Malaysian Culture And Heritage
Most tourists who first set foot on Malaysian soil would be amazed at how multi-cultural Malaysia is and how all of us can live in harmony among ourselves after more than 50 years of independence. Thanks to our rich history, Malaysia or then Tanah Melayu, was popularly known as one of the main trading centres in the South East Asia. That opened the door for traders from east and west of the globe to set sail in Melaka to bargain goods with other traders.
Not only did the traders trade, they also share and spread their cultures, heritages and religions to the locals as well as other traders. With businesses and trades booming the economy, the traders took the opportunity to further broaden the understanding of their culture and heritage to the locals as well as learning the locals’ culture and heritage by heart to distinguish friendship and business relationship that continued for hundreds of years.
That is why many tourists who came to Malaysia witnessed so many different cultures and heritages, not forgetting religions, among its people yet still can live harmoniously and peacefully. Where ever you turn, you can see mosques, churches and temples built within a short distance of each other. The mosaic of Malaysian culture and heritage that stemmed from hundreds of years of history are well embraced by the Malaysian people.
The most notable differences can be seen in the ancestries where the three major races in Malaysia are the Malays, Chinese, Indians, and the indigenous ethnics that live mainly in Sabah and Sarawak. As of today, the Malays are the largest ethnic group in Malaysia which makes up more than 50% of Malaysian people. The Chinese are the second largest ethnic group with 25% population whereas the Indians make up around 10% of the total Malaysian population.
The indigenous group, or Orang Asli as they are called, consisted of various tribal groups namely the Porto-Malay, the Negrito and the Senoi. In Sabah, the largest indigenous ethnic groups are the Kadazan Dusun, Bajau and Murut. Whereas in Sarawak, their indigenous ethnic groups are Dayak Iban, Chinese, Malanau, Malay, Bidayuh and Dayak Ulu.
Although Malaysia is a modern country, the culture and heritage are largely intact, practiced and celebrated and to be enjoyed with every Malaysians, albeit from a different culture, heritage and beliefs.
HISTORY
The Federation of Malaya Agreement was signed in August 1957. At the end of the month, Independence was finally achieved with Tunku Abdul Rahman as the first Prime Minister. Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963. At that time, Malaysia comprised of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. Singapore separated from Malaysia on August 7, 1965…
POPULATION
Malaysia is a multi-racial country. According to the 2000 census, Malaysia has a population of 23.27 million consisting of 61 percent Malays, 30 percent Chinese, 8 percent Indias and 1 percent of other ethnic groups. Other significant groups are the indigenous races of Sarawak and Sabah, that is, the Dayaks, Kadazans(Dusuns), Bajaus, Melanaus and Muruts; and the aborigines of Peninsular Malaysia. There are also Europeans dan Eurasians……
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Malaysia is a multi-racial country with a rich cultural heritage. The base of the national culture is Malay culture, which is native to this region. Islamic values are embedded in Malay Culture.
The Malay culture emphasises values on courtesy, moderation, tolerance, harmony and cordial relations among family members, neighbours and community. As Malaysian respect each other’s beliefs and faiths, cultural and religious festivals such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas, Gawai Day and other auspicious occasions are given due importance.
One of the unique features of Malaysia is its multi-racial population which practises various religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity. Each ethnic group has its own beliefs. Under the Federal Constitution, Islam is the official religion of Malaysia but there is freedom of worship.
The Malay Language is the national language of the country. However, the people are free to use their mother tongue and other languages. English as the second language is widely used in business..
Cultures have been meeting and mixing in Malaysia since the very beginning of its history. More than fifteen hundred years ago a Malay kingdom in Bujang Valley welcomed traders from China and India. With the arrival of gold and silks, Buddhism and Hinduism also came to Malaysia. A thousand years later, Arab traders arrived in Malacca and brought with them the principles and practices of Islam. By the time the Portuguese arrived in Malaysia, the empire that they encountered was more cosmopolitan than their own.
Malaysia’s cultural mosaic is marked by many different cultures, but several in particular have had especially lasting influence on the country. Chief among these is the ancient Malay culture, and the cultures of Malaysia’s two most prominent trading partners throughout history–the Chinese, and the Indians. These three groups are joined by a dizzying array of indigenous tribes, many of which live in the forests and coastal areas of Borneo. Although each of these cultures has vigorously maintained its traditions and community structures, they have also blended together to create contemporary Malaysia’s uniquely diverse heritage.
One example of the complexity with which Malaysia’s immigrant populations have contributed to the nation’s culture as a whole is the history of Chinese immigrants. The first Chinese to settle in the straits, primarily in and around Malacca, gradually adopted elements of Malaysian culture and intermarried with the Malaysian community. Known as babas and nonyas, they eventually produced a synthetic set of practices, beliefs, and arts, combining Malay and Chinese traditions in such a way as to create a new culture. Later Chinese, coming to exploit the tin and rubber booms, have preserved their culture much more meticulously. A city like Penang, for example, can often give one the impression of being in China rather than in Malaysia.
Another example of Malaysia’s extraordinary cultural exchange the Malay wedding ceremony, which incorporates elements of the Hindu traditions of southern India; the bride and groom dress in gorgeous brocades, sit in state, and feed each other yellow rice with hands painted with henna. Muslims have adapted the Chinese custom of giving little red packets of money (ang pau) at festivals to their own needs; the packets given on Muslim holidays are green and have Arab writing on them.
You can go from a Malaysian kampung to a rubber plantation worked by Indians to Penang’s Chinese kongsi and feel you’ve traveled through three nations. But in cities like Kuala Lumpur, you’ll find everyone in a grand melange. In one house, a Chinese opera will be playing on the radio; in another they’re preparing for Muslim prayers; in the next, the daughter of the household readies herself for classical Indian dance lessons.
Perhaps the easiest way to begin to understand the highly complex cultural interaction which is Malaysia is to look at the open door policy maintained during religious festivals. Although Malaysia’s different cultural traditions are frequently maintained by seemingly self-contained ethnic communities, all of Malaysia’s communities open their doors to members of other cultures during a religious festival–to tourists as well as neighbors. Such inclusiveness is more than just a way to break down cultural barriers and foster understanding. It is a positive celebration of a tradition of tolerance that has for millennia formed the basis of Malaysia’s progress.
