Jalur Gemilang has been flying high in the past weeks during
the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games during many victory ceremonies where our
Malaysian athletes made the nation proud with their perseverance and
determination to showcase the best that they have.
the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games during many victory ceremonies where our
Malaysian athletes made the nation proud with their perseverance and
determination to showcase the best that they have.
While our flag is being raised during these ceremonies, have
you ever wondered about how the red, white, blue and yellow flag that
represents our country came to be?
you ever wondered about how the red, white, blue and yellow flag that
represents our country came to be?
Long before it was known as the Jalur Gemilang, our flag was
simply known as Bendera Malaysia, and was derived from the flag of the
Federation of Malaya, which design originally had 11 stripes alternately in
blue and white, a red canton, and a five-pointed star and crescent moon in
yellow before a few amendments were made to it.
simply known as Bendera Malaysia, and was derived from the flag of the
Federation of Malaya, which design originally had 11 stripes alternately in
blue and white, a red canton, and a five-pointed star and crescent moon in
yellow before a few amendments were made to it.
The design by Mohamed Hamzah, a Johor Public Works
Department architect, was one of the three shortlisted designs for the new
Federation of Malaya flag and was selected as the winner from polls by The
Malay Mail on November 29, 1949.
Department architect, was one of the three shortlisted designs for the new
Federation of Malaya flag and was selected as the winner from polls by The
Malay Mail on November 29, 1949.
His design was inspired by the Johor flag, which was his
home state as well as incorporating the religious heritage through the
Uthmaniyyah star and moon, and Nusantara heritage through the incorporation of
the stripes from the Getih-Getah Samudera, which comes from the Majapahit
empire.
home state as well as incorporating the religious heritage through the
Uthmaniyyah star and moon, and Nusantara heritage through the incorporation of
the stripes from the Getih-Getah Samudera, which comes from the Majapahit
empire.
After several amendments were made to the original design,
the final design had 11 horizontal stripes alternately red and white in colour,
the uppermost stripe being red, having a blue quarter with a crescent and
11-pointed star in yellow superimposed to represent the states in the
Federation of Malaya.
the final design had 11 horizontal stripes alternately red and white in colour,
the uppermost stripe being red, having a blue quarter with a crescent and
11-pointed star in yellow superimposed to represent the states in the
Federation of Malaya.
The flag was flown for the first time on May 19, 1950 at the
Palace of the Sultan of Selangor and was attended by all the Malay rulers
representing their respective states and officers to King George VI.
Palace of the Sultan of Selangor and was attended by all the Malay rulers
representing their respective states and officers to King George VI.
Later, when the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and
Singapore formed Malaysia, all the Malay rulers and Governors agreed in a Conference
of Rulers meeting that the flag of Malaysia must follow the design of the
Federation of Malaya flag but with some amendments.
Singapore formed Malaysia, all the Malay rulers and Governors agreed in a Conference
of Rulers meeting that the flag of Malaysia must follow the design of the
Federation of Malaya flag but with some amendments.
The flag added three more stripes and points on the star to
represent the 14 states in the Malaysian Federation and was first flown on
September 16, 1963.
represent the 14 states in the Malaysian Federation and was first flown on
September 16, 1963.
Although Singapore left Malaysia in 1965, the design of the
flag was not amended and the 14 stripes and 14-pointed stars now represent the
13 states in the federation and the Federal States, consisting of the Federal State
of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
flag was not amended and the 14 stripes and 14-pointed stars now represent the
13 states in the federation and the Federal States, consisting of the Federal State
of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
Despite his priceless contribution to the country, Mohamed
did not receive recognition during his lifetime as he concealed his identity as
the designer of the flag until it was uncovered in 2005, 12 years after his
death in 1993 at the age of 75.
did not receive recognition during his lifetime as he concealed his identity as
the designer of the flag until it was uncovered in 2005, 12 years after his
death in 1993 at the age of 75.
But how did the name for our flag came about?
The idea to give a formal name to Bendera Malaysia came from
Datuk Hashim Mat Dris in 1995, who then forwarded the proposal to then Prime
Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, who accepted the proposal.
Datuk Hashim Mat Dris in 1995, who then forwarded the proposal to then Prime
Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, who accepted the proposal.
A committee was then established in the same year and they
presented their suggestions to the Cabinet but they were all shot down prior to
July 9, 1997, where the Cabinet agreed to name our flag, Jalur Gemilang.
presented their suggestions to the Cabinet but they were all shot down prior to
July 9, 1997, where the Cabinet agreed to name our flag, Jalur Gemilang.
The name Jalur Gemilang was suggested by Md Redzuan Tumin,
who was asked by his director-general Datuk Kamarul Baharin Buyong to suggest a
name for the flag that was then forwarded to the Flag of Malaysia Naming
Committee of which Kamarul was a member after the Cabinet shot down the three
more names that were shortlisted.
who was asked by his director-general Datuk Kamarul Baharin Buyong to suggest a
name for the flag that was then forwarded to the Flag of Malaysia Naming
Committee of which Kamarul was a member after the Cabinet shot down the three
more names that were shortlisted.
The then-Muzium Negara director of research said that he was
struck by inspiration when he was in his room and was examining the
multi-coloured design of the flag when it occurred to him that it could be
called Stripes of Glory in English, and he translated that into Jalur Gemilang.
struck by inspiration when he was in his room and was examining the
multi-coloured design of the flag when it occurred to him that it could be
called Stripes of Glory in English, and he translated that into Jalur Gemilang.
Md Redzuan did not know that his idea was chosen until after
he heard a song entitled Jalur Gemilang playing on the radio.
he heard a song entitled Jalur Gemilang playing on the radio.
His suspicion that his suggestion was selected was confirmed
by Kamarul who later gave him a congratulatory call.
by Kamarul who later gave him a congratulatory call.
Then, on August 31, 1997 to celebrate our 40th Merdeka, Tun
Dr Mahathir announced that our flag with 14 horizontal stripes alternately in
red and white, a crescent moon and 14-pointed star in yellow and a blue canton
was officially named Jalur Gemilang.
Dr Mahathir announced that our flag with 14 horizontal stripes alternately in
red and white, a crescent moon and 14-pointed star in yellow and a blue canton
was officially named Jalur Gemilang.
Source: Malaysian Digest
