Exploring the world through flags

A STRONG interest in geography and history has led Izar Azmi to collecting close to 300 country and province flags, starting all the way from his teenage years.

He occasionally shows off a new flag with some information about it on social media.

The Negri Sembilan-born 42-year-old marketing manager has been fascinated by the countries he sees on maps ever since his schooldays.

“While other children read storybooks, I ‘read’ the atlas,” he laughingly said.

“I would look at the flags of countries and check out all the different details on them.

“I was really interested in the meaning behind the symbols and colours on each flag.”

Izar said people used to find his interest in flags unusual.

“But now with social media, I have connected with many other flag enthusiasts around the world.

“In fact, I sometimes exchange flags with them.”

He said he always enjoyed any opportunity to draw flags, including those of Malaysian states.

When asked for fun facts about flags, Izar pointed out that all the flags of countries around the world were rectangular or square and only Nepal had a double-pennon shaped flag (two united triangle shapes).

He said this double-pennon national flag was among the oldest in the world too, with the design dating back centuries.

A section of Izhar’s flag collection at his home in Seremban. — Photos courtesy of Muhammad Amirul Zainudin

“Besides the Malaysian flag, my other favourite is the red-and-white Canadian flag which has the lovely maple leaf on it.”

Also, many countries have changed their flags over the years, depending on the political situation, he highlighted.

He finds it interesting that Afghanistan has changed its flag design more than 28 times.

“In many countries, when there is a change of government, the flag design often changes too.”

“In the US, the number of stars on the flag increased as more states joined, so the flag was updated many times.”

As for local flags, he said some Malaysians were not aware that there was one flag to represent all the three Federal Territories (FT) and also individual flags to represent Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

“The Sabah flag is unique because there are three shades of blue in it, which is rare,” he said.

Hence, collectors are always keen to acquire it, he added.

Izar said many younger Malaysians were not aware that states such as Kelantan and Kedah had older flags with different designs.

“We also used to have the Federated Malay States flag.

“Also, did you know that the former Kedah flag was informally known as ‘bendera harimau melompat’ because there was an image of a tiger jumping in the middle of the flag?”

He noted that some flags touched on the sensitivities of certain groups.

Izar said the public should understand that flag enthusiasts collected flags without any bias.

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“A flag is just a flag to us.

“We will collect them regardless of our own personal beliefs or public sentiment.

“So, do not criticise us when we have flags that represent something you do not believe in,” he said.

Izar said what irked him the most was when people did not take the initiative to understand the ethics in handling flags.

“I see flags installed the wrong way round. If you are not sure, please ask.

“Also, don’t put up worn-out, torn or damaged flags.

“I also advise people not to place any flag above our country’s flag even if you are in solidarity with the group that flag represents.

“Malaysia’s flag is paramount,” he stressed.

Izar said that in some countries, the flag of royalty was allowed to be flown by commoners in their homes or even held as a form of respect.

“However, in other countries, such a thing is forbidden.

“Similarly, the police and army of some countries allow their flags to be flown by locals from their houses as a sign of respect but this is not the case elsewhere.”

He said his family and friends helped him source for new flags whenever they travelled.

“When I was younger, I would go to bookshops to buy the flags but now, I prefer to have someone buy and send one to me from the country of origin,” he added.

Izar has flags from most countries but is short of 15 to complete his collection, especially from several African countries.

Izhar said learning about a country’s flag was a fun way to know more about that country’s history, geography and culture.