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Sarawak (Malaysia)

The Sarawak flag was adopted by the Parliament of Sarawak in 1988. The flag was first raised at the National Day parade in Kuching on August 31, 1988. At that time I received from the Sarawak government a brochure called: Bendera negeri Sarawak. Lambang negeri Sarawak. Lagu kebesaran negeri Sarawak. From this brochure stems the following transcription:

Interpretation of the three colours
Red Colour: symbolises the courage, determination and sacrifices of the people in their tireless pursuit to attain and maintain progress and esteem in the course of creating a model State;
Yellow Colour: denotes the supremacy of Law and Order, unity and stability in diversity.
Black Colour: symbolises the rich natural resources and wealth of Sarawak such as petroleum, timber etc. which provide the foundation for the advancement of the people;
The Yellow nine pointed Star denotes the nine divisions where the people live in harmony. The Star symbol also embodies the aspiration of the people of Sarawak in their quest to improve their quality of life.

Jos Poels, 6-AUG-1996

See also Sarawak in Brief by the Malaysia Information Services Sarawak.

Independent Kingdom of Sarawak (1842-1946)

by Zeljko Heimer

The flag was flown, I think, until about 1980. I have seen it drawn with the colours on the cross reversed, but I think this was the correct orientation. I believe the ratio is 2:3. The flag includes the yellow of Southeast Asian royalty (note yellow, black and white in the Brunei flag). The cross, half red, is probably derived from the St. Georges cross, since the first sovereign was born in England.

The Kingdom of Sarawak was founded by James Brooke. As a reward for help in putting down a revolt, the Sultan of Brunei, Muda Hasim, conceded West Borneo to Brooke. He was recogised as ruler in 1846, the "White Rajah of Sarawak", and was immortalised by the books of Emil Slagari. The Brooke dynasty continued until 1946 through his nephew, Charles Johnson Brooke (1868-1917) and Charles Vyner Brooke (1917-1946). At the extinction of the dynasty, following the testament of James Brooke, the kingdom was passed over to the British crown.
Jaume Oll�, 9-JUN-1996

It's interesting to see the state revert to the colours used by the Brooke family when they ruled the state as Rajahs, even if the Christian and monarchist symbolism of the cross and crown from the Brooke flag has been (understandably) dropped.
Roy Stilling, 27-JUL-1996

Republican Rebellion Flag (circa 1970)

The red over white with a blue triangle in the hoist appears to have been used for a republican rebellion in Brunei (circa 1970) which extended to Sarawak.
Jaume Oll�, 9-JUN-1997

In the 1960's a republican movement, with the support of Indonesia, used a flag in the same pattern as the Czech Republic, white over red, with the triangle in green.
Jaume Oll�, 9-JUN-1997