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History of the Malaysian Flag

The Malaysian flag, known as the “Jalur Gemilang,” was designed in 1949 by a civil servant named Mohamed Hamzah. It was chosen through a public competition held to find a suitable national flag for the Federation of Malaya, which gained independence from British rule on August 31, 1957. The design was influenced by the flags of the United States and the United Kingdom, reflecting the country’s history as a British colony and its aspirations for unity and progress.

Design and Symbolism

The Malaysian flag consists of 14 alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton with a yellow crescent and a 14-pointed star.

1. Stripes:
   • The 14 red and white stripes represent the equal status of the 13 member states and the federal territories of Malaysia.
   • The red stripes symbolize courage, while the white stripes signify purity.
2. Canton:
   • The blue rectangle in the top left corner represents the unity of the Malaysian people.
3. Crescent and Star:
   • The yellow crescent moon symbolizes Islam, the country’s official religion.
   • The yellow color of the crescent and the star signifies the sovereignty of the Malay rulers.
   • The 14 points of the star stand for the unity and equality of the 13 member states and the federal territories.

Evolution

The flag has remained largely unchanged since its inception, although the number of points on the star and stripes initially represented only the 11 states of Malaya. When additional states (Sabah, Sarawak) and federal territories joined the federation, the symbolism was updated to reflect the entire nation.

Conclusion

The “Jalur Gemilang” is a powerful emblem of Malaysia’s history, unity, and national pride, encapsulating the country’s journey from a colonial past to a sovereign nation.

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