Jalur Gemilang, Malaysian Flag - Foto One

JALUR GEMILANG
The government of former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has introduced many changes into the economic, political and social systems of Malaysia. On the 40th anniversary of the country's independence, 31 August 1997, provision was made for an official name for the national flag. The version chosen, Jalur Gemilang, combines a Malay word meaning stripes or range of values with the adjective "gemilang" signifying glorious. No change was introduced in the design of the flag.

PRE-COLONIAL ERA - East India Company

The very construction of the Malaysian flag, with its much larger blue canton is virtually a denial of US influence. Whether the red-and-white stripes in the Malaysian flag can be derived from the East India Company is a moot point, but the popularity of red and white in the East Indies (Malaysia and Indonesia, the Indonesian jack) predates any influence on the part of either Britain or the United States. Red and white are part of the traditional colours of the Malagasy people, too, remember — a people whose origins are in Borneo. Hence, the derivation of the Malaysian flag from the US flag can be disputed.

1905-1950
- Federated Malay States (1895-1946)
- Malay Union (1946-1948)
- Malay Federation (1948-1950)

In 1895 a first Malay federation under a British protectorate was founded (including the four sultanates of Perak, 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.

1950-1963 - Federation of Malaya

The flag was chosen by a body established in 1949 to choose a flag for the Federation of Malaya. A competition was held by the Federal Legislative Assembly, in which 373 entries were submitted of which 3 made it to the final stage. The first design was a badge of crossed kris circled with 11 five-pointed stars. The second design was similar to the first, except that the 11 stars were arranged in two circles around the crossed kris. The third design was 11 blue and white stripes with a yellow moon and star at the hoist.

The Malay Mail surveyed public opinion, and on 28 November 1949 published the result, i.e. a majority for the third design, the creation of a government architect from Johor, Mohd Bin Hamzah.

With a few amendments the flag attained the support of the Council of Rulers on 22 February 1950 and on 19 April 1950 the Federal LegCo passed a motion, that in the opinion of this Council the Flag of the Federation of Malaya should be eleven horizontal stripes alternately red and white in colour, the uppermost stripe being red, having a blue quarter with a crescent and eleven-pointed star in yellow superimposed, and the standard size of the flag to be six feet by three feet.

The design was approved by HM King George VI on 19 May 1950, and the flag was first flown at a flag-raising ceremony held by the British High Commisisoner on 26 May 1950 in the compound of the Sultan of Selangor's palace, attended by TH the Rulers of the Malay States and British officials.

SINCE 1963
- Federation of Malaysia (1963 - Late 1990s)
- Malaysia (Late 1990s - Today)

The Malaysian National Flag consists of fourteen red and white stripes of equal width, a union or canton of dark blue, a crescent and a star. The red and white stripes stand for equal status in the federation of the member states and the federal government. The union or canton of dark blue represents the unity of the peoples of Malaysia. The union contains the crescent which is the symbol of Islam, and the star, the 14 points of which symbolise the unity of the 13 states of the federation with the federal government. The yellow of the crescent and the star is the royal colour of the Rulers.

Two years later Singapore left the federation, but the Malaysian flag remained unchanged. Subsequently a new state was made out and the 14th stripe and point now officially stands for The Federal Territories or Wilayah Persekutuan (WP), namely WP Kuala Lumpur, WP Labuan, and WP Putrajaya.

However, The Council of Rulers, when the Federation of Malaya merged with Sarawak, Singapore and Sabah to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963, decided that the flag should be altered to 14 stripes and 14 points. Though Singapore left the Federation on 9 August 1965, the 14th point and stripe was kept, and now represents the relationship between the states and the federation.

THE OFFICIAL JALUR GEMILANG THEME
- Right Click and Save (MP3)

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