Flag of Malaysia

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Malaysia

Name

Jalur Gemilang ("Stripes of Glory")

Use

National flag

Proportion

1:2

Adopted

26 May 1950 (original 11-point star and 11 stripes)

16 September 1963 (current 14-point star and 14 stripes)

Design

Fourteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white; in

the canton, a yellow crescent and 14-point star on a blue
field

Designed by Mohamed Hamzah[N 1]

The flag of Malaysia, also known as the Jalur Gemilang (Malay for "Stripes of Glory"),
[1]
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 (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.
[2]
The crescent represents Islam, the country's official religion; the blue canton symbolises the
unity of the Malaysian people; the yellow of the star and crescent is the royal colour of the Malay
rulers.[3]
In blazon, the Malaysian flag is described as: "A banner Gules, seven bars Argent; the
canton Azure charged with decrescent andmullet 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
[hide]

1History
o

1.1Selection

1.2The designer

1.3Modifications

2Mark of respect

3Gallery

4Flag anthem

5Other ensigns and flags

6Federal Star (Bintang Persekutuan)

7Similar flags

8See also

9Footnotes

10References

11External links

History[edit]

Flag ratio: 1:2. The Flag of Malaya in use from 1950 to 1963.

The flag of Malaysia, which was first raised on 16 September 1963, originated from the flag of
the Federation of Malaya. Prior to the creation of the national flag, each state in Malaya had its
own flag, many of which are unchanged in design to this day.

Selection[edit]
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
Malaykris (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 byThe Malay Mail.[4] Since Malaya was fighting
the communists during the Malayan Emergency, the five-pointed star had an ironic resemblance
to the communists' symbols. Therefore, the star was modified to accommodate six more points.

The first proposed flag of Malaya.

The second proposed flag of

Malaya.

The third proposed flag of Malaya.

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[edit]

Flag of the East India Company

The Malayan flag was designed by Mohamed Hamzah, a 29-year-old architect working for the
Public Works Department (JKR) in Johor Baharu, Johore. 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. It
borrows major design elements from the East India Company flag, notably the red and white
stripes. 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.[5]

Modifications[edit]

The Malaysian flag flying above the Tourism Malaysia office in Trafalgar Square, London. The flag of
Uganda is seen by its side over Uganda House.

Following the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 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; the
design remained the same even after Singapore's expulsion from the federation two years later.
When Kuala Lumpur was designated a Federal Territory on 1 February 1974, 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[edit]
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[edit]
See also: List of Malaysian flags

Flag of the Kingdom of

Sarawak from 1870 to 1946.

Flag of North Borneo from 1882 to

1948.

Flag of the Crown Colony of North

Borneo from 1948 to 1963.

Flag anthem[edit]
The flag anthem is written as dedication and pride of the Malaysian national flag. It is performed
on Hari Merdeka, the nation's independence day on 31 August every year. The original
anthem Benderaku was written by Malaysian songwriter Tony Fonseka. After the flag was given
the name Jalur Gemilang, the flag anthem was updated in 1997 to reflect this change. This was
then followed by an introduction of a new flag anthem, with arrangements by Malaysian
songwriter Pak Ngah and lyrics by Malaysian songwriter Siso Kopratasa.
Jalur Gemilang by Tony Fonseka
Jalur Gemilang yang gagah perkasa
Merah putih kuning biru warnanya
Berkibar megah penuh bercahaya
Pusaka kita rakyat Malaysia
Jalur Gemilang, oh benderaku
Kupertahankan sepenuh ragaku
Dikaulah lambang negara berpadu
Di bawah naungan Duli Tuanku
Berkibar terus oh benderaku
Kaukan kujunjung sepanjang waktu
Harumlah nama negara yang tercinta
Padamu tempat taat dan setia
Jalur Gemilang, bendera kita
Kemegahan rakyat kita semua
Berkibar berkibar di ruang angkasa
Dirgahayu bendera tercinta!

English translation
The Mighty Stripes of Glory
Red, White, Yellow and Blue are the colours
Flying high up in the skies
The legacy of all of us Malaysians
O my flag, The Stripes of Glory
I will defend it with all of my might
The Symbol of a unified nation
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness
Fly high o my flag
I will raise it all the time
O shine up, my beloved nation
To you, I swear my full allegiance
The Stripes of Glory, our flag
The pride of all of us
Fly, fly high up in the skies
Long live our beloved flag!

Jalur Gemilang by Pak Ngah & Siso Kopratasa (Malay)

English Translation
Merahmu bara semangat waja
Your Red represents steely will
Putihmu bersih budi pekerti
Your White represents clean and kind character
Kuning berdaulat payung negara
Yellow of the Sovereign, the country's protector
Biru perpaduan kami semua
Blue for all of us in unity
Puncak dunia telah kautawan
You have reached the heights of the world
Lautan luas telah kauredah
You have travelled the wide waters
Membawa semangat jiwa Merdeka
Bearing the spirit of independence
Semarak jaya kami warganya
We are members of its successful will
Empat belas melintang jalurnya
Fourteen stripes across
Semua negeri dalam Malaysia
For each of the states of Malaysia
Satu suara satu semangat
One voice, one spirit
Itu sumpah warga berdaulat
So its sovereign citizens solemnly swear
Jalur Gemilang di bawah naunganmu
Stripes of Glory, beneath your care
Jalur Gemilang kami semua bersatu
Stripes of Glory, we unite
Perpaduan ketaatan
Unity and loyalty
Amalan murni rakyat Malaysia
Are the noble values of the Malaysian people
Jalur Gemilang megah kami terasa
Stripes of Glory, how proud we feel
Jalur Gemilang kibarkanlah wawasan
Stripes of Glory, proclaim our vision
Merah, putih, biru, kuning
Red, white, blue, yellow
Jalur semangat kami semua
Are the stripes of our resolve
(2x)
(2x)
Berkibarlah!, berkibarlah!, berkibarlah!,
Flutter-on, flutter-on, flutter-on
Jalur Gemilang!
Stripes of Glory!