BBYB 2019

198

Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019

First used in 1906, the Brunei flag is made up

of four colours: yellow, white, black and red.

The yellow serves as a backdrop with two wide

stripes of black and white across it diagonally. A

red state crest – added in 1959 – sits in the centre

of the flag. The national flag was officially used

when the Sultanate signed the Supplementary

Agreement with Britain.

The colours represent the signatories of the

agreement: Yellow for the Sultan, white for the

Pengiran Bendahara and black for the Pengiran

Pemancha.

The National Crest consists of:

• The Bendera (flag)

• The Payung Ubor-Ubor (the royal umbrella)

• The Sayap (wing of four feathers) which

signifies the protection of justice, tranquillity,

prosperity and peace

• The Tangan (hands) represents the

government’s pledge to

promote welfare, peace and prosperity

• The Bulan (crescent) which symbolises Islam

– the national religion of Brunei Darussalam

The Arabic characters inscribed on the crescent

read, “Always in Service with God’s Guidance”,

while the words on the scroll mean, “Brunei, the

Abode of Peace”.

FLAG AND CREST