🇲🇾 The colours of Malaysia

Malaysia’s flag features red, white, blue, and yellow. Red stands for bravery, white for purity, blue for unity, and yellow for royal authority and Islam. The colours also show Malaysia’s Commonwealth ties. Each element reflects the country’s states, religion, and leadership.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• The flag has 14 stripes and a 14-point star for states and federal territories.
• Yellow is the royal colour of Malay rulers.
• Red, white, and blue link Malaysia to the Commonwealth.
• The crescent and star represent Islam.
• The flag was named Jalur Gemilang in 1997.

The colours of the flag of Malaysia

Malaysia’s flag, called Jalur Gemilang, displays 14 red and white stripes of equal width, a blue canton, and a yellow crescent with a 14-point star. The red stripes are said to stand for bravery, while the white stripes represent purity. The blue canton symbolises the unity of the people. The yellow crescent and star are linked to Islam, the country’s official religion, and yellow is the royal colour of Malay rulers. The red, white, and blue together also show Malaysia’s historical connection to the Commonwealth. These meanings are officially stated.

How the colours were chosen of Malaysia

The flag was chosen through a public competition in 1949, with the final design inspired by the flag of Johor and refined by Mohamed Hamzah. Early versions had different arrangements of stars and colours. The current flag was adopted in 1950, with changes in 1963 to reflect the inclusion of new states and later, federal territories. The yellow crescent and star replaced earlier white versions to emphasise royal and Islamic symbolism. The flag’s name, Jalur Gemilang, was introduced in 1997 to reflect national pride.

Official shades and rules of Malaysia

The flag’s use is governed by law. It cannot be used for commercial purposes or trademarks without official permission. During National Day, citizens are encouraged to display the flag, which must be raised higher than other flags in a group. There are no official hex codes or detailed shade specifications in the sources.