Jalur Gemilang -The national flag of Malaysia consists of 14 horizontal red and white stripes (along the fly) of equal width, representing the equal membership in the federation of the 13 component States Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu and the Federal Government. The union or canton of dark blue in the upper quarter next to the staff and extending down to the top of the fifth stripe stands for the unity of the peoples of Malaysia. The union contains a crescent which is the symbol of Islam. The 14 points of the star are emblematic of the unity of the 13 States and the Federal Government. The yellow of the crescent and the star is the royal colour of Their Royal Highnesses the Rulers.

The Amorial Ensign (or National Ensign) The 14-point star represents the equal membership of the 13 States, (the 14th point represents the Federal Government) while the star and crescent form the traditional symbol of Islam. The five krisis represent the five former Unfederated Malay States (Johor, Kedah Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu). The left-hand division of the shield represents the State of Penang and the right-hand section, showing the Malacca Tree, the State of Malacca. In the four equal-sized panels in the centre. the colours black and white are the colours of Pahang. red and yellow are the colours of Selangor; black, white and yellow are the colours of Perak. red, black and yellow are those of Negri Sembilan. These four States formed the original Federated Malay States. The three sections below represent the States of Sabah on the left, and Sarawak on the right. The centre contains the National Flower, the Bunga Raya (hibiscus). The tigers depicted as supporters in the Arms of the former Federated Malay States are retained. The motto in romanised script on the left and Jawi script on the right-Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu-is the Malay equivalent of 'Unity is Strength'. The yellow colour of the scroll is the Royal colour of Their Royal Highnesses the Rulers.

Malaysian National Anthem

Negaraku, Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku

Rakyat Hidup, Bersatu dan Maju

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan Kurniakan

Raja Kita, Selamat Bertakhta

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan Kurniakan

Raja Kita, Selamat Bertakhta

The Malaysian National Anthem, an adaptation of the Perak State Anthem, has special links to Sultan Abdullah of Perak who was exiled to the Seychelles by the British colonialists following the assassination of the state’s first British Resident (J.W.W Birch) in 1876. The Anthem was selected by a special committee headed by Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj. Initially, a world-wide contest was held for the composition of a national anthem for the infant Federation of Malaya, but none of the entries including those from distinguished composers of international standing were found suitable. The final selection, in a ceremony at the Police Depot in Kuala Lumpur on 5 August 1957, favoured the Perak State Anthem on account of its traditional flavour and melody. With the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, it was adopted as the National Anthem of Malaysia. On April 4, 1968, the National Language Act which makes any act of disrespect towards the National Anthem a punishable offence was gazetted. The honour of performing the National Anthem is restricted to designated individuals only. During the 1992 National Day celebrations, the National Anthem was given a faster beat to signal the dynamic progress of the nation as it moves towards its homegrown Vision 2020.

The national flower of Malaysia is the hibiscus (Rosa Sinensis), or as it is locally known the Bunga Raya. No one knows when the flower was first introduced to Malaysia, but undoubtedly it came via trade from its original home in China, Japan and the Pacific islands probably before the 12th century. From early times, the hibiscus has been known to have many uses, mostly medicinal. Its petals were commonly used to darken and enhance women’s eyebrows; while some people still use the roots of the hibiscus plant as a cure for fever and other ailments. Skin eruptions and glandular troubles are said to be relieved by the application of the juice obtained from its leaves and roots while a poultice prepared from the leaves is often applied to cure headaches. The Bunga Raya is found in abundance throughout the country, and has many variieties and colours. Malaysians, however, have chosen the red five-petalled type as their national flower.

The National Mosque stands diagonally opposite the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station in a laid-out garden of approximately 5.5. hectares. It was designed and supervised by the Federal Public Works Department and took three years to complete at a cost of RM10 million. The building itself occupies an area of 2090 square metres and its facilities include a hall, a mausoleum, a library, offices, an open courtyard and a minaret. The Grand Hall is surrounded by deep verandahs which are screened off by white grills of traditional Islamic design, similar to those found in the mosques at Agra and Fatehpur Sikri in India. The Grand Hall and the verandahs provide a praying area of 1432 square metres and can easily accomodate up to 8000 people. The floor of the Grand Hall is carpeted while the remaining area has a finish of pre-cast terrazzo slabs. The Dewan is located on the South side of the mosque and serves as an all-purpose hall with a seating capacity for 500 persons. The mausoleum, situated at the rear of the mosque, stands in a circular reflecting pool and is connected to the main building by a covered foot-bridge. It is circular in shape and is covered by a pleated shell concrete dome similar in shape to that of the Grand Hall but with only seven folds, one of which covers a reserve for the national hero’s tomb.

The air-conditoned library and offices are situated at the rear of the main building. The open courtyard is opposite the library and is in front of the Grand Hall. Courtyards in West Asian mosques are open to the sky and usually feature a cluster of fountains in a pavilion or an open pool where ablutions can be performed. The National Mosque courtyard is partly covered by 48 independent concrete parasols to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the heavy and regular tropical rain. There is a fountain for ablution located on the floor beneath. The minaret is 3.8 metres high, rising from the centre of a long and narrow reflecting pool by the side of the Grand Hall. The top of the minaret is decorated with a concrete spire which takes the form of a closed umbrella and soars 27.5 metres above the balcony.

Ladies have a separate entrance directly connected to the ladies’ ablution hall. Their prayer area is in the gallery at the northern end of the building. This gallery also provides booths for television and radio services, and a viewing-post for visitors who wish to witness the proceedings in the mosque.

The tiger has aptly been chosen as the national animal of Malaysia. It is included in the national armorial bearings. Although seldom seen, tigers are not uncommon in the Malaysian jungle. Known as the Lord of the Jungle, in contrast to the lion’s position as the King of Beasts, tigers constitute little serious threat to human beings unless wounded or very old and feeble. Together with panthers and leopards, the tiger is a local member of the cat family.

<< BACK