Malaysia flag patch

Size: 6.5 x 4 cm (2.56 x 1.57 inch)

The flag of Malaysia consists of 14 alternating horizontal stripes of red and white that run down the flag, starting with red at the top. In the top left quarter of the Malaysian flag there is a blue square. Inside the square sits a yellow crescent and 14-pointed star.

Meaning: The 14 stripes and points of the star represent the 13 member states of the Malaysian federation and the Federal District of Kuala Lumpur. They represent equal status in the federation of the states and in the federal government. The crescent and star imagery represent Islam, and yellow is a traditional royal color. The blue square stands for unity of the Malaysian people. The blue was originally adopted from the British Union Jack and represented Malaysia's link to Britain.

History: The Malaysian flag was adopted on September 16, 1963. The current Malaysian flag is based on a design adopted in 1950 by the Federation of Malaya, a British protectorate, which would eventually become Malaysia when it gained independence on August 31, 1957. In September 1963 the country united with Singapore and the north Borneo territories of Sabah (formerly North Borneo) and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia. The original flag had 11 stripes and an 11 point star but three more were added to mark the inclusion of the new states. Even though Singapore departed the Federation in 1965, the flag is still used.

Interesting Facts: On August 31, 1997, Prime Minister Tun Mahathir bin Mohammad named the Malaysian flag Jalur Gemilang, which means "Glorious Stripes". The Malaysian flag is a combination of the United States flag which also has the crescent and star, a traditional symbol of Islam (source: worldflags101).