1841–1946
Kingdom of Sarawak
The
heraldic arms of the Brooke dynasty of the Kingdom of Sarawak were based on the
emblem used by James Brooke. It consisted of a red and black cross on yellow
shield, crested by a badger, known in heraldic parlance as a "brock"
and hence alluding to the dynastic surname. A crown was added in 1949, and the
shield design was used as the basis of the Sarawak flag until 1973.
1946–1963
Crown Colony of Sarawak
1963–1973
Sarawak ( Malaysia )
A
shield version of Sarawak flag was used as Sarawak’s coat of arm. The coat of arms was used way after Sarawak
joined the Federation of Malaysia.
1973–1988
Sarawak ( Malaysia )
The current coat of arms was established in 1973. The shield features a symbolic wing-spread Kenyalang or Rhinoceros Hornbill with the shield bearing the state flag. The hornbill's wings have 13 feathers, which represent the states in Malaysia. The Hibiscus represent the Malaysia's national flower which appears on the right and left sides of the bird's legs and the hornbill is perched on a banner bearing the words "Hidup Selalu Berkhidmat"
1988-present
In
1988, the flag was replaced with the current version
along with yet another new
state anthem and motto, Ibu Pertiwiku and Bersatu,
Berusaha, Berbakti . The new design was
adopted on the 25th anniversary of Sarawak joining the Federation of Malaysia. It retains the same colour scheme as the flag
of the former kingdom, with two significant changes: the cross was replaced
with two diagonal bars and the crown was substituted with a nine-pointed star
symbolising the original nine divisions of Sarawak, in order to eliminate any
overt references to Christianity and a sovereign monarchy. With the new flag, the state flag shield too
was replace accordingly, along with the motto “ Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti”
