]

In blazon, the Malaysian flag is described as: "A banner Gules, seven bars Argent; the canton Azure charged with decrescent and mullet of fourteen points Or." This means "a red flag with seven horizontal white stripes; the upper-left (hoist) quarter is blue with a yellow waning crescent (i.e. horns pointing to sinister) and a yellow 14-pointed star."

Contents 1 Federal Star (Bintang Persekutuan) 2 Maritime flags 3 Other ensigns 4 History 4.1 Selection 4.2 The Designer 4.3 Modifications 5 Mark of Respect 6 Gallery 7 Flag anthem 7.1 Original lyrics 7.2 English translation 8 References 9 See also

[edit] Federal Star (Bintang Persekutuan)

The Federal Star, which is similar in concept of Australia's Commonwealth Star, is also used on the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) flag, the Royal Malaysian Air Force roundel, and the United Malayan Banking Association (UMBC) logo.

[edit] Maritime flags

• Civilian vessels use as a civil ensign a red flag with the Jalur Gemilang in a blue-fimbriated canton.
• Government vessels use the Jalur Gemilang as the state ensign.
• Ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy use as a naval ensign a white flag with the Jalur Gemilang in a red-fimbriated canton and an emblem consisting of an anchor and two crossed traditional kris daggers in the fly.

[edit] Other ensigns

• Malaysian Army: red flag with the Jalur Gemilang in the canton and the army emblem in the fly.
• Royal Malaysian Air Force: a pale blue flag with the Jalur Gemilang in the canton and a federal star in the fly.
• Malaysian Coast Guard: a dark blue ensign with the Jalur Gemilang in the canton.

[edit] History

The flag of Malaysia, which was first raised on September 16, 1963, originated from the flag of the Federation of Malaya.

After the British started to collectively administer the eleven states of Malaya as a single entity, the idea of having a national flag was mooted. Prior to that, each state in Malaya had its own flag, many of which are unchanged in design to this very day.

[edit] Selection

When the Federation of Malaya replaced the short lived Malayan Union, the federation government through the Federal Legislative Council called for a design contest for a new flag. Three flags were forwarded to the public. The first flag had 11 white stars with two Malay kris daggers in the middle against a blue backdrop. The second flag "concentric circle of 11 stars around crossed keris on a blue field." The third "had 11 alternate red and white stripes and a yellow crescent and a five-pointed star on a blue background in the top left hand corner." The third design - by Mohamad Hamzah of the Public Works Department - was chosen as the winner through a public poll held by the Malay Mail. ^[4]Since Malaya was fighting the communists during the Malayan Emergency, the five-pointed star had the uncanny resemblance with the communists' symbols. Therefore, the star was modified to accommodate six more points.

The Malayan flag was approved by King George VI on 19 May 1950 and was first raised in front of Istana Selangor on 26 May 1950. On 31 August 1957, it was raised upon independence at Merdeka Square in place of the British Union Flag.

[edit] The Designer

The Malayan flag was designed by Mohamed Hamzah, a 29-year-old architect working for the Public Works Department (JKR) in Johor Bahru, Johor. He entered the Malayan flag design competition in 1947 with two designs which he completed within two weeks. The first design was a green flag with blue kris in the middle, surrounded by 15 white stars. The second design, which was among the three finalists, was similar to the current flag but with a five-pointed star. The competition attracted 373 entries and voting was made by the general public via post. Malayan senior statesman Dato' Onn Jaafar met with Mohamed Hamzah after he won the competition and suggested that the star be changed to an 11-pointed one to represent all the Malayan states.

Mohamed Hamzah died just short of his 75th birthday on 13 February 1993 in Jalan Stulang Baru, Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor.

[edit] Modifications

Following the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the design of the Malayan flag was modified to reflect and honour the new states in the federation.

Three additional stripes were added to the existing flag and the star was given 14 points to reflect the federation of the original 11 states in Malaya plus Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore; this design remained the same even after Singapore's expulsion from the federation two years later. When Kuala Lumpur was designated a federal territory on February 1, 1972, the additional stripe and the point in the star were appropriated to represent this new addition to the federation. Eventually, with the addition of two other federal territories — Labuan in 1984 and Putrajaya in 2001 — the fourteenth stripe and point in the star came to be associated with the federal government in general.

In 1997, when Malaysians were invited to name the flag, then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad picked the name Jalur Gemilang to project the country's onward drive towards continuous growth and success.

[edit] Mark of Respect

During the National Day celebrations, everyone is encouraged to fly the Jalur Gemilang at their homes, office buildings, shops and corporate premises.

• If the flag is fixed at home, it is to be raised pointing towards the road.
• If the flag is put in a group of flags with state and private company flags, the Malaysian flag must be raised in between two flags and its pole placed higher than the rest.

[edit] Gallery

Federated Malay States Flag from 1896 to 1950

Malaya Flag from 1950 to 1963

Malaysia Flag in current use

[edit] Flag anthem

The Jalur Gemilang flag anthem was introduced on 2000. The songs and lyrics was written by Pak Ngah.

[edit] Original lyrics

Merah membara semangat waja

Putihmu bersih budi pekerti

Kuning berdaulat payung negara

Biru perpaduan kami semua

Puncak dunia telah kau tawan

Lautan luas telah kau redah

Membawa semangat jiwa Merdeka

Semangat jaya kami warganya

Empat belas melintang jalurnya

Semua negeri dalam Malaysia

Satu suara satu semangat

Itu sumpah warga berdaulat

Jalur Gemilang dibawah naunganmu

Jalur Gemilang kami semua bersatu

Perpaduan kedaulatan

Amalan murni rakyat Malaysia

Jalur Gemilang megah kami terasa

Jalur Gemilang kibarkanlah wawasan

Merah, putih, biru, kuning

Jalur semangat kami semua

(2x)

Berkibarlah, berkibarlah, berkibarlah

Jalur Gemilang!

[edit] English translation

Blazing red with steely will

White so clean and kind of character

Sovereign yellow, the country's protector

Blue for all of us in unity

You have reached the heights of the world

You have traversed the wide waters

Bearing the spirit of Merdeka ('independence')

We are members of its successful will

Fourteen stripes across it

All the states of Malaysia

One voice, one spirit

So its sovereign citizens solemnly swear

Jalur Gemilang, beneath your care

Jalur Gemilang, we unite

Sovereign unity

Malaysian citizens' good charity

Jalur Gemilang, how proud we feel

Jalur Gemilang, proclaim our vision

Red, white, blue, yellow

Are the stripes of our resolve

(2x)

Fly, fly, fly

Jalur Gemilang!

[edit] References

1. ^ Flags Of The World Malaysia: Description
2. ^ Flags Of The World Malaysia: Origins
3. ^ Flags Of The World Malaysia: Origins
4. ^ Sonia Ramachandran. Golden Merdeka Memories: National flag chosen by people in one of country's first public polls. New Straits Times. August 18, 2006.

[edit] See also

• List of patriotic songs
• Emblem of Malaysia
• National flags inspired by the flag of Turkey
• Gallery of flags with crescents

National flags	National coats of arms
Flags of sovereign states	Coats of arms of sovereign states
Flags of dependent territories	Coats of arms of dependent territories
Flags of unrecognized states	Coats of arms of unrecognized states
Flags of micronations	Coats of arms of micronations
Flags of formerly independent states