Malaysia
Malaysia
Today's Flag
is Malaysia, a Commonwealth National Monarchy located in southeast Asia on land and on the island of Borneo, around the South China Sea. Subject to British protection (and rule) during the 18th century, the territories that make up modern-day Malaysia have always been important commercial areas astride global trading routes. Rising and falling maritime empires and as well as individual sultanates were eventually united into the Federation of Malaya which achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957. Malaysia was occupied by Japanese forces in February 1942 and conquered after a disastrous, poorly-supported yet valiant attempt by Commonwealth Forces to defend the colonies. Subsequent to the Allied victory that ended World War 2, a British Military Administration under the command of Lord Mountbatten was in place by September of 1945 and established the Malayan Union by 1946 through combining several British-protected federated and unfederated Malay states with the Crown Colony of the Straights Settlements. An insurgency, supported by North Korea, Cuba and China beginning in 1948, developed into the infamous "Malayan Emergency," in which communist forces attempted to bankrupt and displace the British administration by destroying mines, plantations and other infrastructure. In response, British forces engaged in a hearts-and-minds campaign that was largely successful, but controversially attempted to quell the rebellion through forced relocation of rural villagers combined with a scorched-earth policy that saw the first use of Agent Orange. The insurgent movement lost momentum and its primary purpose as colonial liberators however, once Malaya was granted Independence on 31 August 1957. While the Emergency was declared ended by the government in 1960 with the surrender of most of the guerrillas, a second insurgency began in 1967, and continued until finally a Peace Accord ending the hostilities was signed in 1989 with the communist agitators. The Federation of Malaya joined with Singapore and the Crown Colonies of North Borneo and Sarawak to become Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Following much civil unrest and race riots, Singapore was expelled due to political and financial conflict with the rest of the federation, and it became an independent republic on its own in 1965. From a developing economy based on exports of tin, petroleum, lumber, copper and other natural resources, Malaysia enjoys rapidly growing sectors in manufacturing, pharmaceutical, tourism, and services. A valuable contributor to the Commonwealth, Malaysia is a highly developed country that has a very high literacy rate and a very low percentage of the population living below the poverty line. In 1949, the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya launched a contest to find a new national symbol. 373 submissions were narrowed down to three finalists and presented to the public for a final poll - the winning entry was based on a design submitted by 29-year old Mohamed Hamzah, an architect employed by the Johor Public Works Department. The legislative council made some changes and received approval for the new flag from George VI on 19 May 1950. First hoisted at the residence of the Sultan of Selangor on 26 May 1950, it replaced the Royal Union Flag on independence in August 1957. It was last updated in 1963 with the addition of three more stripes and the star modified to 14 points to show the accession of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to the Federation. In 1997, Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad named the Malaysian flag "Jalur Gemilang," which translates into Glorious/Brilliant/Excellent Stripes and is an expression intended to highlight the bright future sought for the people of Malaysia.
Quick Facts:
Monarch: His Majesty Abdullah of Pahang (elected 24 January 2019)
Title: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong (in English, common expressions are Paramount Ruler, Head of State, Supreme Head of Malaysia or King, however the official English title is His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Accession: 31 January 2019 (The Monarch is elected from a council of the hereditary rulers of 9 constituent states to a 5 year-term.)
Population: 33,384,613 (accessed 21 Nov 2022, click here for current Worldometer statistics)
Subjects of Malaysia are called: Malaysians
State Religion: Muslim
Currency: RM, Malaysian Ringgit, 1RM = $0.29 CAD
Population: 1,453,975 (Worldometer, 2022)
Type of Government: Federal Constitutional Monarchy
Governing Body: Parliament: Dewan Negara (Senate) + Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)
Founded: 31 August 1957, independence from U.K., Malaysia formed 16 September 1963.
Flag Adopted: Approved by George VI on 19 May 1950.
Flag Official Name: Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory/Glorious Stripes)
Special National Holiday: Independence Day - 31 August, Malaysia Day - 16 September
Map of Malaysia: www.nationsonline.org
