Swiss bacteriologist who discovered the bubonic plague bacillus in Hong Kong in 1894 and prepared a serum against it. The bacillus was discovered independently, in the same epidemic, by Japanese bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato, who published his results before Yersin did.
Red and white are the traditional colours of South East Asia. The blue canton recalls the British Empire and represents unity. Yellow is the colour of the Sultans of Malaysia. Effective date: 16 September 1963.