Sang Saka Malaya
| Other names | Sang Saka Merah Putih, Bendera Rakyat Bendera Malaya Merdeka |
|---|---|
| Use | Other |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | c. 1947 |
| Design | Twelve stars arranged in three rows of four columns on red and white background |
| Designed by | Joint PUTERA-AMCJA |
The Sang Saka Malaya, sometimes shortened from Sang Pusaka Malaya, is known as the flag of the Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya. It is also known as Bendera Rakyat. The flag features twelve stars arranged in three rows of four columns. It was introduced in 1947 by the combination of two political parties, Pusat Tenaga Ra'ayat (PUTERA) and the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA), as a proposal to the flag of an independent Federation of Malaya. According to a report by The Straits Times in 1947, The twelve stars represent the 12 states of the Malay Peninsula. It follows the concept of the American flag with 50 stars representing the 50 states that make up the United States.
The flag is commonly associated with republican independence movements and, to a certain extent, leftist movements in Malaysia. These movements support the abolition of the Malaysian monarchs in favour of a republic, similar to what occurred in Indonesia, where many local monarchies were stripped of power through integration.
A newer variation arose in 2007 designed by Angkatan Muda Keadilan (PKR Youth) leader, Najwan Halimi. This flag was carried by supporters of Himpunan Janji Demokrasi. This variation included a crescent moon and a star with eleven vertices on the original red and white flag. It was the national flag controversy that had arisen around the 56th anniversary of Malaysia's independence in 2013.