The red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) was declared Malaysia's national flower on 28 July 1960 by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. It was chosen from seven candidates based on five criteria — among them being already recognised throughout the country, having an attractive colour and shape, a uniform name, being easily available, and not yet being the national flower of any other country at that time. Its five petals were later associated with the five principles of the Rukun Negara, while its red colour symbolises courage.
- Declared the national flower on 28 July 1960 by Tunku Abdul Rahman.
- Its scientific name is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis; chosen from seven candidate flowers based on five criteria.
- The five petals are associated with the five principles of the Rukun Negara; the red colour symbolises courage.
Who this applies to: Students, teachers, and anyone who wants to understand Malaysia's national symbols.
On this page
Seven kinds of flower once competed to represent a newly independent nation — and the winner was not the most fragrant or the rarest, but the one most familiar in every town and village. That flower is the bunga raya, the hibiscus.
When and by whom was it declared?
The red hibiscus was declared Malaysia’s national flower on 28 July 1960, by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
The flower’s scientific name is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. In some places it is also known as the bunga sepatu or kembang sepatu (shoe flower).
Why the hibiscus, and not another flower?
In late 1958, the Ministry of Agriculture proposed seven kinds of flower as candidates for the national flower:
| Candidate flower |
|---|
| Hibiscus (bunga raya) |
| Ylang-ylang (bunga kenanga) |
| Jasmine (bunga melur) |
| Champak (bunga cempaka) |
| Lotus (bunga teratai) |
| Rose (bunga mawar) |
| Spanish cherry (bunga tanjung) |
The Department of Information also conducted a survey of public opinion, and people’s preferences varied by region. In the end, the government chose the hibiscus based on five criteria:
- Already widely recognised throughout the country;
- Having an attractive colour and shape;
- Its name being uniform across the states;
- Easily available anywhere; and
- Not yet being the national flower of any other country at that time.
The last criterion was important: a national symbol should be unique, not shared with another country.
What do the five petals and the red colour mean?
The five petals of the hibiscus are associated with the five principles of the Rukun Negara. The Rukun Negara itself was only declared ten years later, in 1970, so this association is a symbolism constructed afterwards, not the original reason for choosing the flower in 1960. The five principles are:
- Belief in God;
- Loyalty to King and Country;
- Supremacy of the Constitution;
- Rule of Law; and
- Courtesy and Morality.
The red colour, in turn, symbolises courage in facing all challenges, as well as the nation’s political and economic resilience. Overall, the hibiscus is also regarded as a symbol of unity among a people of many ethnicities.
Where is the hibiscus used today?
As one of the national symbols, the hibiscus stands alongside the Jalur Gemilang (the flag) and the Jata Negara (the national coat of arms) as the official face of Malaysia, and its image often appears in national events and celebrations.
What’s next
To understand the meaning behind the hibiscus’s five petals more deeply, read the full account of the five principles of the Rukun Negara and the history of its declaration in 1970. You can also explore other national symbols — the Jalur Gemilang and the Jata Negara — to see how the three together form the country’s official identity.
When was the hibiscus declared the national flower?
On 28 July 1960, by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
What is the meaning of the hibiscus's five petals?
Its five petals are associated with the five principles of the Rukun Negara, and the flower is also regarded as a symbol of unity.
Why was the hibiscus chosen over other flowers?
It was already recognised throughout the country, had an attractive colour and shape, a uniform name, was easily available, and was not yet the national flower of any other country at the time.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Pilihan rakyat mengikut wilayah bercanggah antara sumber rasmi: malaysia.gov.my menyebut penduduk Pantai Timur cenderung kepada bunga raya, manakala MKN menyebut mereka cenderung kepada bunga mawar (kedua-dua sumber setuju Pantai Barat cenderung kepada bunga melur). Kekal umum sehingga disahkan manusia.
- Penggunaan imej bunga raya pada duit syiling, dokumen rasmi, atau artifak tertentu tidak dapat disahkan daripada mana-mana sumber rasmi yang dibuka; perlu pengesahan sebelum dinyatakan secara khusus.
- Maksud warna merah (keberanian serta keteguhan politik dan ekonomi) disandarkan hanya kepada satu sumber (UPM); wajar disahkan silang dengan sumber rasmi lain.
- Perkaitan lima kelopak dengan lima prinsip Rukun Negara ialah lambang yang dibina kemudian (Rukun Negara diisytiharkan 1970, sepuluh tahun selepas pemilihan bunga); pastikan pembingkaian ini kekal jelas.
Sources
- Kenali Malaysia — Bunga Kebangsaan — Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Malaysia (MyGovernment)
- Bunga Raya: Fakta & Sejarah Bunga Kebangsaan Malaysia — Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN)
- Bunga Raya Merah Diisytihar Bunga Kebangsaan Negara — Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
- Kenali Malaysia — Rukun Negara — Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Malaysia (MyGovernment)
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 8 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |