Ibu Pertiwiku ( en, My Motherland) is the official state anthem of
Sarawak
Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. The song was adopted in 1988, alongside the adoption of the new
State Flag
In vexillology, a state flag is either the flag of the government of a sovereign state, or the flag of an individual federated state (subnational administrative division).
Government flag
A state flag is a variant of a national flag (or occasi ...
as well, in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Sarawak's Independence within Malaysia. The music was composed by Sarawak songwriter Dato' Haji Wan Othman, while the lyrics were written by Ismail Hassan.
Timeline
Historical background
Sarawak had adopted 3 anthems prior: Gone Forth Beyond the Sea (National), Fair Land Sarawak (Colonial and State) and Sarawak Bahagia (State).
Gone Forth Beyond the Sea
"Gone Forth Beyond the Sea" was the
National Anthem
A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and Europea ...
of the
Raj of Sarawak
(While I breathe, I hope)
, national_anthem = '' Gone Forth Beyond the Sea''
, capital = Kuching
, common_languages = English, Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, Sarawak Malay, Chinese etc.
, government_type = Absol ...
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
in 1946 and become its crown colony.
Gone forth beyond the sea
To clime... as yet unknown,
Where calls are made for thee,
To bear the sword and crown.
Advance, God speed, to save,
Creatures in jungles deep,
God's hand shall help the brave,
Tho'man's may rest in sleep,
Let Justice signalise,
And ev'..ry voice resound,
Who by the Eastern crown'd.
Tho'past and gone in light,
Thy name is still renown''d,
And as a chief in might,
Thy deeds are ever crown'd,
Let echoing vales redound,
By mountain, crag and nook,
Sing loud with joyous sound,
God Bless the Rajah Brooke.
Fair Land Sarawak
"Fair Land Sarawak" was the anthem of Sarawak as a British Crown Colony from 1946 until 1963 and the anthem of Sarawak as a state of Malaysia from 1963 until 1973. The lyrics of the anthem were provided by F.C. Ogden, while the tune of the anthem provided by George R.K. Freeth, is identical to that of the anthem of the Raj of Sarawak – "Gone Forth Beyond the Sea".
:Fair Land Sarawak
:We will never cease to honour thee
:and with our loyal sons
:Defend your liberty
:From your high forest hills,
:Down to the open sea
:May freedom ever reign
:Men live in unity
:Proudly our Flag flies high
:above our Country strong and free
:Long may our Peoples live
:in peace and harmony
Sarawak Bahagia
"Sarawak Bahagia" (Happy Sarawak) was the state anthem of Sarawak from 1973 until 1988. It was the first anthem in the state to be rendered in Malay language.