AY Honors/Christian Citizenship/Answer Key 9

1. Describe the National, State or Provincial, AY, Pathfinder, and Christian flags.

National Flag of Malaysia: The flag of Malaysia, also known as the Jalur Gemilang ("Stripes of Glory"), comprises a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes along the fly and a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the Bintang Persekutuan or Federal Star. The 14 stripes, of equal width, represent the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government, while the 14 points of the star represent the unity between these entities. The crescent represents Islam, the country's official religion; the yellow of the star and crescent is the royal colour of the Malay rulers; the blue canton symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people. This blue canton was originally chosen to represent a connection between the federation and the Commonwealth but this was gradually downplayed and eventually supplanted by its current interpretation.

Pathfinder Flag: The Pathfinder flag is made from one of several materials, cotton bunting, rayon, or nylon. The flag is divided through the center both vertically and horizontally making four equal parts. The background colors are royal blue and white alternately sewed together with the upper left hand comer being royal blue. The Pathfinder emblem is centered in the heart of the background. The colors are descriptive of the purposes and ideals of Pathfindering. White means purity, blue = loyalty, red = shed blood of Christ, gold = faith and love, shield = faith, and sword = Holy Spirit.

AY Flag: The background is red and white, red symbolizing the blood of Christ and white representing purity. In the center, there is a logo that has AY which means Adventist Youth and it has three angels meaning the 3 angels message.

Christian Flag: The "Christian Flag" is a white flag with a blue canton and a red cross in it. It was designed by Charles Overton in 1897 to represent Protestants of all denominations. The cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Christ.

Current state/provincial flags

• States of Malaysia Flags, Emblems & Song
• 

  Sultanate of Johor (Johor Bahru) - The white crescent and star of five points denote royal sovereignty. The red represents a warrior and the blue represents the universe

• 

  Sultanate of Kedah (Alor Star) - The state flag features a red crescent moon below a green shield and is enveloped by a yellow wreath against a red background. Red is the traditional colour of the state and also signifies prosperity while the crescent moon is symbolic of Islam. The shield symbolises the Sultan of the state as the protector and guardian of his subjects.

• 

  Sultanate of Kelantan (Kota Bharu) - The state flag features a white crest against a red background. The colour red symbolizes the loyalty of the Kelantanese people and white represents the sanctity of the Ruler.

• 

  Sultanate of Pahang (Kuantan) - The white crescent and star of five points denote royal sovereignty. The red represents a warrior and the blue represents the universe

• 

  Sultanate of Perak (Ipoh) - The State Flag is divided into three equal horizontal stripes. The three colours represent the three branches of the royal family whereby the throne is shared in rotation. The white stripe symbolises the Sultan while the yellow stripe is that of the Raja Muda. The black stripe represents the Raja DiHilir.

• 

  Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) - The flag is divided into four equal-sized sections. The red sections denote the courage of the people of Selangor while the yellow sections are representative of the royal status of the head of state, the Sultan. The crescent moon and star on the upper left section are the symbols of Islam, the official religion of the state.

• 

  Sultanate of Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu) - The white background denotes the Ruler and the black field represents the people; the white surrounding the black signifies the protection of the Ruler over his subjects. The crescent and the star represent Islam, the State religion.

• 

  Elective Monarchy of Negeri Sembilan (Seremban) - The yellow field of the flag represents the State Ruler. The canton in the top left-hand corner has two colours which divide it diagonally. The colour red represents the rakyat (citizens); and black is the symbol of the four undangs (traditional chiefs).

• 

  Kingdom of Perlis (Kangar) - The top half of the flag, which is yellow in colour, represents the royal status of the Ruler of Perlis. The bottom half of the flag, on the other hand, is blue and stands for the people of Perlis. The two colours lay close and in tangent with each other, reflecting the cordial and close relationship between the Ruler and his people.

• 

  Melaka (Bandar Melaka) - The colours blue, yellow, red and white on the Melaka flag reflect the exact colours of the flag of Malaysia. This marks Melaka as a Malaysian state. The crescent moon and star are the symbols of Islam, the official religion of the state and country.

• 

  Pulau Pinang (George Town) - The tricolour flag features vertical stripes of equal width with an areca nut tree on the white centre panel. Light blue represents the sea surrounding the island; white stands for its serenity and yellow signifies prosperity. Pulau Pinang (Penang Island) derives its name from the arecanut tree, called pokok pinang in Malay.

• 

  Sabah (Kota Kinabalu) - The red stripe represents courage and the willingness to sacrifice for the state of Sabah. White is the colour of purity while dark blue is the colour of peace and prosperity. The light blue denotes Sabah's status as a young state. The silhouette of Mount Kinabalu is the symbol of the unity of the people.

• 

  Sarawak (Kuching) - Red symbolises the courage, confidence and sacrifices of the people in their efforts to achieve and maintain progress in the state. Yellow represents the supremacy of the law and the unity found amongst Sarawak's diverse races. Black denotes the abundant natural resources of Sarawak: petroleum and timber. The yellow nine-pointed star represents the nine divisions and the aspirations of the people to improve their quality of life.

• Federal Territory of Malaysia
• 

  Federal Territory of Putrajaya

• 

  Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur - The Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory flag comprises 14 alternating white and red stripes divided equally by a field of dark blue. The stripes represent the 13 states and the Federal Territory in the Malaysian Federation. The crescent moon and star are the symbols of Islam, the official religion of the country; dark blue represents the ethnic diversity of Kuala Lumpur. The colour white signifies purity and cleanliness, while red stands for courage, and yellow is the colour of peace and prosperity.

• Image:Flag of Labuan.svg

  Federal Territory of Labuan (Bandar Labuan)

4. Explain the meaning of and reason for the National Anthem, and recite the words from memory.

Negaraku (Malay)

Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku,

Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju,

Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta.

Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta.

History of 'Negaraku' song

At the time of independence, each of the eleven States of Malaya that made up the Federation had their own anthem, but there was no anthem for the Federation as a whole. Tunku Abdul Rahman, at the time the Chief Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, organized and presided over a committee for the purpose of choosing a suitable national anthem. On his suggestion, a worldwide competition was launched. 514 entries were received from all over the world. None were deemed suitable.

Next the committee decided to invite selected composers of international repute to submit compositions for consideration. The composers chosen were Benjamin Britten, Sir William Walton who had recently composed the march for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, the American opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti and Zubir Said, who later composed the National Anthem of Singapore. They were all turned down too.

The Committee then turned to the Perak State Anthem. On August 5 1957 it was selected on account of the "traditional flavour" of its melody. New lyrics for the National Anthem were written jointly by the Panel of Judges— with the Tunku himself playing the leading role. At the time this melody was, while still the State Anthem of Perak, Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan.

The song had been very popular on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles. where the Sultan of Perak had formerly been living in exile. He heard it at a public band concert on the island, a song to a popular French melody, originally composed by the lyricist Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780-1857), who was born and died in Paris. When a member of the Perak royal family was invited to a reception in Europe, he was asked what his state anthem was. Realizing that his state did not in fact possess an anthem, he, in order not to appear backward in front of his hosts, proceeded to hum the aforementioned tune. Thus was an anthem born.

The song was later introduced into an Indonesian Bangsawan (Opera), which was performing in Singapore. In no time at all, the melody became extremely popular and was given the name Terang Bulan. Aside from its dignity and prestige as the Perak State Anthem, the song became a Malayan "evergreen", playing at parties, in cabarets and sung by almost everybody in the 1920s and 1930s. (Today, of course, since independence, it is not played as a popular melody, and any such use is proscribed by statute.)

The anthem was given a new quick march beat in 1992, which proved unpopular. Some Malaysians have gone as far as to say that the altered tempo resembled circus music, and was the subject of much derision. In July, 2003 it was reported in the Malaysian press that the anthem would be rearranged for the second time and the title and lyric would be changed from Negaraku to Malaysiaku. There was a public outcry of dismay and the change of name was scrapped, but the anthem was re-arranged and returned to the pre-1992 pace by composer Wah Idris.

6. Have an interview with a local, regional, or national official of your country, and learn about his duties.

It is generally easier to get a local official to agree to an interview, though it is often more exciting to interview a more prominent person. The interview can be accomplished during a club meeting, and multiple Pathfinders can ask questions. Invite your guest well ahead of time, and make sure everyone in the club is on time. A visit by an official would be a very good reason to have everyone in the club wear their class A uniforms. If desired, you can make up several questions ahead of time, writing them on index cards, and distributing them to the members of your club. But do not be so rigid as to not allow them to ask spontaneous questions. Having questions prepared ahead of time on index cards are a good way to get things rolling. Here are some suggested questions:

• Could you describe a typical day at work?
• What is the most difficult part of your job?
• What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
• To whom do you report?
• How did you get your position? Were you elected, appointed, or hired?
• How should a young person prepare for a life of public service?

7. Write a one-page essay or give a two-minute oral report about a famous person in your country. Mention what he has done to gain his recognition.

This would be an excellent opportunity to present a worship during the opening exercises of a regular club meeting. Encourage your Pathfinder to choose a person they are personally interested in. If they cannot think of anyone themselves, have a list of suggested persons at hand and encourage them to choose from the list. Famous people might be historical figures, politicians, actors, sports stars, or anyone else. It would be preferable to choose a person who has been a positive influence on the country.

Although the requirement asks that you "mention what he has done to gain his recognition," this should not be interpreted as excluding women. Men are not the only famous people in a country.

9. Describe what you can do as a citizen to help your church and country.

The best way to help either your church or your country is by getting involved. Edmund Burke, an English philosopher summed this up when he said "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

In your church, this means that you will show up for services on a regular basis. It also means you will support it with your tithes and offering, show up for business meetings, and not wait to be asked before you volunteer your services. If you see something that needs done, do it. If you do not have the skill to do it, or you think that you need permission first, talk to your pastor, an elder, deacon, or deaconess. Find your ministry!

For your country, it is much the same. Show up for public meetings, stay informed about the issues of the day, vote if you are eligible, and pay your taxes fairly and promptly.

12. Explain the meaning of this statement Jesus made in Matthew 22:21: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.

This verse teaches that governmental authority is to be respected, as long as it does not conflict with the moral obligations of being a Christian. Government serves a holy purpose; preserving social order, promoting the well-being of its citizens, and protecting their safety. If you believe that this does not apply today because you see the government as corrupt, you are urged to research the Roman government of the first century A.D. when these words were spoken by Jesus. Was Herod corrupt? Was Pilate just?