The flag

Flag

A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...

 of the Malaysian state

States of Malaysia

Malaysia is a federation which consists of thirteen states and three federal territories . Eleven states and two federal territories are located on the Malay Peninsula while the remaining two states and one federal territory are on the island of Borneo.-The states and federal territories:Malaysia...

 of Sarawak

Sarawak

Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...

is based on the flag of the Kingdom of Sarawak

Kingdom of Sarawak

The Kingdom of Sarawak was a state in Borneo established by Sir James Brooke in 1842 by receiving independent kingdom status from the Sultanate of Brunei as a reward for helping fight piracy and insurgency...

 of the White Rajah

White Rajahs

White Rajahs refers to a dynasty that founded and ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946, namely the Brookes, who came originally from England. A Rajah is a monarch in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.-Rulers:...

.

History

James Brooke

James Brooke

James, Rajah of Sarawak, KCB was the first White Rajah of Sarawak. His father, Thomas Brooke, was an English Judge Court of Appeal at Bareilly, British India; his mother, Anna Maria, born in Hertfordshire, was the illegitimate daughter of Scottish peer Colonel William Stuart, 9th Lord Blantyre,...

, who was the first Raja

Raja

Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...

h of Sarawak, originally used the St George's Cross

St George's Cross

St George's Cross is a red cross on a white background used as a symbolic reference to Saint George. The red cross on white was associated with St George from medieval times....

 as the state's flag. The decision for Sarawak to have its own flag was made in 1845, but it was not hoisted until 21 September 1848. The first Sarawak flag was originally made up of a cross, half blue and half red, on yellow, thought to be based on Brooke's coat of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

. There is a controversy on whether the first flag was made up of purple and red, or blue and red.

On 7 May 1870, the colour of the half blue cross was changed to black by the second Rajah, Charles Brooke

Charles Brooke

Charles Brooke may refer to:* Charles Brooke , surgeon and inventor* Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak , head of state of Sarawak, Borneo*Charles Brooke -See also:* Charles Brook...

, and was hoisted on 26 September, the birthday of the then Rajah Muda Charles Vyner Brooke

Charles Vyner Brooke

Vyner, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG was the third and final White Rajah of Sarawak.-Early life:...

. It was retained as a coat-of-arms on a Blue Ensign

Blue Ensign

The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem....

 when Sarawak was ceded to the British Crown on 1 July 1946. The 1870 version saw continued use even after cession, flying side-by-side with the Union Flag

Union Flag

The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...

. Upon the formation of Malaysia and subsequent independence of the state, the flag remained in use and unchanged until 1973.

The Trisakti was adopted on the 10th anniversary of Sarawak's independence in 1973, and was first hoisted by the then Chief Minister of Sarawak

Chief Minister of Sarawak

The Chief Minister of Sarawak is the head of the executive branch of the state government in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri from the State Legislative Assembly....

, Abdul Rahman Ya'kub

Abdul Rahman Ya'kub

Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub is a Malaysian politician of Melanau descent from Mukah. He was the third Chief Minister of Sarawak and the fourth Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak . He is also an uncle of Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the current Chief Minister of Sarawak...

 who also designed the flag. Accompanying the new design of the flag is the new state anthem and motto, Sarawak Bahagia and Hidup Selalu Berkhidmat ("Live to serve").

In 1988, the flag was replaced again with the current version along with yet another new state anthem and motto, Ibu Pertiwiku and Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti ("United, Striving, Serving"). The new design was adopted on the 25th anniversary of independence of Sarawak within Malaysia.

Symbolism

On the Trisakti flag, the blue triangle represents unity among the people of Sarawak, red represents courage and perseverance, and white represents honesty and purity. Sarawak did not go/get in/join malaya. Together Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah form the new nation Malaysia.

Similar colors with Sarawak flag

• Flag of Germany
  Flag of Germany
  The flag of Germany is a tricolour consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the national colours of Germany: black, red, and gold....
  
  
• Flag of Czech Republic (similar to the Trisakti flag)

External links

• Chater, W. J. (1994), Sarawak Long Ago, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. ISBN 983-62-3981-2.