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Federation Of Malaya Flag
The Federation of Malaya was a federation of 11 states, that existed from 1 February 1948 until 16 September 1963. The nine Malay states (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Terengganu, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan) and two British Straits Settlements (Penang and Malacca) made up these 11 states of the Federation. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957, and in 1963 Malaysia was formed with the Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak Crown Colonies.
The picture shows the Federation of Malaya flag, which was used from 1950-1963. Note the 11 stripes and 11 points on the star.
Regarding the design, Wikipedia advises:
When the Federation of Malaya replaced the short lived Malayan Union, the federation government through the Federal Legislative Council called for a design contest for a new flag. Three flags were forwarded to the public. The first flag had 11 white stars with two Malay kris in the middle against a blue backdrop. The second flag "concentric circle of 11 stars around crossed keris on a blue field". The third "had 11 alternate red and white stripes and a yellow crescent and a five-pointed star on a blue background in the top left hand corner". The third design, by Mohamad Hamzah of the Public Works Department, was chosen as the winner through a public poll held by The Malay Mail. Since Malaya was fighting the communists during the Malayan Emergency, the five-pointed star had an ironic resemblance to the communists' symbols. Therefore, the star was modified to accommodate six more points.
The Malayan flag was approved by King George VI on 19 May 1950 and was first raised in front of Istana Selangor on 26 May 1950. On 31 August 1957, it was raised upon independence at Merdeka Square in place of the British Union Flag.
The Malayan flag was designed by Mohamed Hamzah, a 29-year-old architect working for the Public Works Department(JKR) in Johor Baharu, Johore. He entered the Malayan flag design competition in 1947 with two designs that he completed within two weeks. The first design was a green flag with blue kris in the middle, surrounded by 15 white stars. The second design, which was among the three finalists, was similar to the current flag but with a five-pointed star. It borrows major design elements from the East India Company flag, notably the red and white stripes. The competition attracted 373 entries and voting was made by the general public via post. Malayan senior statesman Dato' Onn Jaafar met with Mohamed Hamzah after he won the competition and suggested that the star be changed to an 11-pointed one to represent all the Malayan states.
Mohamed Hamzah died just short of his 75th birthday on 13 February 1993 in Jalan Stulang Baru, Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor.
Following the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the design of the Malayan flag was modified to reflect and honour the new states in the federation.