Malaysia Flag

The 14 red and white stripes represent the 13 states and federal territories: Kedah, Pahang, Kelantan, Johor, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Sarawak, Penang, Sabah, Malacca, and the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya). Red stripes symbolize heroic bravery and courage. White stripes represent purity and peace. The blue canton represents the unity of the Malaysian people. The yellow crescent moon represents Islam as the official religion. The 14-pointed Federal Star represents the unity of the 13 states and federal government. Yellow is the royal color of the Malay Rulers. The combination of red, white, and blue represents the unity between the Federation of Malaya and the United Kingdom, as well as Malaysia's connection with Commonwealth countries.

The Malaysian flag's origins trace to a national competition held on November 29, 1949, by the Council of Rulers and Federal Legislative Council to select a design for the new federation government. Mr. Mohamad Bin Hamzah, an architect from the Johor government, won the competition. Several amendments were made to his original design, which was endorsed by the Council of Rulers on February 22-23, 1950. The Federal Legislative Council approved the proposal on April 19, 1950, and King George VI gave his approval on May 19, 1950. The flag was first flown on May 26, 1950, at the Sultan of Selangor's Palace with Malay Rulers and King George VI's officers in attendance. When Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963, the flag was modified to include Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore, though Singapore's departure in 1965 did not change the flag's features. In 1997, Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir gave the flag its current name, 'Jalur Gemilang' (Stripes of Glory).

The flag features 14 horizontal stripes of equal width alternating between red (top) and white (bottom). The upper left canton contains a dark blue rectangle with a yellow Islamic crescent moon and a 14-pointed yellow star (Federal Star). The crescent opens toward the hoist side, and the star is positioned in the upper right of the blue field. The proportions and colors are precisely specified, with the blue canton occupying the upper quarter of the hoist side. The stripes extend across the full width of the flag, creating a balanced design that incorporates both Islamic and federal symbolism.

The Malaysian flag follows a strict order of priority based on Article 70 of the Federal Constitution, corresponding to the precedence of Malay Rulers and Yang di-Pertua Negeri. The flag should be displayed with proper respect and dignity as a symbol of national sovereignty and unity. It must be flown at appropriate times and locations, with the Malaysian flag taking precedence over state flags. The flag should never touch the ground and must be properly maintained. During official ceremonies and state functions, the flag protocol must be strictly observed. The order of priority places the Malaysian flag first, followed by state flags according to the constitutional precedence of their rulers, and finally the federal territory flags.