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Malaysia
Persekutuan Tanah Malaysia
Last modified: 1998-01-07 by rob raeside
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Malaysian states:
- Johor
- Kedah
- Kelantan
- Kuala Lumpur
- Melaka
- Negeri Sembilan
- Pahang
- Penang
- Perak
- Perlis
- Sabah
- Sarawak
- Selangor
- Terengganu
Development of the flag
The modern Malaysian flag has 14 stripes and 14 points on the star, representing the 14 states in the federation, each of which has its own flag, as listed above. The flag has evolved through the years:
In 1895 a first Malay federation under a British protectorate was founded (including the four sultanates Peraq, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang). In 1905 a flag was introduced: horizontally white-red-yellow-black (each colour stands for one state, in the order listed here); in the center a lying oval in white with a running tiger (National Geographic, 1917).
In 1946 other sultanates joined, and the Malay Union was founded, two years later renamed the Malay Federation. In 1950 a new flag was introduced: the basic design is that preserved in the modern flag, but 11 stripes and an 11-pointed star, representing the number of constituent states. In 1963 three more states (Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) joined the federation and country's name changed to Malaysia. The common explanation for the addition of the 's' in the name is that all three new states start with this letter. The number of stripes on the flag was increased to 14 as was the numbers of points on the star.
The flag of Malaysia is a combination of traditional Islamic symbols and the Stars and Stripes. The 14 stripes and the 14 points of the star represents the 14 member states and the crescent and star represents the dominant religion Islam. The blue canton stands for affiliation to the Commonwealth. The dimension of the flag is 1:2.
by Jan Oskar Engene, 1996-06-24
A brief history:
- 1895: Formation of Federated Malay StateH2>
Yellow with state's arms surrounded by a wreath in white disc. Proportions 1:2
Civil Ensign
Malaysian civil ensign - red with national flag in canton bordered blue, ratio 1:2. From Flagmakers catalogue.
Zeljko Heimer, 1996-07-04
Naval Ensign
The emblem on Malaysia's naval ensign consists of an anchor and two crossed devices - probably swords or daggers. In Jane's the colour of the emblem is black, but I think dark blue is the appropriate colour. At least it is depicted as blue in Pedersen's Alverdens flag i farver (1970). According to Pedersen, the naval ensign was introduced in 1968. The national flag in the canton is outlined with a thin red line, so that the bottom white stripe appears correctly on the white field. There is no red cross in this ensign.
Jan Oskar Engene, 1996-09-19
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by Zeljko HeimerMalaysian civil ensign - red with national flag in canton bordered blue, ratio 1:2. From Flagmakers catalogue.
Zeljko Heimer, 1996-07-04
Naval Ensign
The emblem on Malaysia's naval ensign consists of an anchor and two crossed devices - probably swords or daggers. In Jane's the colour of the emblem is black, but I think dark blue is the appropriate colour. At least it is depicted as blue in Pedersen's Alverdens flag i farver (1970). According to Pedersen, the naval ensign was introduced in 1968. The national flag in the canton is outlined with a thin red line, so that the bottom white stripe appears correctly on the white field. There is no red cross in this ensign.
Jan Oskar Engene, 1996-09-19