Independence & Politics
On what date did Malaya gain independence from the British?
31st August 1957
What is the name of Malaysia’s national anthem?
Negaraku
What is the capital city of Malaysia?
Kuala Lumpur
What is Malaysia’s national animal?
The Malayan Tiger
Who proclaimed Malaya’s independence in 1957?
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Who was Malaysia’s first Prime Minister?
Tunku Abdul Rahman
How many stripes are on the Jalur Gemilang?
14 stripes
What is the tallest peak in Malaysia?
Mount Kinabalu
What is the oldest university in Malaysia?
University of Malaya (est. 1905)
Who was the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia)?
Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan
How many times did Tunku Abdul Rahman shout “Merdeka!” at the declaration ceremony?
7 times
Who designed the Jalur Gemilang?
Mohamed Hamzah
What is the longest river in Malaysia?
Rajang River (in Sarawak)
In what year were the Petronas Twin Towers officially declared the tallest buildings in the world?
1998
Who was Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, succeeding Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1970?
Tun Abdul Razak Hussein
Which British representative officially handed over independence in 1957?
High Commissioner Sir Donald MacGillivray
What do the 14 points of the Jalur Gemilang’s star represent?
The unity of the 13 states and the Federal Government
Which Malaysian states do not have a Sultan, but instead are led by a Governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri)?
Malacca, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak
Which Malaysian city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with George Town, Penang?
Malacca
Which Prime Minister served the longest in Malaysia’s history?
Mahathir Mohamad
What was the official name of the country before becoming “Malaysia” in 1963?
The Federation of Malaya
When was the hibiscus (Bunga Raya) officially declared the national flower?
1960
What was Kuala Lumpur’s Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka) originally used for during colonial times?
A cricket field
Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producers of two key commodities — name them.
Palm oil and rubber
Who was the Governor of the Federation of Malaya at the time of independence?
Sir Donald MacGillivray