Flag and coat of arms of Kelantan
State symbols of Kelantan, Malaysia, with Islamic and royal motifs.
The flag and coat of arms serve as the state symbols of Kelantan, Malaysia. Its red flag, much like Kedah’s, features a single emblem taken partially from the state’s coat of arms. As with other Malaysian states that have Malay royalty, both symbols draw from Kelantan’s royal heritage, Islam, and the state’s political and natural motifs.
Quick Facts
- Use
- 110000
- Proportion
- 1:2
- Adoption
- 1924
Facts from the source article.
Flag
The flag of Kelantan was adopted in 1924 and features a plain red background with a white emblem in the center. This emblem comes directly from the state coat of arms and includes a crescent, a five-pointed star, two spears, and two unsheathed krises. The red color stands for the honesty of the state’s settlers, citizens, and the Sultan of Kelantan, while the white emblem represents the sanctity of the Sultan. Before this design, from 1912 to 1923, Kelantan used a very different flag: a white field with a blue border along the top, fly, and hoist.
In the center was Jawi script shaped to resemble a dog or cat. The tip of the tail spelled out “Kerajaan Kelantan,” meaning the Kelantanese government, while the main body of the animal-like script contained two verses from the Quran, specifically part of the 13th verse of the 61st surah, Al-Saf. After the old flag was replaced in 1924, the new flag’s central emblem underwent small changes over time. Between 1928 and 1932, records show the emblem looked more like the full coat of arms, with finer details inside the white shape and red lines connecting each star point to the opposite corner.
These details were later removed, giving the emblem a simpler, more silhouetted look. The Kelantan royal family uses a set of flags for its members. High-ranking members have their own personal flags, while others are assigned one of three group flags. These flags are either plain designs or have a quarter-length hoist section.
Like the neighboring states of Terengganu and Johor, each administrative district, or jajahan, in Kelantan has its own flag. These district flags follow a standard pattern: the flag is split into four quarters, with the Kelantan state flag in the top left corner, the bottom right quarter colored red (matching the state flag), and the other two quarters filled with the district’s own color. This layout somewhat resembles the flag of Selangor.
Coat of arms
The Kelantanese coat of arms, bearing elements of Western heraldry, consists of a crescent and a five-pointed star backed by three sets of weapons (compared to only two on the state's flag). The arms is further supported by a pair of springing muntjacs (kijangs), topped by a crown, and includes a motto as a scroll below. Also present are decorative flora. The arms may be depicted entirely in yellow-to-orange, but variants with more vibrant inclusions of red and blue are also in use.
The Kelantese arms was introduced in 1916 under the order of Sultan Muhammad IV. Originally consisting of only the crescent and star, the three pair of weapons and the motto, the kijangs and coronet were only added several years later by Sultan Ismail (1880-1944), resulting in its present form. Until 1916, Kelantan had no coat of arms. The helm is depicted as a crown adorned with crescents and five-pointed stars, representing the sovereignty of the Kelantanese Sultan.
Together with the weapons, the crescent and five-pointed star form the principal element of the arms, with the crescent pointed upwards and its tips at the same height as the star. They symbolise the Islamic faith. The dual spears and unsheathed krises, traditional weapons of Kelantanese Malay culture, back the crescent, with the spears pointing upwards and the kris pointing at diagonal directions downwards and inwards. Both weapons signify the strength of Kelantanese Malays.
Like the spears and krises, the dual cannons back the crescent, but point outwards and downwards diagonally. The cannons represent Kelantan's constant readiness to defend itself. The supporters of the arms are two springing muntjacs (kijangs), which serves as a reminder of Kelantan's long history. The kijang's prominence may trace back to the rule of the legendary Queen of Kelantan, Che' Siti Wan Kembang who adored her beloved kijang to the point of adopting coin with their depictions. The motto consists of a scroll with written Jawi that reads (Surrender to God Kingdom of Kelantan).
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