Flag of Malaysia
National flag and state ensign. Flag ratio: 1:2The flag of Malaysia, also known as the 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 red of the stripes stands for the bloodshed and bravery to earn independence and the white stands for the people and economy of Malaysia.[2]
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." The first flag of independent Federation of Malaya was based on the Stars and Stripes of the United States, combined with Islamic symbolism. It had 11 red and white stripes and a blue canton, like the US flag, with a gold crescent and an eleven-pointed star, traditionally associated with Islam. Both the number of stripes and points on the star denoted the 11 states of the Federation. In 1963, Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia. To reflect this the flag of the Federation of Malaya was amended to 14 red and white stripes representing the 14 states. When Singapore seceded in 1965, the flag remained unaltered. The fourteenth stripe is now said to stand for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. The blue canton represents the unity of the Malaysian people. The crescent is for Islam, the dominant religion. The 14 points of the star are for unity among the states of the country. Yellow is the traditional color of the rulers of the Malay states. Red and white are also traditional colors in Southeast Asia.
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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.
Maritime flags
Civil ensign. Flag ratio: 1:2
Naval ensign. Flag ratio: 1:2- 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.
Other ensigns
Air Force ensign. Flag ratio: 1:2
- 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 the Bintang Persekutuan in the fly.
- Malaysian Coast Guard: a dark blue ensign with the Jalur Gemilang in the canton.
History
Flag ratio: 1:2. The Flag of Malaya in use from 1950 to 1963The 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.
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. [3]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.
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.
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.
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.
Gallery
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Flag anthem
The Jalur Gemilang flag anthem was introduced on 2000. The songs and lyrics was written by Pak Ngah.
Original lyrics
- Merahmu bara 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!
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 traveled 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!
References
- ↑ Flags Of The World Malaysia: Description
- ↑ Flags Of The World World Malaysia: Origins
- ↑ Sonia Ramachandran. Golden Merdeka Memories: National flag chosen by people in one of country's first public polls. New Straits Times. August 18, 2006.
See also
- List of Malaysian patriotic songs
- List of Malaysian flags
- Emblem of Malaysia
- Gallery of flags with crescents
External links
- Malaysia at Flags of the World
- Jalur Gemilang mp3
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