Coat of arms of Malaysia

The coat of arms of Malaysia (Jata Negara Malaysia) is a special symbol that represents the country. It includes a shield, two tigers standing on either side, a crescent shape, and a star with fourteen points. At the top is a motto that helps explain what the country stands for.

This design has roots in older symbols from when Malaysia was under British colonial rule. It looks similar to the coats of arms used in Europe, which are part of a tradition called heraldic art. The coat of arms helps show the pride and identity of the Malaysian people, connecting them to their history from the time of the Federated Malay States.

Design

The coat of arms of Malaysia features a shield guarded by two tigers. The shield has a yellow crescent moon and a 14-pointed star on top, and a motto at the bottom. The crescent and star represent the country's monarchy and its official religion, Islam. The star originally stood for the 14 states of Malaysia, including Singapore, but now it is thought to represent the federal territories.

The shield itself is divided into sections that represent the different states of Malaysia. It includes symbols like krises, the Pinang palm tree, the Penang Bridge, and the hibiscus flower. The two tigers supporting the shield stand for strength and courage. The motto at the bottom reads "Unity is Strength."

History

Federated Malay States and Malayan Union

Main article: Federated Malay States § Coat of arms

The Malaysian coat of arms began with the Federated Malay States, which was ruled by the United Kingdom. In 1895, the same year the flag was introduced, the coat of arms was created. It had a shield, two tigers, and a banner. The top part showed an eastern-style crown for the four sultanates. The shield was simpler, showing the colors of the four states. The motto was "Under God's Protection" written in an old Malay script, flanked by two eight-pointed stars.

When the Malayan Union was formed in 1946, it combined the Federated Malay States with five other states and two areas from old British settlements. For two years, the old coat of arms was still used before the Union ended.

Federation of Malaya

The Federation of Malaya was created in 1948, and the coat of arms was updated on May 12, 1952. The new design included symbols for all 11 states. The top part was changed to a yellow crescent moon and an 11-pointed star, representing the states. The old motto was replaced with "Unity is Strength" in both English and Malay.

Malaysia

When Malaysia was formed in 1963, the coat of arms was changed again to include three new states: Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak. The shield was widened, and the tigers were redrawn. The star was updated to have 14 points to match the number of states. The motto was changed to Malay. Some old symbols were replaced to remove colonial and non-Islamic designs. After Singapore left in 1965, the coat of arms was updated once more. In later years, the designs for Sabah and Sarawak were also updated.

Uses

The coat of arms of Malaysia is used on several important flags. It appears in the center of the Royal Standard of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the flag of the Federal Territories, and the flag of Putrajaya without many changes.