Its name is Jalur Gemilang,which translates as"Glorious Striped". The flag of the state symbolizes statehood and sovereignty. It consists of 14 stripes: they are red and white, equal in width and alternate, representing the 13 states that make up Malaysia and the federal government.
The dark blue part in the upper corner is a symbol of the unity of the Malaysian people. It also depicts the crescent as a symbol of Islam - the official religion of the country. Friendship with Great Britain is shown in red, white, blue.
History
In the summer of 1947, the British crown colony of the Union of Malaya published a constitutional draft for the Federation of Malaya. The British authorities worked on it after negotiations with local rulers. This draft did not contain a provision on the flag - such a constitution assumed the preservation of the protectorate of Britain, the rulers were recognized as sovereigns of their own states. The main power was vested in the British High Commissioner, under him the councils of this federation (legislative, executive) had the right to vote at meetings, a conference of rulers was envisaged.
On February 1, 1948, the British government proclaimed the Federation of Malaya, but it was again left without its own flag.
In November 1949, a federal-level competition was held to create the Malay flag. The victory was won by the project proposed by the government architect of Johor, Mohamed bin Hamzoi. The basis for the project was the flag, once located on the ships of the British East India Company in the XIX century. It consisted of alternating red and white stripes of the same size and arranged horizontally, they depicted a yellow crescent and the same color star with 11 rays.
After making some changes, the project was approved at a government meeting in late February 1950. On April 19 of the same year, the project of the flag was approved by local authorities, and in May - George VI, King of Great Britain. On 26 May, the flag of the Federation of Malaya was hoisted with due triumph, and George and the rulers of the Malay states were also present.
The independence of the federation was proclaimed on August 31, 1967 under the same flag.
When the Federation of Malaya merged with Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak in 1963, the flag was supplemented with three stripes - two white and one red, received an additional, 14th star. In August 1965, Singapore seceded from the state, but the flag was not changed. On August 31, 1997, Dr. Tun Mahathir Mohamad Ben, the prime minister of the state, called the flag "Glorious Striped".
