The flag was made official in 1958, when the nation became an autonomous republic within the French federation. The red and white colors were based on the Merina Kingdom in the 18th century. At the time, there were many Malay residents, and the red and white are the same colors as those Indonesian symbolic colors from the 13th century. Although there is no official explanation to the symbolism of colors, the white is often said to represent freedom and purity, the red, patriotism, and green, the hopeful future and progress.