FLYING HIGH: The early Johor rulers designed flags which reflected their faith and sovereignty
JOHOR BAHRU: THE flag of the Temenggong in Riau was originally black, in line with the flag of Prophet Muhammad, and not to depict his status as a sea lord.
Temenggong Abdul Rahman raised a red flag when he was installed as Chief of Singapore.
Sultan Hussain as Sultan of Johor had a yellow flag. Temenggong Ibrahim chose a white royal standard upon the cessation of Johor by Sultan Ali in 1855.
A white flag signified purity and subservience to Allah.
Soon after the transfer of Johor to his possession, Temenggong Ibrahim set sail for mainland Johor. He raised a black flag with a patch of white at Bukit Bendera (now Bukit Timbalan) as a symbol of sovereignty and ownership upon coming ashore at Tanjong Puteri.
The white canton was the symbol for the Sovereign and black at the fly represented his subjects. This was the origins of the Johor state flag.
The heraldry of Johor was initiated by Abu Bakar, when in 1865, he redesigned the flag with a white cross on a red field at the canton while the fly retained its original colour, black.
Known as the Johor flag, it was intended to replace the state flag. In 1871, Abu Bakar redesigned the flag with a white crescent and a five-pointed star on a larger red field at the canton, and navy blue at the fly.
At the same time, he designed a commercial flag known as the Johor ensign with a black fly and the red field at the canton. This flag is no longer used and has been superseded by the state flag.
In the same year, Sultan Abu Bakar added a crescent and a star of nine points in royal blue on the white royal standard. He designed the Sultanah's flag with a blue field and a white crescent and star of seven points and a white triangle at each corner of the flag.
A white flag with a red crescent and a red seven-pointed star was designed for the heir apparent. Flags of the other heirs were of different designs and colour to reflect their ranking. The white flag of the Bendahara has red triangles at each corner and a red crescent with a red five-pointed star.
The flag of the Temenggong is a yellow flag with a blue triangle at each corner and a blue crescent and a blue five- pointed star.
In 2012, Sultan Ibrahim added flags for the other heirs -- the Tunku Laksamana, Tunku Panglima and Tunku Putera. The flag of other members of the royal family is yellow with a blue crescent and a blue five-pointed star.
Abu Bakar's choice of colours and devices for the flags were based on nature and the environment and his belief in Islamic principles and practices.
The various shades of blue of the universe were chosen to denote the royalty and the people. The blue of the sky which was adopted as royal blue denotes the ruler and the blue of the sea or navy blue the people. White, the symbol of the ruler, denotes purity. Red denotes bravery and is also the colour of the heir.
The crescent is the symbol of Islam. The stars have sharp points denoting precision and determination. The odd-numbered points are based on Islamic numerology. Muslims believe in one God.
The number nine is the highest cardinal number symbolising leadership, and subsequent lower numbers, seven and five, follow the order of hierarchy.
Obligatory and ritual beliefs in Islam are based on odd numbers such as the five pillars of Islam, the five daily prayers, performing the seven circumambulations (tawaf) of the Kaabah, the seven circuits of the Sa'e and congregating at Arafah on the ninth day of Zulhijjah in the performance of the Haj. It is obligatory for Muslims to fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.
Abu Bakar designed eight flags pertaining to the Sovereign, seven for the state including the state flag, and six appertaining to officials including the flag of the regent, the Menteri Besar, the commandant of the Johor military forces and the state commissioners.
However, only the Royal Standard and the state flag are used as instruments of authority and included in the state regalia.
In a procession, the ruler is flanked by the Royal Standard on his right and the state flag.
Similarly, the Royal Standard is placed on the right of the throne and the state flag on the left during the levee and investiture ceremony.
There are four state umbrellas, two large (2.1m each) and two small (1.8m each), surmounted by enamel replicas of the crown. The handles are made of silver and the cloth is pure white silk with images of the crown stitched on it.
Unlike the ceremonial umbrellas of the Yang DiPertuan Agong, and that of Kedah, Perlis, Selangor, Terengganu, Pahang and Negri Sembilan, which are in yellow and fringed with tassels, the Johor state umbrellas are white, the colour of the sovereign.
The umbrellas are symbolic of protecting the Ruler from the elements.
The umbrellas are borne by the regalia bearers immediately behind the state krises in a procession but remain unfurled following the Johor tradition where the Ruler prefers not to be shaded while outdoors to shed the barrier of protocol when meeting guests. The umbrellas are positioned behind the thrones in the Bilik Singgahsana.
At a royal burial ceremony, the four umbrellas are open to shade the royal coffin carried by pallbearers. Eight yellow umbrellas denoting royalty used during the burial ceremony are not included as state regalia.
The two large white umbrellas are open and borne by the bearers at the procession of Hari Hol, commemorating the anniversary of the demise of the Ruler.
Dato' Abdul Rahim Ramli is secretary of the Council of the Royal Court.
