Malaysia

Flag Description

Using the U.S flag as a model, the 14 red and white stripes represent the 14 states of the country. The gold crescent and star are symbols of Islam, and the blue field represents the unity of the people.The flag of Malaysia, or known as the Jalur Gemilang ("Stripes of Glory") comprises a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star (called Bintang Persekutuan or Federal Star). The 14 stripes, as well as the 14 points of the star, represent the original fourteen states of Malaysia. After the expulsion of Singapore, the 14th point and stripe are understood as the federal government. The crescent and the star represents Islam, the official religion. The blue canton symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people, the yellow of the crescent and the star is the royal colour, representing the rulers of the states, red symbolises courage and white symbolises purity.
The flag of Malaysia is inspired by the flag of the United States, and displays the star and crescent, a traditional symbol of Islam. The Jalur Gemilang and the Stars and Stripes both share a field of alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton. (The British East India Company flag, too, had a similar design and might be the origin of this style of flag.) The Federal Star, which is similar in concept of Australia's Commonwealth Star, is also used on the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) flag, the Royal Malaysian Air Force roundel, and the United Malayan Banking Association (UMBC) logo.


Modern History


During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957.

Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.






Malaysia’s Immediate Neighbors


1) Singapore
2) Thailand
3) Indonesia
4) Brunei





Background Information :

Head of State
:DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agung Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail

Head of Government
:Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Capital
:Kuala Lumpur

Land area
:330,257 sq.km

Population
:23,671thousand (2004).

Language
:Melayu, English, Chinese, Tamil

Religion
:Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity

Member of
:ASEAN, ADB, APEC, ASEM, D-8, EBRD, ECOSOP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, ILO, EALAP

Currency
:Malaysian Ringgit

GDP
:US$ 103,737 million (2003) at current market prices

Major Industries
:Electronic & electrical goods, textiles, clothing & footwear, chemicals, petroleum, wood and metal products and rubber

Major Exports
:Electronic & electric machinery, petroleum & LNG, textiles, clothing & footwear, palm oil, sawn timber

Major Imports
:Manufacturing inputs, machinery & transport equipment, metal product