Coats of arms of Penang

The civic coats of arms of Penang are largely based on the coat of arms of Penang first granted to the Settlement (now State) of Penang, then in the Federation of Malaya, by a Royal Warrant of King George VI dated 11 September 1949.

Between 1911 (the date of a previous Royal Warrant) and 1946, when the colony of the Straits Settlements was dissolved, the Settlement was represented in the Straits Settlements coat of arms by the second quarter, Argent on a mount an areca nut palm tree Proper. The Areca-nut palm is the tree from which Penang (Pulau Pinang, or "Areca-nut-palm Island") derives its name.

Contents

Settlement and state arms

The coat of arms as granted was blazoned [1]:

Shield: Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent upon a chief crenellée Or a plume of three ostrich feathers surmounted by a riband of the First on the riband the words Ich Dien in letters of the Third
Crest: On a wreath of the Colours upon a mount a Pinang or Areca-nut palm leaved and fructed Proper

The Prince of Wales's feathers and the motto Ich Dien referred to the fact that Penang was founded in 1786 as "Prince of Wales Island", while the blue and white bars are in reference to the Straits of Malacca that surround Penang island and separate it from Province Wellesley on the mainland.

The Areca-nut palm on the crest represents the origins of the Island's name.

The motto Bersatu dan Setia ("United and Loyal") was adopted by the Settlement Council of Penang in 1950[2] . As this was at the height of the Penang secession movement[3] , the motto may to many people at the time have referred to loyalty to the British Crown, rather than to the Federation of Malaya. Penang also has an unofficial motto, "Let Penang Lead". [4]

Present-day state arms

Subsequently, after the construction of the Penang Bridge in 1982-1985, the state coat of arms was changed to the present design,[5] which can be blazoned as:

Shield: Barry wavy of ten Azure and Argent upon a chief Or a depiction of the Penang Bridge Proper
Crest: On a wreath of the Colours upon a mount a Pinang or Areca-nut palm leaved and fructed Proper
Motto: "Bersatu dan Setia"

Municipal arms

The arms of the Municipal Council (from 1 January 1957, City Council) of George Town were granted by the English College of Arms on 4 September 1953[6], and are based on the arms of the Settlement of Penang:

Shield: Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent a plume of three ostrich feathers Proper tied with a riband Or a chief embattled of the Last
Crest: On a wreath of the Colours issuant from a wreath of palm Vert a lion passant guardant Azure
Motto: "Leading We Serve"

The motto is a combination of the motto of the Prince of Wales, Ich Dien (I serve), and the unofficial motto of Penang, "Let Penang Lead".

Present-day municipal arms

In 1974, the City Council of George Town was merged with the Penang Rural District Council to form the Municipal Council of Penang Island. The arms of the new municipality is displayed on a native shield and contains much local symbolism, but generally conforms to traditional English heraldic principles[7], and may be blazoned as follows:

Shield: Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent a chief embattled Or overall a Pinang or areca-nut palm leaved and fructed Proper
Crest: On a wreath of the Colours mantled Vert doubled Or a crescent therefrom issuant a mullet of the Last
Supporters: On a compartment of waves barry wavy Azure and Argent issuant therefrom a mount Vert two dolphins hauriant torqued of the First finned Or
Motto: "Memimpin Sambil Berkhidmat" ("Leading While Serving")

The Municipal Council of Province Wellesley, which replaced the North, Central and South Province Wellesley District Councils, does not have a regular coat of arms.

Notes

  1. ^ Commonwealth Relations Office List. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1960. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nS2fhytk1gcC. 
  2. ^ Penang Information Guide. Penang: K.H. Khaw. 1951. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CEcAAAAAMAAJ. 
  3. ^ A motion for Penang to secede from the Federation and to join Singapore as a separate British crown colony was narrowly defeated 15 votes to 10 in February 1949, mainly by the use of British official votes: see Christie (1996). A Modern History of Southeast Asia: Decolonization, Nationalism and Separatism. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 186064354X. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ehCWYZ13SPsC. 
  4. ^ Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, General Council) 34. 1953. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PhoNAQAAIAAJ. 
  5. ^ Bendera dan Lambing Negara dan Negeri Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of Information. 1963. 
  6. ^ Heritage: George Town's original coat of arms
  7. ^ MPPP - Introduction/Logo
National
States
Others