Order of Flag Priority
Do you know the Order of Flag Priority in Malaysia? It's one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of event protocol, and getting it wrong at an official or corporate function reflects poorly on the organiser.
The order is stipulated under General Circular Letter No. 3 of 1994, and has been in effect since January 31, 2024 under Article 70 of the Federal Constitution.
The Official Order
Here is the correct sequence for the flags of Malaysia and the States:
- Malaysia
- Terengganu
- Perlis
- Selangor
- Negeri Sembilan
- Kelantan
- Perak
- Kedah
- Pahang
- Johor
- Sabah
- Melaka
- Penang
- Sarawak
- Federal Territories
Source: Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa.
Why Is the Order Set This Way?
The Malaysian national flag — the Jalur Gemilang — always comes first, as it represents the country's sovereignty. The state flags are then ordered according to the hierarchy within the Malaysian monarchy.
The nine royal states, those with hereditary rulers or Sultans, take precedence, following the traditional order of seniority among Malaysia's Malay rulers. Non-monarchical states such as Penang, Melaka, Sabah, and Sarawak follow, with the Federal Territories placed last as they were established later and have no historical monarchy of their own.
This arrangement reflects both Malaysia's national identity and the legacy of its individual states within an ordered hierarchy. It can be adjusted under Article 70 of the Federal Constitution as constitutional needs evolve.
Hope this helps you — it certainly has helped me!