Every country has their own flag, flower, slogan, anthem, food and fruits and many more national stuff to strengthen its identity. Malaysia is no exception to that rule. To show their true patriotism, the locals have dubbed many things “national”. Here are some of the “national” items and places that may or may not be significant to its people.

National Anthem

The national anthem of Malaysia is “Negaraku” which literally translates to “my country”. Not too long ago, the national anthem had a slight tempo change as it was previously deemed to be too slow and in the style of a funeral march. It is now an upbeat song that resembles one of those songs you hear at a parade. To be honest, most Malaysians do not pay attention to the national anthem. You won’t see them coming to a halt in respect to the national anthem.

National Museum

The National Museum, or more affectionately known to the locals as “Muzium Negara”, is located atop a small hill on Jalan Travers. Its unique architecture is derived from the Minangkabau style and there are two large murals that depict Malaysia’s past and its diverse culture. The displays in the museum mostly relate to Malaysia’s history, culture, traditions, arts, flora, fauna, weapons and more. It might not be a hotspot for the locals but it would be an interesting and educational experience for visitors to Malaysia. You would probably exit the museum knowing more about Malaysia than the Malaysians themselves would.

National Flower

The Hibiscus is Malaysia’s national flower. It can be seen on the Visit Malaysia 2007 logo. There is no real reason why this particular flower was chosen as the national flower. It doesn’t really have a relation to Malaysia and it doesn’t bear much significance in the country’s history. It won’t be surprising if the locals themselves don’t know the national flower. The Hibiscus is also Korea’s national flower and Hawaii’s state flower. 

National Car

There are two local car manufacturers in Malaysia, Proton and Perodua. The latter is the younger of the two and Proton is referred to as the national car. It has been around for more than 20 years and is widely used by the locals. It isn’t because of national pride that you see Proton’s plaguing the streets, it is because of price. It is one of the most affordable cars together with the Perodua. Chances are, the average Malaysian would buy a Proton and since a great number of the population is average, you’ll see many Proton cars during your trip here.

National Monument

The national monument is better known by its Bahasa translation, “Tugu Negara”. This sculpture was built to commemorate those who so bravely sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Malaysia’s freedom. As with many national monuments around the world, the Tugu Negara depicts soldiers carrying a Malaysian flag. Built in 1966, the national monument still stands proud and tall. In 1975, the Tugu Negara was the target of a terrorist attack and it suffered extensive damage. It has since been restored to its original state.

National Flag

The Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of glory) is Malaysia’s national flag. It consists of four different colours; red, white, blue and yellow. The flag contains 14 alternating red and white stripes which represents the 14 states of Malaysia. In the box to the left is a crescent and a star. The crescent symbolizes Islam, the official religion of Malaysia. Similarly to the stripes, the 14 sided star represents the 14 states with the star symbolizing unity between the states. The red, white and blue of the flag is consistent with the colours of Commonwealth flag while the yellow of the star and crescent depicts the royal colour of the Malay rulers.