Last modified: 2010-02-27 by ian macdonald
Keywords: malaysia | politics | hakka | handshake | arrow | rocket | circle (blue) | torch | disc (black) | star: 14 points (yellow) | triangle (green) | paddy | bull: gaur (black) | cogwheel (white) | ellipse (white) | disc (white) | disc (b |
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![[Akar Bersatu party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}akar.gif)
image
by António Martins
Bigger version of the symbol at the same page. From Akar Bersatu Official Website:
The flag of the party shall be a rectangular shape partitioned vertically in three segments. The left portion shall be red in colour to signify courage, strength and life. The middle portion shall be golden yellow to signify dignity, productivity, progress and prosperity for the State of Sabah. The right portion shall be blue to signify harmony, purity, peacefulness and stability of the Country. The width of each colour stripe is expended progressively to denote growth. The golden yellow is double the width of the blue and like wise, the red is double that of the golden yellow colour. The symbol and badge of the Party shall be printed on the upper half of the left (red) segment of the flag with the Party's acronym "AKAR BERSATU" imprinted in white immediately beneath the symbol.
Dov Gutterman, 19 March 1999
![[Barisan Nasional Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}bs.gif)
image by Jorge Candeias, 30 June 2005
Barisan Nasional (BN) - The National Front coalition (United Malays National
Organisation-UMNO + 13 Other Political Parties). Their flag is blue with a white
scale, as can be seen at:
http://www.bn.org.my/cgi-bin/index.asp.
Herman Felani M.Y., 22 March 2004
![[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}dap.gif)
image
by Jorge Candeias, 4 August 2005
based on the Democratic Action Party website
DAP is using a banner of a rocket on white. It is really in use [as could be seen at a now broken link]. And from Democratic Action Party website:
The meaning of the rocket
The blue circle stands for the unity of the multi-racial people of Malaysia. The white background stands for purity and incorruptibility. The red rocket symbolizes the Party's aspiration for a modern, dynamic and progressive society. The four rocket boosters represent the support and drive given to the Party objectives by the three major races and others.
Dov Gutterman, 19 March 1999
The blue circle also comes from the PAP (Singapore) logo, from whom the DAP is descended, which has a lightning bolt instead of the rocket. The two parties split in 1965 when Singapore left Malaysia.
Andrew Yong, 20 March 1999
![[Liberal Democratic Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}ldp.gif)
image
by António Martins
Source: Barisan Nasional Malaysia Official Website [broken link].
![[Malaysian Chinese Association (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}mca.gif)
image
by Ian MacDonald, 14 April 2007
From the Malaysian Chinese Association website: "The flag of the Party is a fourteen point yellow star on a blue background". There are also pictures of actual flags there. The MCA's political ideology and conception are prescribed in its Party Constitution. They are, in brief:
Dov Gutterman, 18 March 1999
Obviously based on the Kuomintang flag.
Andrew Yong, 18 March 1999
"The Star", 12 March 2007 gives more details on the origin of the flag:
"Yesterday was a big day for MCA life member Mok Yuen – not only was it his first time attending the party's anniversary celebration, it was also the day his contribution to the party was “celebrated.” The 84-year-old, who travelled from Penang to attend the event, is the designer of MCA's flag. He carried the flag into Dewan San Choon at Wisma MCA here at the start of the party's 58th anniversary celebration. “I designed the flag in 1958 when the Penang MCA Youth realised there was nothing that represented the party then,” he said.Ivan Sache, 21 March 2007
Mok drew two versions of the flag before presenting them to the party's headquarters. One version was a yellow chrysanthemum on a blue background while another was a nine-point yellow star on a blue background. The second version was later approved. “Initially, there were only nine points in the yellow star as it represented the Federation of Malaya but this was changed to 14 points in 1963 to represent the 13 component states and the Federal Government,” he said. Mok said the blue background symbolises brightness and unity while the use of yellow for the star represented the Chinese community. “Many people asked me if I was paid to design the flag when they found out that I was the designer, and my answer was no. “I did it simply because it was what the party needed at the time. I didn't do it for my own interest or to make myself famous,” he said. He added: “I am happy that I have contributed to the party in this way.”"
![[Malaysian Chinese Association (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}mca9.gif)
image
by Ian MacDonald, 14 April 2007
![[Malaysian Indian Congress]](../images/m/my}mic.gif)
image by Ivan Sache, 6 January 2005
The Malaysian Indian Congress (then Malayan Indian Congress and probably until
the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963) was founded in August 1946
by John A. Thivy, first President of the party (1946-1947). It was established
in the course of the continuing struggle of the inter-war tears, to end British
Colonial rule, as well as in the need for representation on behalf of Indian
Community in the post war development of the country. It was the intense
anti-British sentiment that made the MIC under the leadership of its second
President Mr. Budh Singh (1947-1950) critical of the Malayan Union proposals
that did not rally Indian support although the proposals were favourable and
upheld the principle of jus soli. Later the MIC joined the All Malaya Council
for Joint Action (AMCJA) under Tun Tan Cheng Lok in opposition to the less
liberal Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948.
The second phase of the Party began, under its third President Mr. K.Ramanathan
(1950-1951), realising the ineffectiveness and futility of non-cooperation with
the Government when the other major communities represented by UMNO (United
Malays' National Orgnization) and MCA (Malayan Chinese Association, later
Malaysian Chinese Association) cooperated, the MIC contested in 1952 Kuala
Lumpur Municipal Elections in alliance with the IMP (?) under Dato' Onn bin
Jaafar and other non-communal organizations. In 1954 the MIC under its fourth
President Mr. K. L. Devaser (1951-1955) became the third partner in the Alliance
with UMNO and MCA.
The third phase of the MIC history was its consolidation. Under Tun V.T
Sambanthan, the fifth President (1955-1973), the party grew in membership as
well as in the number of branches, becoming a mass based party, and the same
time firmly entrenching the MIC as a partner of Alliance. On 31 August 1957,
independence of Malaysia was achieved under the Merdeka Agreement in which Tun
V.T. Sambanthan was a signatory.
The fourth phase of the party began with Tan Sri Dato V. Manikavasagam, the
sixth President (1973-1979). It was during this period that the MIC as a member
of the Alliance became part of Barisan Nasional (BN). BN (National Front),
including 10 parties, succeeded the Alliance in 1974. MIC sponsored the Nesa
Multipurpose Cooperative and the MIC Unit Trust as part of its programme for
economic ventures, and also set up the MIC Education Fund for members children
and the Malaysian Indian Scholarship for higher education as well as acquiring
an Institute for training Indians in technical and trade skills. With the demise
of Tan Sri Dato V. Manikavasagam on 12 October 1979., Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu
has taken over the helm of the Party.
In the 2004 parliamentary elections, the BN-MIC won nine seats (4 in Selangor, 2
in Perak and 1 in Johor, Pahang and Negeir Sembilan). The party is represented
in the central government by the Minister of Works, three Deputy Ministers, and
three Parliament Secretaries. In 1996, Indians represented 7.2% of the
population of Malaysia.
The flag of the Malaysian Indian Congress is made of 16 horizontal stripes: the
seven red and seven white stripes from the Malaysian national flag and a blue
stripe on top and bottom of the flag. Those blue stripes symbolize peace and
prosperity. A green circle placed in the center of the flag symbolizes unity;
the acronyms Ma Yi Kah (மஇகா, Tamil) and MIC (Bahasa Malaysia) are written in green
inside the circle.
Source (text and image): MIC website
Ivan Sache, 6 January 2005
![[Malaysian People's Movement Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}mpmp.gif)
image
by António Martins
The flag of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia is its logo on red. From the Malaysian People's Movement Party website [broken link]:
Party Symbol: Five paddy stalks represent 5 communities. They are the Malays, Chinese, Indians, the Orang Asli (indigenous peoples) and others. They are united by common bond. All communities value rice. It is the unifying symbol. 12 grains of paddy in each stalk represent 12 months of prosperity, harmony, justice and purity for all. Total 60 grains of paddy represent the Election cycles, one term of office to ensure the above.
Dov Gutterman, 19 March 1999
![[Malaysian People's Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}mpp.gif)
image
from the Malaysian People's Party website
Editor's note: the cogwheel in this image has only 12 teeth, the picture below appears to be more correct with 13.
Translated from the Malay in this website:
The flag is rectangle with the stylised black silhouette of the head of a Malayan Gaur (an indigenous bovine — seladang in Malay) on a white cogwheel against a dark red background. The symbolism of the flag:
- The symbol of the Gaur means bravery, mutual help and protection of the weak (characteristics of the species).
- The cogwheel with the thirteen teeth means industrial advancement and a united people under the Federation of the 13 states in Malaysia.
- Red symbolises bravery, black for tenacity and white for purity.
Robert Kee, 15 August 1999
![[Picture of Malaysian Peoples' Party Flag (Malaysia)]](../misc/my}prm_p.jpg)
I found this photo and caption [in Yahoo! News 23 November 1999] which shows the flag of a Malay political party:
A supporter of opposition Malaysian People's Party (PRM) holds a party flag on a street during a campaign Tuesday, Nov. 23, 1999 in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysians will vote in the country's most crucial general elections in the decades on Nov. 29. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's National Front has ruled the nation since its independence in 1957. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Steve Stringfellow, 24 November 1999
Interestingly, this black bull on red was also used in Indonesia, by the Sukarnoputri party, if I remember correctly. Is there a connection?
Jorge Candeias, 24 November 1999
Regarding the possible connection between the bull symbolism in the Malaysian Peoples' Party (Malay language acronym PRM) logo/flag with Indonesia's Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P)'s logo/flag, PRM sees its political struggle as having its roots from the pan-Malay progressive nationalist struggle spearheaded by the Malay Nationalist Party and its predecessors in the 30's and 40's. Incidentally the flag used by the Malay Nationalist Party is similar to the current flag of Indonesia. This is probably due to the historical significance of the Majapahit Empire which united the Malay archipelago in the 13th - 14th centuries.
When PRM was founded in 1955 (as Partai Ra'ayat or Peoples' Party), it had fraternal organisations in Indonesia (Independent Malaya Union), Singapore and Brunei. The original flag for PRM was the black gaur superimposed in the middle of the Malay Nationalist banner (read the present Indonesian flag). This is probably also why UMNO, which originated as a federation of conservative Malay political organisations; still maintains the incorporation of same banner in its present day logo. The banner was eventually discarded from PRM's logo when the separate independence of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei became de facto with the conclusion of the Indonesian-Malaysian confrontation and the federation of Malaya, Singapore and British Borneo as Malaysia. The Bruneian counterpart of PRM has since been effectively rendered impotent with the conclusion of the Brunei Revolt. It probably was also symbolic to PRM as it started reorganising itself as a multi ethnic national party in Malaysia.
PDI-P being a nationalist party in Indonesia probably derives its political struggle from the same pan Malay nationalist heritage, which is why PDI-P and a few other Indonesian political parties continue to use the black gaur on a red background as their symbols.
Robert Kee, 5 February 2001
See also:
![[Malaysian Trade Unions Congress]](../images/m/my}mtuc.jpg)
image located by Ivan Sache, 6 January 2006
The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC - Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia) is
a federation of trade unions, registered under the Societies Act, 1955. It is
the oldest National Centre representing the Malaysian workers. The Unions
affiliated to MTUC represent all major industries and sectors with approximately
500,000 members. MTUC came into existence at a time when the First Emergency was
declared against insurgent Communist activities. A few union leaders who
believed in free democratic trade unionism convened a conference of trade union
delegates on 27 and 28 February, 1949. MTUC has been recognized by the
Government as the representative of workers in Malaysia and is consulted by
Government on major changes in labour laws through the National Joint Labour
Advisory Council. MTUC also represents labour at the International Labour
Organisation Conferences and Meetings.
The emblem and the flag of MTUC are described in its Constitution as follows:
Rule 2 - Badge and Flag
2(1) The MTUC emblem shall be a round badge in a wheel form in blue colour,
showing an aflamed torch with white background and superimposed on it the words
MTUC. The badge shall further have the words "Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia"
and "Unity is Strength" around the green circle within it, on which shall appear
two hands shaking and the words "MTUC", in Chinese and Tamil languages above and
beneath them. A drawing of two rice stalks in golden colour shall appear around
the green circle within the badge above the words.
2(2) The MTUC flag shall be in a rectangular form with diagonally divided red
and white background and with the MTUC badge superimposed on it in the top left
corner on the white side of the flag. A drawing of the badge and the flag
appears as Appendix 'B' of MTUC Constitution.
Unfortunately, I have not found Appendix B but only a small, incomplete image of
the MTUC badge, from which an experienced artist could be able to reconstruct
the MTUC flag.
Source (text and image): MTUC website
Ivan Sache, 6 January 2005
![[Parti Keadilan Nasional (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}pkn.gif)
image
by António Martins
Translated from Malay in the Parti Keadilan Nasional Official Website:
The flag shall be a sky blue rectangle. In the middle is a white sphere with a sky blue circle within. The white sphere represents the global nature of a noble struggle. The sky blue circle represents justice for all.
Robert L.S. Kee, 15 August 1999
See also:
![[Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}pis.gif)
2:3
image
by Ivan Sache
The correct name for the party in English is Pan Malaysian Islamic Party. The flag is a rectangle with a white circle [and] around a green background.
Robert L.S. Kee, 15 August 1999
The PAS flag is green with a white full moon, roughly 2:3.
Andrew Yong, 15 January 2000
The Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) – The Pan Malaysian Islamic Party. Their
logo and flag is simply green charged with a white circle (representing the
moon). As can be seen at:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/malaysia/p1.htm.
Herman Felani M.Y., 22 March 2004
![[Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (Malaysia) possible flag]](../images/m/my!pis1.gif)
image
by Ivan Sache, 3 December 2008
A graphic shown on the party website shows a flag horizontally divided
red-white with a green disk in canton. The
same graphic is shown on the adhesion bulletin:
http://www.pas.org.my/borang/keahlian/borang_ahli_pas.pdf. However, a
photo shown on the top of another website of the party shows the green flag with
the white disk: http://pemuda.pas.org.my.
Ivan Sache, 3 December 2008
![[Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu]](../images/m/my}pbb.jpg)
image
from the Barisan Nasional Malaysia Official Website
![[People's Progressive Party (Malaysia)]](../images/m/my}ppp.gif)
image
by Thanh-Tâm Lê (conjectural ratio, see original image from the PPP website here)
From the People's Progressive Party website: "Six-pointed Blue Colour Star, representing 6 different communities and the major principles of the Party, i.e. People, Progress, Purpose, Protect, Principle and Peace."
Dov Gutterman, 17 March 1999
![[Federation of Hakka Association in Malaysia]](../images/m/my}hakka.gif)
image
from the Federation of Hakka Association in Malaysia website
According to the Danish encyclopedia: Hakka (cantonese 'stranger', standard chinese /keija/) term for approx. 35 million people living spread in the rural areas in southern China and on Taiwan, and for their distinctive dialect.
Ole Andersen, 19 August 1999
Hakkas or Kheks (meaning Guests) are a dialect group from China... popularly believed to be descended from Northern Chinese who migrated to the South during the Hun invasions. Hakkas form a large minority of Overseas Chinese and can be found wherever Chinese are located. This association is an umbrella organisation of Hakka Clan associations in Malaysia. Even Sun Yat-Sen, the father of modern China was reputedly Hakka.
Robert L.S. Kee, 19 August 1999
