A Change of Flags

Most of us know that every Malaysian State has its own flag rich in history and cultural symbolism. Peninsular Malaysia's 11 state flags have been in use for more than 50 years, and they are older than the national flag,Jalur Gemilang, which was first flown on September 16, 1963, the day Sabah and Sarawak joined the nation.

Sabah and Sarawak not only added colour and culture to the newly enlarged federation, but also introduced the spectacle of changing their respective State flags twice in 25 years.

Since the lowering of the Union Jack over Sabah and Sarawak, the Borneo States have had two changes each to their respective State flags.

Sarawak's flag of 1963 was altered in 1973 and again in 1988. Sabah's first flag was altered in 1982 and six years years later in 1988.


Sarawak's Tale of Flags

Sarawak's first flag was actually introduced during the reign of Sir James Brook in 1946. It remained in use until the abolition of the Brooke Raj in 1946.

This flag, reintroduced in 1963 was yellow with a St George Cross in the centre. The cross was halved black on the left and red on the right. In the centre was a yellow crown with five points representing the original five divisions of Sarawak.

Legend has it that the Sultan of Brunei who ceded Sarawak to Sir James, wanted the private colonialist to adopt an original flag using the traditional colours of Brunei -- namely yellow, black, and red which symbolised the royals, ministers and rakyat respectively.

Sir James, who wanted England's flag to fly from his palace, replaced its white with yellow and made the George cross half black.

On September 16, 1973, Sarawak adopted a new flag which had a blue triangle on its left and two horizontal bars of red (top) and white on its right.

The original flag was altered because Sarawakians then wanted a flag that was not connected to British colonial rule, but retained the colours of the Commonwealth of Nations.

On Malaysia Day, 1988, Sarawak's current flag was adopted. It is yellow with two diagonal bands of black (top) and red. It has a nine-point yellow star in the middle, symbolising Sarawak's then nine divisions.

The State Government decided to alter the flag because the 1973 flag looked too similar to that of the Czech Republic and its colour combination too common. Yellow, black and red were deemed a superior combination as they reflected Sarawak's history as a part of Brunei.

The State crest which accompanied the original flag was a mere shield depicting the flag. Sarawak's 1973 crest was a hornbill with the State flag on a shield covering its chest. In 1988, the flag on the hornbill's shield was altered.


Flag of Sabah

Sabah's first flag was modelled after the flag of the United Sabah National Organisation or Usno.

It had four horizontal stripes of (from top) red, white, yellow and blue, with a green canton containing a brown rendition of Mount Kinabalu.

On January 1, 1982, the flag which was deemed too deeply associated with politics was replaced with one that resembled Sarawak's 1973 flag, except that the triangle was red and the upper horizontal band was blue.

On Malaysia Day, 1988, Sabah raised its present flag, a combination of the 1963 design and the 1982 colour scheme.

The flag has three horizontal stripes of (from top) sea blue, white and red with a sky blue canton containing an indigo blue rendition of Mount Kinabalu. The change was made as the 1982 flag lacked a clear depiction of the sacred mountain beloved to Sabahans.

The original State crest contained two arms holding the State flag, and a large shield containing the State colours.

In 1982, Sabah adopted a mythical bugang bird, resembling a kingfisher, as its new State crest. The bird, which struck a pose like Sarawak's hornbill, was associated with the legend of the warrior Monsopiad, who became strong after bathing with bugang birds.

In 1988, the 1963 State crest was restored, but with a new combination of State colours.

The design of Sarawak's and Sabah's second flags, and Sarawak's current flag, are based on those of two proposed flags of the Borneo Federation. The Federation which did not materialise was an idea to unite Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei in the early 1960s.

Source: Traveller's Tale, The New Straits Times, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
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