List of Malaysian flags

Malaysian flag in Merdeka Square

This is a list of flags used in Malaysia, both currently and historically.

National flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1963 onwards Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side Design has no element that can be rotated Flag of Malaysia (Jalur Gemilang) Fourteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white; in the canton, a yellow crescent and 14-point star on a blue field.
Flag can be hoisted vertically onlyFlag of Malaysia (Banner display) Fourteen vertical stripes alternating red and white; in the chief, a yellow crescent and 14-point star pointing upward on a blue field.
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagCivil Ensign of Malaysia A red field with the Flag of Malaysia in a blue-fimbriated canton.
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagGovernment Ensign of Malaysia A blue field with the Flag of Malaysia in the canton. Example: used by the Marine Police of Royal Malaysian Police.

Monarch

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Flag Date Use Description
1988–present Standard of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong The Jata Negara, the coat of arms of Malaysia, enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a yellow field.
Standard of the Raja Permaisuri Agong The coat of arms of Malaysia enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a light green field.
Standard of the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Deputy King) The Jata Negara, the coat of arms of Malaysia, on two equal horizontal bands of yellow and blue.
Standard of the Sultan of Johor A white field defaced with a blue crescent and nine-pointed star.
Standard of the Permaisuri of Johor A blue field with white diagonal edges defaced with a white crescent and seven-pointed star.
2020–present Standard of the Sultan of Kedah The Kedah Coat of Arms enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy in a circle gold border on a yellow field.
2018–2020 The lesser installation emblem of Sultan Sallehuddin on a yellow field.
?–2017 The Kedah Coat of Arms enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a yellow field.
2010–present Standard of the Sultan of Kelantan The Arms of the Sultan of Kelantan on two equal horizontal bands of white and red.
?–2010 A white flag with the royal arms in blue (a blue star and upward pointing crescent surmounted by a coronet similar to that from the arms, surrounded by a blue wreath) charged on the centre; an older, more intricate variant of the flag features a yellow star and crescent, a yellow crown, and a blue wreath;
Standard of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan The personal emblem of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar inside a black circle which is inscribed inside a red lozenge and a yellow background.
Standard of the Sultan of Pahang The Pahang State Arms enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a white field.
2015–present Standard of the Sultan of Perak The Arms of the Sultan of Perak enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a yellow field. The flag ratio 2:3 is used by official residence with the presence of the Sultan, while the flag ratio 1:2 is used by official residences the Sultan will reside.
1985–2014 Standard of the Sultan of Perak (Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah) The Arms of the Sultan of Perak enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a white field
1963–1984 Standard of the Sultan of Perak (Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah) The Arms of the Sultan of Perak on a white field with the Flag of Perak in the canton.
1949–1963 Standard of the Sultan of Perak (Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah) A white field with the Flag of Perak in the canton.
Standard of the Raja of Perlis The Perlis Coat of Arms on a yellow field.
Standard of the Raja Permaisuri Perlis A yellow field with the yellow Perlis Coat of Arms in a blue canton.
Standard of the Sultan of Selangor A red field defaced with the Arms of the Sultan of Selangor, with the yellow crescent and five-pointed stars in a red canton.
Standard of the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor A yellow crescent and five-pointed stars in a yellow flag with a red hoist stripe.
Standard of the Sultan of Terengganu The Arms of the Sultan of Terengganu enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a white field, surrounded by a brown border.
Standard of the Sultanah of Terengganu The Arms of the Sultanah of Terengganu enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a yellow field.

Governor

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Flag Date Use Description
Standard of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca The Coat of Arms of Malacca enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy on a yellow field.
2022–present Standard of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang The Crest of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang on a yellow field.
1983–2022 The Crest of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang inside a white circle on a yellow field.
1963–1982
Standard of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah State flag of Sabah with Mount Kinabalu replaced by Coat of arms of Sabah enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy in the canton.
Standard of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak State flag of Sarawak with the Nine-pointed Star replaced by Coat of arms of Sarawak enwreathed by two sheaves of paddy in the centre.

Administrative divisions

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States

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Flag Date Use Description
1871 onwards Flag of the state of Johor A blue field with an arranged crescent and five-pointed stars in a red canton.
1912 onwards Flag of the state of Kedah A red field with the state coat of arms in the canton.
1923 onwards Flag of the state of Kelantan A red field defaced with a white crescent and star and two white kris and spears.
1957 onwards Flag of the state of Malacca Two equal bands of red and white, with a crescent and five-pointed star in a blue canton.
1895 onwards Flag of the state of Negeri Sembilan A yellow field with two diagonal bands of red and black in the canton.
1903 onwards Flag of the state of Pahang Two equal horizontal bands of white and black.
1965 onwards Flag of the state of Penang A blue, white and yellow vertical tri-colour defaced with a betel nut tree.
1879 onwards Flag of the state of Perak A white, yellow and black horizontal tri-colour.
1870 onwards Flag of the state of Perlis Two equal horizontal bands of yellow and blue.
1988 onwards Flag of the state of Sabah A blue (top), white, and red tri-colour, with the silhouette of Mount Kinabalu on a light blue canton.
Flag of the state of Sarawak (Ibu Pertiwi) A yellow field with two diagonal bands of red (top) and black, defaced with a nine-pointed star.
1965 onwards Flag of the state of Selangor Red and yellow quartered, with a white crescent and five-pointed stars in the canton.
1953 onwards Flag of the state of Terengganu A black field defaced with a white crescent and five-pointed star, with white at the edge.

Federal territories

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A common flag for the three federal territories was adopted by the Ministry of the Federal Territories on 20 August 2006. The flag is to be used and flown on matters and ceremonies that involve all the federal territories as a whole. An example is in national sporting events; the unified contingent of the territories would be under this common flag. However, the usage of the individual territorial flags would be given preference in events relating to individual territories.[1]

Flag Date Use Description
2006 onwards Flag of the Federal Territories Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the Malaysian coat of arms in the blue band.
1990 onwards Flag of Kuala Lumpur Three equal bands of white, blue and white with three equal horizontal stripes of red on both white bands. There is a yellow crescent and yellow fourteen-pointed stars on the left within the blue band. Before 2006, this flag was used to represent the entire Federal Territories.
1992 onwards Flag of Labuan Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue, there is a yellow crescent and yellow fourteen-pointed stars in the white band.
2001 onwards Flag of Putrajaya Three vertical bands of blue, yellow (double width), and blue with the Malaysian coat of arms in the yellow band.

Order of precedence

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Per government protocol, if a display contains the Jalur Gemilang and all the state flags of Malaysia:[2]

  • The Jalur Gemilang shall take precedence before the state flags;
  • The state flags shall be ordered by the date the state's incumbent ruler takes the throne;
  • The Federal Territory flag comes last
State Current ruler Taken office
Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin 15 May 1998
Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin 17 April 2000
Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah 22 November 2001
Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz 29 December 2008
Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail 23 January 2010
Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V 13 September 2010
Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah 29 May 2014
Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin 12 September 2017
Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah 31 January 2019
Malacca TYT Mohd Ali Rustam 4 June 2020
Penang TYT Ramli Ngah Talib 1 May 2025
Sarawak TYT Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar 26 January 2024
Sabah TYT Musa Aman 1 January 2025

City, district, provincial and municipal

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Some localities have their own flags, whether on the level of district, city, or even traditional localities. Some of them do not represent the locality, but rather the authority that governs the locality such as district councils.

For flags of districts, towns, and cities in Malaysia, look for the article for each state's flag where said location is in. Below is a gallery of the flags of some Malaysian localities.

Military

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Flag Date Use Description
Standard of the Commander-in-chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Three equal horizontal bands of sky blue, red and blue, encircled by five gold five-pointed stars.
Standard of the Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces Three equal horizontal bands of sky blue, red and blue, with four gold five-pointed stars.
Flag of the Malaysian Armed Forces Three equal horizontal bands of sky blue, red and blue, with the crest of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Flag of the Malaysian Army A red field defaced with the crest of the Malaysian Army, with the Malaysian flag with black fimbriation in the canton.
Non-Ceremonial Flag of Malaysian Army A red field defaced with the crest of the Malaysian Army
Air force ensign of the Royal Malaysian Air Force A sky blue field defaced with the Federal Star, with the Malaysian flag in the canton.
Standard of the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force A sky blue field defaced with the Crest of the Air Force and four stars, with the Malaysian flag in the canton.
1968 onwards Naval ensign of the Royal Malaysian Navy A white field defaced with blue crossed kris and anchor, with the Malaysian flag in the canton.
Standard of the Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy A white field defaced with blue crossed kris and anchor at the centre with four blue stars at each edge.
1963–1968 Naval ensign of the Royal Malaysian Navy St. George's cross on a white field with the Malaysian flag in the canton.
1957–1963 Naval ensign of the Royal Malayan Navy St. George's cross on a white field with the Malayan flag in the canton.
1963 onwards Commissioning pennant of the Malaysian Navy

Law Enforcement Flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1997–present Flag of the Royal Malaysian Police Dark blue field with the crest of the Royal Malaysian Police.
2005–present Ensign of the Malaysian Coast Guard A blue field defaced with the Crest of the Malaysian Coast Guard, with the Malaysian flag in the canton.

Historical

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National flag

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Flag Date Use Description
1950–1963 Flag of the Federation of Malaya Eleven alternating red and white stripes with a dark blue rectangle, containing a gold crescent and 11-pointed star in the canton.
Flag of the Federation of Malaya (Banner display) Eleven vertical stripes alternating red and white; in the canton, a yellow crescent and 11-point star on a blue field.
1957–1963 Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagCivil Ensign of the Federation of Malaya A red field with the Flag of Malaya in a blue-fimbriated canton.

Sultanate flags

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Flag Date Use Description
15th century–1888 Flag of the Bruneian Empire, which once ruled most of the island of Borneo until Seludong (present-day Manila) and Banjarmasin in Kalimantan A plain yellow flag.
Flag of the Sultanate of Sulu, which once ruled the eastern part of Sabah after the territory been given by the Sultanate of Brunei after they sent help to settling a civil war in Brunei, although this was denied as supported by a number of old resources.[3] White flag with a black bordure charged with a black emblem.

The emblem represented the Sultanate of Sulu identity.

19th century Red flag with a thin blue-white band on the hoist charged with a white emblem.
18th century–1821 Flag of the Sultanate of Kedah A plain red flag.
1821–1912 Red flag charged with a pouncing tiger.
1853–1887 The flag of the Pahang Kingdom under Bendahara dynasty. A plain black flag. Black represented the colour of the Bendahara.
1887–1903 The flag of the Pahang Sultanate. Black flag with a thin white band at its hoist. Black represented the colour of the Bendahara, while white represented the ruling Sultan.
1903–1957 Naval jack of the Pahang Sultanate. White and black diagonally quadrisectioned flag.
1699 Flag of the Johor Sultanate A plain white flag. This flag was used by multiple Malay sultanates at the same time.
18th century–1912 Flag of the Kelantan Sultanate
18th century–1879 Flag of the Perak Sultanate
1855–1865 Flag of the Johor Sultanate Black flag with a white canton.
1865–1871 Black flag with a red canton, charged with a white saltire.
1784–1875 Flag of the Selangor Sultanate Yellow flag with two red bands at the chief and base.
1875–1965 Red and yellow horizontally quadrisectioned flag, charged with a yellow crescent and star on the upper hoist.
1912–1923 Flag of the Kelantan Sultanate White flag with a blue bordure at the hoist, chief, and fly, charged with a blue boat, on top of which lies a scripture stylised as a feline.

The scripture is written in Jawi script, with the tip of the tail writing "کراجاءن کلنتن" (Kelantanese Government), and the main body containing two passages from the Qur'an, an excerpt of the 13th verse of the 61st chapter, As-Saff "نصر من الله وفتح قىيب" (Help from Allah, and a speedy victory).

1912–1933 Flag of the Terengganu Sultanate Black flag with a white band at its hoist.
1933–1953 Black flag with a white band at its hoist, charged with an upwards white crescent and star on the chief of the black field.
Government flag of the Terengganu Sultanate Black flag with a white band at its hoist, charged with an upwards black crescent and star on the chief of the hoist band and white saltire on the black field.

State flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1957–1965 One of the alternative flags of the state of Penang Similar with the current flag except with a blue and white breakwater.
1973–1988 Flag of the state of Sarawak Red and white horizontal bicolour flag with a blue chevron.
1963–1982 Flag of the state of Sabah Four equal horizontal bands of red, white, yellow and blue, with a green canton, charged with a brown silhouette of Mount Kinabalu.
1982–1988 Blue and white horizontal bicolour flag with a red chevron.
1959–1965 Flag of the state of Singapore as a British Self-governing Colony (1959–1963) and as part of Malaysia (1963–1965) A horizontal bicolour of red over white, charged in white in the canton with a crescent facing, towards the fly, a pentagon of five stars.

Colonial and other national flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1511–1521 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal (Portuguese Malacca) A white field with the Portuguese coat of arms in the centre.
1521–1578
1578–1640
1580–1640 Flag of the Iberian Union (Portuguese Malacca) A red Saltire resembling two crossed, roughly pruned (knotted) branches, on a white field.
Royal flag of the Iberian Union (Portuguese Malacca) A red field with the royal coat of arms in the center.
1616–1640 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal (Portuguese Malacca) (Putative Flag) A white field with the Portuguese coat of arms in the centre.
1640–1641 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal (Portuguese Malacca)
1641–1795 The Prince's Flag in the Dutch Republic (Dutch Malacca) A horizontal tricolour of orange, white and blue.
1652–1672 States Flag in the Dutch Republic (Dutch Malacca) A horizontal tricolour of red, white and blue.
1795–1801 Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland.
1801–1818, 1858–1874 Flag of the United Kingdom A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing Ireland).
1818–1825 Flag of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch Malacca) A horizontal tricolour of red, white and blue.

1895–1946 Flag of the Federated Malay States

Flag of the Malayan Union

Flag of the Federation of Malaya

Four equal horizontal stripes of white (top), red, yellow and black, superimposed in the center on a small white ellipse depicting a running tiger.
1946–1948
1948–1950
1895–1946 Naval ensign of the Federated Malay States White-black-yellow-red diagonally quadrisectioned flag. This flag was also used as the ensign for the battleship HMS Malaya.
1902–1946 Flag of North Borneo A blue ensign defaced with the badge of North Borneo Chartered Company.
Civil ensign of North Borneo A red ensign defaced with the badge of North Borneo Chartered Company.
1948–1963 Flag of Crown Colony of North Borneo After World War II North Borneo becomes a crown colony. A blue ensign was adopted with the new badge instead that of North Borneo Company.
1912–1946 Flag of the Crown Colony of Labuan A blue ensign defaced with a ship.
1944‒1945 Flag of the Malayan Volunteer Army under the Japanese Occupation Blue flag with a red canton charged with two white crossed krisses.
Blue flag with a red canton charged with two white crossed krisses, and a smaller white lower hoist canton charged with regimental lettering. The lettering reads "マライ義勇軍" (romanised: Marai Giyūgun).
1948–1952 Flag of the Crown Colony of Singapore A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing a crown within a red inverted pall.
1952–1959
1949–1952 Flag of the Crown Colony of Penang A blue ensign defaced with the pre-1985 lesser arms of Penang.
1952–1957 Flag badge depicting the areca nut palm tree leaved and fructed proper on a mound with a wreath of the colours of the settlement arms adopted on 16 June 1952 by the Settlement Council.[4]
1951–1957 Flag of the Crown Colony of Malacca A blue ensign defaced with A Famosa motif.

Proposed Flags

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Flag Use Description
Proposed republican flag of Malaya.
Known as Sang Saka Malaya.
Red and white horizontal bicolour flag charged with twelve yellow stars on the upper hoist.
First proposed flag of Malaya. Blue flag charged with two red crorssed krisses surrounded by 11 white stars.
Second proposed flag of Malaya. Blue flag charged with two red crossed krisses surrounded by five white stars which is surrounded by six white stars.
Third proposed flag of Malaya. 11 alternating blue and white stripes with a red canton, charged with a white crescent and star.

Political flags

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Flag Date Use Description
Current
Link to file 2021–present People's Power Party
2020–present Homeland Fighter's Party Turquoise flag charged with the party logo atop its name in white.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah White flag charged with a light blue figure resembling Mount Kinabalu atop its abbreviated name in blue, red, and light blue.
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance Black flag charged with its name in white.
2019–present Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia Yellow flag charged with the party logo atop its name in red.
Malaysian Advancement Party
2017–present Malaysian United Indigenous Party Red flag charged with the party logo in white.
2016–present Youth Front Party
Sabah People's Hope Party
2015–present Pakatan Harapan Red flag charged with the party logo in white.
National Trust Party Orange flag charged with the party logo in white.
Link to file 2014–present Parti Sarawak Bersatu
Link to file 2013–present United Sabah National Organisation
Link to file Love Sabah Party
Link to file Sabah Nationality Party
Malaysian Indian Justice Party
Link to file Parti Sejahtera Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah
Link to file Sabah Native Co-operation Party
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah
Sabah National People's Unity Organisation
Link to file 2011–present Malaysian United People's Party
Link to file 2009–present Love Malaysia Party
Link to file 2007–present Malaysian Indian United Party
1999–present People's Justice Party Light blue flag with two red bands on the hoist and fly charged with a white symbol resembling two crescents facing each other.
1998–present Socialist Party of Malaysia
1994–present United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation
Sabah Progressive Party
1989–present Liberal Democratic Party
Link to file 1986–present Punjabi Party of Malaysia
Link to file 1985–present United Sabah Party
2020–present Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front Burgundy flag charged with a stylised white star.
1977–2020 Green flag charged with a white star.
1976–present Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress
Link to file 1973–present Barisan Nasional
1968–present Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
1965–present Democratic Action Party White flag charged with a blue circle and red rocket.
1955–present Malaysian Islamic Party Red and white horizontal bicolour flag charged with a green disc on the upper hoist.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia
1949–present Malaysian Chinese Association Blue flag charged with a yellow federal star.
1946–present United Malays National Organisation Red and white horizontal bicolour flag charged with a yellow disc defaced with a green kris.
Malaysian Indian Congress
Former
1996–2020 Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak
1989–1996 Parti Melayu Semangat 46 Yellow flag charged with a white disc defaced with a green text writing "46" at the centre of the field, and charged with two green crossed krisses on the upper hoist.
Link to file 1989–2001 People's Justice Front
Link to file 1978–2008 United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation
Link to file 1975–1991 Sabah People's United Front
1962–1990 North Kalimantan Communist Party
Sarawak People's Guerilla Force
1957–1973 Alliance Party Blue flag charged with a white boat.
1945–1948 Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya Red and white horizontal bicolour flag charged with twelve yellow stars on the upper hoist.

Known as the "Sang Saka Malaya," it is commonly associated with the republican‐independence movements in Malaysia,[5][6] and to an extent, the leftwing movements.[7][8]

1938–1945 Kesatuan Melayu Muda Red and white horizontal bicolour flag.

Known as the "sang saka," precursor to the "Sang Saka Malaya", it was used to represent an independent Malaysia before the Malaysian flag was eventually chosen.[9] It was based on the flag of the Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya, which in turn is based on the flag of Indonesia.[10]

1930–1989 Malayan Communist Party

University flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1962–present Flag of the University of Malaya A banner of the University's coat of arms
1984–present Flag of the International Islamic University Malaysia Turquoise flag charged with the university emblem in gold, black, and white.
Flag of the Northern University of Malaysia Light blue flag charged with the university emblem. Minor changes were done prior to the redesign of the university emblem.
2006–present Flag of the National Defence University of Malaysia Similar to the tricolour of the Armed Forces of Malaysia but with the university seal on top.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wilayah Persekutuan". Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  2. ^ "#Edisi merdeka: tahukah anda susunan keutamaan bendera di malaysia?". Majlis Keselamatan Negara. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  3. ^ Rozan Yunos (7 March 2013). "Sabah and the Sulu claims". The Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 17 June 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  4. ^ "NewspaperSG". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Tindakan kibar bendera 'Sang Saka Malaya' mahu tukar Malaysia kepada republik?". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  6. ^ Tempo.co (10 August 2018). "Bendera Kita Pernah Sama". Tempo. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  7. ^ Zulaikha Zulkifli (1 January 2013). "'Bendera Rakyat' berkibar di Dataran". MalaysiaKini.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ Lim, Ida (17 September 2013). "Who's afraid of the Sang Saka Malaya?". Malay Mail. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  9. ^ Munisamy, Saminathan. "Sang Saka Merah Putih and Malayan Representatives at Asian Relations Conference Delhi 25th March to 2nd April 1947". Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  10. ^ Sani, Rustam (2008). Social Roots of the Malay Left. SIRD. pp. 29–30. ISBN 978-9833782444.

Flag dates published references

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