Flag of Malaysian - Description of the Malaysian Flag
As the above picture of the Malaysian Flag indicates the background is tri-color - Red, white and blue
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Malaysian flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice. The blue field also symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people
Yellow - the yellow seen on the crescent and star is the color of the royal family
The basic style shown in the picture of the Malaysian flag is described as Canton reflecting the central design of the flag pattern, highly influenced by the USA
There are 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom)
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Malaysian flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star
The emblem on the Malaysian flag pictures a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star both being the traditional symbols of Islam
The Meaning & History of the Malaysian Flag - The Malaysian 14 stripes stand for the fourteen states of Malaysia. The Malaysian star also has fourteen points, for the same reason
Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:
The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag
Malaysian Flag Etiquette
Malaysian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Malaysian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Malaysian
State Flag of Malaysian
Military Flag of Malaysian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Malaysian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Malaysian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Malaysian should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The Malaysian flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Malaysian should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Malaysian flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Malaysian, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Malaysian Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Malaysian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Malaysian flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Malaysian flag to the top, then lowering the Malaysian Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Malaysian flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Malaysian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Malaysian flag
The Malaysian flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
The Malaysian flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The Malaysian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Malaysian Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Malaysian Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Malaysia
Location:
South-eastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Malaysian Land Size : 329,750 sq km
Malaysian Climate / Weather : 329,750 sq km
Population of Malaysia : 23,522,482 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) : Federation of Malaysia
Capital City of Malaysia : Kuala Lumpur
GDP of Malaysia : $207.2 billion (2003 est.)
Malaysian Main Industries : Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging
Main Colors of Malaysian Flag : Red, white and blue
Concise History of Malaysia & its Flag
35,000 BC - 100 BC Ancient Malaysia - stone age tools and implements from about 10,000 BC have been found
The first ancestors were believed to be Negrito aborigines and a Chinese tribe called the Proto-Malays
Chinese, Siamese, Arabs, Indonesians Proto-Malays and finally Indians formed the racial basis for the group which are now called the Malay
Indian traders arrived in search of gold and spices and introduced Hinduism and Buddhism
In the 1400's and 1500's traders from Southeast Asia brought Islam
In 1511 the Portuguese arrived, led by Alfonso de Albuquerque, and it became a Portuguese colony
The Straits and port of Malacca was strategically important giving access to the spice trade
Captured by the Dutch in 1641
The Dutch government agreed to let England temporarily oversee the port and this was handed back in 1808
The Dutch passed control back to the British in a trade for Bencoleen, Sumatra
In 1819 Britain sent Sir William Raffles to establish a trading post in Singapore and the three British colonies of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore came to be known as the Straits Settlements
1914 - 1918 WW1
Britain ruled over, what was then called Malaya, until the Japanese invaded in 1942
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
W.W.II ended in 1945 and Britain resumed control again
Independence was achieved for the Malayan peninsula in 1957 under the name of the Federation of Malaya
In 1961 the term "Malaysia" came into effect when Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak joined Malaya in a federal union
In 1965 Singapore opted out of the union
"Around the World in 80 minutes!"
A combination of information regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this concise information with specific facts will improve your overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80 minutes!"
The Malaysian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Malaysian Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
