Malaysia’s national flag, Jalur Gemilang , is more than just a symbol of the country; it embodies the spirit, unity, and aspirations of the nation. The striking red, white, blue, and yellow design tells a story of Malaysia’s history, culture, and shared values. Let’s dive deeper into what makes Jalur Gemilang so unique and how it came to represent Malaysia to the world. The Birth of Jalur Gemilang The journey to having a national flag began in 1949 when Malaya, as the country was then known, sought a symbol of identity and independence as it worked towards freedom from British colonial rule. A design competition was held to create a flag for the Federation of Malaya, attracting 373 entries from citizens. The winning design came from a public works department architect, Mohamed Hamzah , who was just 29 years old at the time. His initial design underwent several modifications, but it was ultimately chosen as the flag of the Federation of Malaya in 1950. When Malaysia was formed in 1963,...