The Malaysians in their various spectrums collect national symbols to cherish, control their narratives and historical narratives, express their folk traditions, and preserve their culture inspired by the tropical nature of the country.
These symbols appear on national emblems, currency, postage stamps, and state and state flags. They are also made in the form of souvenirs, which are distributed on national occasions and sold to tourists and visitors.
These symbols mostly expressed the idea of the diversity that characterizes the country, whether in the nature of the population who come from different races, cultures and religions, or its geographical and environmental diversity, which includes a large number of types of plants, flowers and animals.
Hafsah Bint Muhammad - who runs a store selling tourist products - notes that these symbols are extremely important in the lives of Malaysians, especially as they are often associated with the history and culture of the population.
She adds in her talk to Al-Jazeera Net that she sells old coins or those that were issued in limited quantities, and often they are decorated with one or more of these symbols, and she says that collecting these pieces appeals to Malaysians and tourists.
Muslim country
The blue color in the flag of Malaysia refers to the union, while the star and crescent symbolize that it is a Muslim country, and the star has 14 areas indicating the number of states in addition to the capital Kuala Lumpur, as indicated by white and red lines.
Hibiscus flower
The hibiscus flower is the most prominent symbol of the country, and it is called Bungraia in Malay, meaning big flower, and was chosen by Tengku Abdul Rahman as the first prime minister, due to the fact that it is evergreen and blooms throughout the year.
It also symbolizes ethnic diversity, and it is present in all parts of the country, from east to west, in multiple colors. Therefore, it was chosen to symbolize all countries, and red was chosen to symbolize permanence and political and economic stability.
As for the five petals of the flower, they mean the national pillars that must be preserved, which are faith in God, loyalty to the country and the king, sovereignty of the constitution, respect for the law, coexistence and good manners.
Malay tiger
The Malayan tiger symbolizes strength and courage, and it was chosen as a national emblem, and they call it "Bey Pelang", that is, the planned uncle, and it is often included in their folkloric stories and legends.
This tiger, whose native habitat Malaysia is considered an endangered animal, is left with only 300 tigers, and it is the only one of its kind in the world that can swim and may devour an entire villa.
Kites
The farmers in the Kelantan state used the Malaysian moon-kite kites to flush the birds out of the rice crops, and then moved to the rest of the country in various forms.
Kites are part of Malaysian folklore, and there is a special celebration of them, and there are private gardens to practice this hobby, and these planes are often made by hand and are drawn and decorated, and Malaysian Airlines have taken a slogan.
Rentaross Horn Bell
The national bird of Malaysia is called the Rhinoceros horn bill, and it is distinguished by its beautiful legendary shape. It has a large beak and a horn at the top of the head, and colored feathers. It is one of the largest hornbells, and it reached 90 cm in length. Its wings reach 1.5 meters in length.
The Wikis, the indigenous inhabitants of Borno, believed the sanctity of this bird and that it was the link between the life and the messenger of life and the gods, but today it is a symbol of modern Malaysia and a part of its cultural heritage.
Song Kate
Songket is a type of textile, and was once symbolized by the ruling family and the aristocracy, but today it is accessible to everyone who wear it on their special occasions as a kind of traditional clothing they attach special importance.
These textiles are made of either cotton or silk, and threads with metallic colors are included as part of the composition of this fabric, which gives it shine.
This type is known for its high prices, because it needs eight steps to accomplish and take a long time. As for the inscriptions and motifs used, every race of Malaysia uses its own spiritual symbols. Malay use Islamic motifs and floral prints, and its inscriptions are included in the backgrounds of banknotes.
Refligia
Rafflesia is the largest flower in the world, and it is one of the rare flowers and there are in Malaysia eight types out of 20 species, and its name is attributed to the British Colonel Stam Ford during the period of his country's colonization of Malaysia.
And it smells like meat, so Malaysians believed in their myths that they swallow people, and it is one of the flowers that tourists are keen to see and is considered a national wealth that cannot be uprooted.
Petronas Twin Towers
The construction of the Petronas Twin Towers is an icon in modern architecture, and they are the highest in the world (they were the tallest two towers from 1998 to 2004) and were designed by Argentine architect Cesar Pelli.
The two towers blend modernity with Islamic art. Their concrete and glass façades are designed to resemble Islamic motifs. The construction was inspired by the Qutb Lighthouse in India.
It took about seven years to build this architectural masterpiece, and was opened by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the former Prime Minister and Renaissance maker of Malaysia. Below the towers is a huge shopping center, which is a popular destination for citizens and visitors alike, as well as the Petronas Music Hall.