{"id":6390,"date":"2020-07-02T09:36:25","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T13:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lammuseum.wfu.edu\/?p=6390"},"modified":"2024-06-24T14:33:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T18:33:13","slug":"malaysia-sarawak-state-flag-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lammuseum.wfu.edu\/2020\/07\/malaysia-sarawak-state-flag-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia: Sarawak State Flag Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

Where is Sarawak?<\/h3>\n

Sarawak is the largest of the thirteen states\u00a0of\u00a0Malaysia. It stretches along Borneo Island\u2019s northwest coast and includes many beaches on the South China Sea. It is also known for the rugged, dense rainforests\u00a0of its interior, which are mostly protected parklands. Sarawak has an abundance of animal and plant species. Because Sarawak is close to the equator it has a tropical\u00a0climate.
\n\"Malaysia<\/p>\n

The largest city in Sarawak is the capital, Kuching, which is set on the Sarawak River. Kuching is the economic center and political seat of Sarawak\u2019s government. In 2019, the population of Sarawak was 2,810,000. There are six major ethnic groups, and about forty sub-ethnic groups throughout Sarawak. Malay and English are the official languages but about forty-five other languages and dialects are spoken in Sarawak.<\/p>\n

Sarawak has been inhabited for 40,000 years. The Bruneian Empire controlled the coastal regions of Sarawak in the 16th century. In 1839, a British explorer arrived in Sarawak and he, and his descendants\u00a0governed the state from 1841 to 1946. This is called the time of the White Rajahs. In 1946, Sarawak became a\u00a0British Crown Colony and was not granted self-government until July 22, 1963. Sarawak became one of the founding members of independent Malaysia, which was established on September 16, 1963.<\/p>\n

Sarawak\u2019s Flags<\/h3>\n

Flags are used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization. The colors and designs on a flag can represent people, government, natural resources, ideas, and religion, among other things. Throughout Sarawak\u2019s history they have used several different flags.<\/p>\n

\"St.The first flag used after Sarawak came under British control had the St. George\u2019s cross on a white background. In 1946, Sarawak began to use the style of flag found in our collection. The colonial flag uses the image of a crown to indicate its British connection. The five points of the crown signify the five divisions of Sarawak. However, the basic design goes back much further. The yellow field and colored crosses date to the time of the White Rajahs.<\/p>\n

\"Colonial

Colonial Sarawak flag from the Lam Museum collection<\/p><\/div>\n

When Malaysia separated from the British Monarchy in 1963, the state of Sarawak did not initially create a new flag to celebrate its independence. Instead, it continued to use its colonial flag for ten years. Finally in 1973, the colonial flag was\"1973 replaced by a new flag. It consisted of a blue triangle imposed on two red and white stripes, representing the unity of the indigenous people of Sarawak.<\/p>\n

\"CurrentThe flag used in Sarawak today has a yellow background with a red and black stripe with a nine pointed star. The nine-pointed star represents the nine divisions in the state, while the yellow color denotes the importance of upholding the law, unity and stability in diversity. The red stripe stands for courage and the black stripe symbolizes the abundant natural resources that Sarawak possesses. You can see that this current flag has many similarities with the colonial version.<\/p>\n

Like many flags, these examples from Sarawak show how an object can represent the entire history of a land and its peoples. Check out this website<\/a> to learn more about flags of the world.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Make a Flag!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You will need:
\n\u2022<\/strong> Construction or copy paper (can be white or colored)
\n\u2022<\/strong> Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
\n\u2022<\/strong> Craft paints
\n\u2022<\/strong> Water
\n\u2022<\/strong> Cup
\n\u2022<\/strong> Paint brushes
\n\u2022<\/strong> Tape
\n\u2022<\/strong> Glue
\n\u2022<\/strong> Scissors
\n\u2022<\/strong> Optional for decorations; stickers, stencils, gems, foam shapes, flowers, pictures<\/p>\n

In the video she is making a large flag with four sheets of paper. You can choose to use just one sheet and make a smaller flag if you wish.
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