KEEP THE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING HIGH

By Zulkiple Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- This is the month of August. To us
Malaysians, this is the Merdeka (Independence) month and on Aug 31 those who
were born as Malaysians will be celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the
country's birth as a nation.

As the Merdeka Month celebration kicks off, Malaysians would find streets in
towns and cities nationwide lined with the 'Jalur Gemilang' national flag . So
are the buildings including the shopping complexes, government offices and the
rest.

"But it is ironic, some Malaysians are only proud of the national flag only
during the Merdeka Month celebration," said a friend of this writer, Wee, from
Kelantan.

"I had observed in the past that some of us were very enthusiastic in waving
and flying the national flag during the national day celebration. The climax was
on Aug 31st. But what happened after that?

"After a celebration, miniature national flags particularly that we placed
on the car roof that had dropped off were found strewn about. Flags on some
buildings were left to rot and torn due to the harsh Malaysian weather until the
next year's Merdeka celebration.

"Shouldn't we be proud of our national flag at all times. For Malaysians,
the patriotism should be at all times and not only on certain occasions," said
Wee.

Later after dinner, an advertisement on television caught the writer's
attention.

The advertisment showed a middle-aged motorcyclist trying to seek refuge
from heavy rain during a storm. The man, who was soaked to the skin, stopped at
a bus shelter where he also found several young men taking refuge there.

The man later saw a Jalur Gemilang, that had earlier been ripped away by
strong winds from a post located nearby. The flag had been blown to the middle
of the road before settling on the concrete surface.

Despite the presence of an oncoming car, the middle-aged man rushed to the
middle of the road to 'rescue' the Jalur Gemilang. The young men had merely
looked on.

"That should be the attitude. We Malaysians must respect, honour and fight
for the Jalur Gemilang anytime and anywhere," said former army officer Abu Bakar
Ibrahim on the advertisement.

According to the National Archive, the flag for the Federation of Malaya was
designed by Mohamad Hamzah, a government architect from southern state of Johor.

On May 19, 1950 King George VI gave his consent on the flag design.

The flag of the Federation of Malaya was flown for the first time in a
flag-hoisting ceremony organised by the British High Commissioner on May 26,
1950 at the grounds of the Selangor Palace, attended by all Malay Rulers and
officials of King George VI.

The amalgamation of states of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore with the
Federation of Malaya gave birth to a new nation, Malaysia. With this
development, the flag of the Federation of Malaya needed to be amended.

The Malaysian flag was flown officially for the first time throughout the
country to signify the birth of the new nation on Sept 16, 1963.

On the eve of Aug 31, 1997 in conjunction with Malaysia's 40th Independence
Day, the then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced Jalur Gemilang as the
official name for the Malaysian flag.

'Jalur' is a Malay word meaning a band or stripe of colour.

The 14 parallel red and white stripes on the national flag (which signify
the 14 states in Malaysia) also symbolise a common mission, a common direction
and a virtuous path followed by the peoples of all states regardless of creed,
race and religion.

'Gemilang' is a Malay word meaning bright, brilliant, resplendent or
excellent.

Jalur Gemilang represents the excellence of the people and Malaysia in every
field, be it at national or international level.

The national flag Jalur Gemilang symbolises a nation and people who are
hard-working, patriotic, strong, courageous and prepared to sacrifice for the
race, nation and religion.

"Love and honour the Jalur Gemilang anywhere, anytime".
-- BERNAMA