The Flag of Malaysia
The flag of Malaysia, also known as the 'Jalur Gemilang' (Stripes of Glory), features 14 horizontal stripes of red and white alternating, a blue rectangle in the canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the Bintang Persekutuan (Federal Star). The red and white stripes represent the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal territories, while the star and crescent symbolize Islam, the country's official religion. The blue canton signifies unity among the nation's people.
History of The Flag of Malaysia
The flag of Malaysia was first raised on 16th September 1963, the day Malaysia was formed through the merging of Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore (Singapore later left Malaysia in 1965). The design was the result of a national flag design competition in 1963, won by Mohamed Hamzah, a 29-year-old architect working for the Public Works Department in Johor Bahru at the time. Initially, the flag featured 11 stripes and a star with 11 points, representing the states and territories that formed Malaya. It was modified to its current form to reflect the new political realities after the formation of Malaysia, increasing the number of stripes and points on the star to 14 to include Sabah, Sarawak, and the federal territories.