Malaysian Studemt soccer team in Fresno |
Unfinished journey (51)
(Part fifty-one, Depok, West Java, Indonesia, 8 September
2014, 15:36 pm)
When I studied at college in the United States, during
the first three months I lived in the American family, the name Bob Stump. Then
after entering college living in the Apartment, close to campus, next to the
mosque Fresno. In this area many students predominantly from the Middle East
and Malaysia. Understandably they liked living adjacent to the Mosque, so you
can easily pray five time, or Friday prayers.
Malaysian students generally are scholarship from MARA
Foundation, a foundation that provides scholarships for many indigenous
students (Malay / Bumi Putera they call).
It turned out that after I get along with the Malaysian
students their parents are generally derived from the Indonesian (Batak, Bugis,
Javanese and Madurese). They say that the Muslims from Indonesia who become
citizens of Malaysia they call Malays.
The whispers, they said, for the people of Indonesian origin
who lived and settled in Malaysia it easy to become a citizen of Malaysia.
This, he says to compensate ethnic Chinese (Chinese) when ever the majority before
Singapore separated from Malaysia yet.
Malaysia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the country. For the
biogeographical region, see Malesia.
Page semi-protected
Malaysia
مليسيا (Jawi)
A blue rectangle with a gold star and crescent in the
canton, with 14 horizontal red and white lines on the rest of the flag Shield showing symbols of the Malaysian states
with a star and crescent above it and a motto below it supported by two tigers
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu"[1]
"Unity Is Strength"
Anthem: Negaraku
My Country
MENU0:00
Capital
and largest city Kuala
Lumpur
Putrajaya (administrative)
3°08′N 101°42′E
Official languages Malaysian
Malay
Official script Malay
(Latin) alphabet
Recognised languages English
Ethnic groups ([2])
50.4% Malay
23.7% Chinese
11.0% Indigenous
7.1% Indian
7.8% other
Demonym Malaysian[3]
Government Federal
parliamentary
constitutional monarchy, Elective monarchy
- King Abdul
Halim
- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (BN)
- Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (BN)
Legislature Parliament
- Upper house Dewan Negara
- Lower house Dewan Rakyat
Independence from the United Kingdom
- Independence of the Federation of Malaya 31 August 1957[4]
- Independence of Sarawak 22 July 1963[5]
- Self-government of North Borneo 31 August 1963[6]
- Federation of
Malaya, North Borneo,
Sarawak, Singapore 16
September 1963
Area
- Total 329,847
km2 (67th)
127,355 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.3
Population
- 2014 estimate 30,259,000[7] (42nd)
- 2010 census 28,334,135[8]
- Density 92/km2
(116th)
237/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2014
estimate
- Total $555.912
billion[9]
- Per capita $18,509[9]
GDP (nominal) 2014
estimate
- Total $367.712
billion[9]
- Per capita $12,243[9]
Gini (2009) 46.2[10]
high · 36th
HDI (2013) Steady
0.773[11]
high · 62nd
Currency Ringgit
(RM) (MYR)
Time zone MST
(UTC+8)
- Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+8)
Date format dd-mm-yyyy
Drives on the left
Calling code +60
ISO 3166 code MY
Internet TLD .my,
مليسيا.[12]
Malaysia (Listeni/məˈleɪʒə/ mə-lay-zhə or Listeni/məˈleɪsiə/
mə-lay-see-ə) (Malaysian pronunciation: [məlejsiə]) is a federal constitutional
monarchy located in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three
federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres
(127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized
regions, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Malaysian Borneo). Peninsular
Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders
with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land and maritime
borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines.
The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal
government. In 2010 the population was 28.33 million, with 22.6 million living
in Peninsular Malaysia. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung
Piai, is in Malaysia, located in the tropics. It is one of 17 megadiverse
countries on earth, with large numbers of endemic species.
Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in
the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire.
The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose
establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British
protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the
Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in
1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with North
Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, with si being added to
give the new country the name Malaysia. Less than two years later in 1965,
Singapore was expelled from the federation.
The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which
plays a large role in politics. The constitution declares Islam the state
religion while protecting freedom of religion. The government system is closely
modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based
on common law. The head of state is the king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong. He is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine
Malay states every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best
economic records in Asia, with GDP growing at an average 6.5% per annum for
almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fueled by its natural
resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and
medical tourism. Today, Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy,
ranked third largest in Southeast Asia and 29th largest in the world. It is a
founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the East Asia
Summit and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and a member of
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the
Non-Aligned Movement.
Etymology
Main article: Malay people
English Map of Southeast Asia, "MALAYSIA"
typeset horizontally so that the letters run across the northernmost corner of
Borneo and pass just south of the Philippines.
"Malaysia" used as a label for the Malay
Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas.
The name "Malaysia" is a combination of the
word "Malay" and the Latin/Greek suffix -sia/-σία.[13] The word
Melayu in the Malay may derive from the Tamil words Malai and ur meaning
"mountain" and "city, land", respectively.[14][15][16]
Malayadvipa was the word used by ancient Indian traders when referring to the
Malay Peninsula.[17][18][19][20][21] Whether or not it originated from these
roots, it the word "melayu" or "mlayu" may have been used
in early Malay/Javanese to mean to steadily accelerate or run. This term was
applied to describe the strong current of the river Melayu in Sumatra.[22] The
name was later possibly adopted by the Melayu Kingdom that existed in the 7th
century on Sumatra.[23] "Melayu" was later used as the name of the
7-13th century Melayu Kingdom, formed on Sumatra.[24]
Before the onset of European colonisation, the Malay
peninsula was known natively as Tanah Melayu ('Malay Land').[25][26] Under a
racial classification created by a German scholar Johann Friedrich Blumenbach,
the natives of Maritime Southeast Asia were grouped into a single category, the
Malay race.[27][28] Following the expedition of a French navigator Jules Dumont
d'Urville to Oceania in 1826, he later proposed the terms of Malaysia,
Micronesia and Melanesia to the Société de Géographie in 1831, distinguishing
these Pacific cultures and island groups from the existing term Polynesia.
Dumont d'Urville described Malaysia as "an area commonly known as the East
Indies".[29] In 1850, the English ethnologist George Samuel Windsor Earl,
writing in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, proposed
naming the islands of Southeast Asia as Melayunesia or Indunesia, favouring the
former.[30] In modern terminology, "Malay" remains the name of an
ethnoreligious group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay
peninsula and portions of adjacent islands of Southeast Asia, including the
east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and smaller islands that lie
between these areas.[31]
The state that gained independence from the United
Kingdom in 1957 took the name the Federation of Malaya, chosen in preference to
other potential names such as Langkasuka, after the historic kingdom located at
the upper section of the Malay Peninsula in the 1st millennium CE.[32][33] The
name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the existing states of the
Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a new
federation.[34] One theory suggests the name was chosen due to the addition of
"si" to "Malaya", representing the inclusion of Singapore,
North Borneo, and Sarawak, in Malaya in 1963.[34] Politicians in the
Philippines contemplated renaming their state "Malaysia" before the
modern country took the name.[35]
History
Main article: History of Malaysia
Stained ruin of a stone building, showing a central arch,
flanked by two columns, with a stone relief above the arch, also flanked by two
columns, and a second free-standing arch perched on the very top of the ruin.
A Famosa fortress in Malacca was built by the Portuguese
in the 16th century.
Evidence of modern human habitation in Malaysia dates
back 40,000 years.[36] In the Malay Peninsular, the first inhabitants are
thought to be Negritos.[37] Traders and settlers from India and China arrived
as early as the 1st century AD, establishing trading ports and coastal towns in
the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Their presence resulted in strong Indian and Chinese
influence on the local cultures, and the people of the Malay Peninsula adopted
the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Sanskrit inscriptions appear as early
as the 4th or 5th century.[38] The Kingdom of Langkasuka arose around the 2nd
century in the northern area of the Malay Peninsula, lasting until about the
15th century.[32] Between the 7th and 13th centuries, much of the southern
Malay Peninsula was part of the maritime Srivijaya empire. After the fall of
Srivijaya, the Majapahit empire had influence over most of Peninsular Malaysia
and the Malay Archipelago.[39] Islam began to spread among Malays in the 14th
century.[3] In the early 15th century, Parameswara, a prince of the former
Srivijayan empire, founded the Malacca Sultanate, commonly considered the first
independent state in the peninsula area.[40] Malacca was an important
commercial centre during this time, attracting trade from around the region.
In 1511, Malacca was conquered by Portugal,[3] after
which it was taken by the Dutch in 1641. In 1786 the British Empire established
a presence in Malaya, when the Sultan of Kedah leased Penang to the British
East India Company. The British obtained the town of Singapore in 1819,[41] and
in 1824 took control of Malacca following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty. By 1826, the
British directly controlled Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and the island of
Labuan, which they established as the crown colony of the Straits Settlements.
By the 20th century, the states of Pahang, Selangor, Perak, and Negeri
Sembilan, known together as the Federated Malay States, had British Residents
appointed to advise the Malay rulers, to whom the rulers were bound to defer by
treaty.[42] The remaining five states in the peninsula, known as the
Unfederated Malay States, while not directly under British rule, also accepted
British advisers around the turn of the 20th century. Development on the Peninsula
and Borneo were generally separate until the 19th century. Under British rule
the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was
encouraged.[43] The area that is now Sabah came under British control as North
Borneo when both the Sultan of Brunei and the Sultan of Sulu transferred their
respective territorial rights of ownership, between 1877 and 1878.[44] In 1842,
Sarawak was ceded by the Sultan of Brunei to James Brooke, whose successors
ruled as the White Rajahs over an independent kingdom until 1946, when it
became a Crown colony.[45]
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which was built during
the British administration, is one area where Malaysia Day is celebrated
annually on 16 September.
In the Second World War the Japanese army invaded and
occupied Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore for over three years.
During this time, ethnic tensions were raised and nationalism grew.[46] Popular
support for independence increased after Malaya was reconquered by Allied
Forces.[47] Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under
a single crown colony called the Malayan Union met with strong opposition from
the Malays, who opposed the weakening of the Malay rulers and the granting of
citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946 and
consisting of all the British possessions in the Malay Peninsula with the
exception of Singapore, was quickly dissolved and replaced by the Federation of
Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under
British protection.[48] During this time, mostly Chinese rebels under the
leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerrilla operations
designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency lasted from
1948 to 1960, and involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commonwealth
troops in Malaya.[49] After this a plan was put in place to federate Malaya
with the crown colonies of North Borneo (which joined as Sabah), Sarawak, and
Singapore. The proposed date of federation was 31 August 1963, however, the
date was delayed until 16 September 1963 due to opposition from Indonesia's
Sukarno and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party.[50]
Federation brought heightened tensions including a
conflict with Indonesia, Singapore's eventual exit in 1965,[51][52] and racial
strife. This strife culminated in the 13 May race riots in 1969.[53] After the
riots, the controversial New Economic Policy was launched by Prime Minister Tun
Abdul Razak, trying to increase the share of the economy held by the
bumiputera.[54] Under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad there was a period of
rapid economic growth and urbanisation beginning in the 1980s. The economy
shifted from being agriculturally based to one based on manufacturing and industry.
Numerous mega-projects were completed, such as the Petronas Towers, the
North-South Expressway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the new federal
administrative capital of Putrajaya.[34] However, in the late 1990s the Asian
financial crisis almost caused the collapse of the currency and the stock and
property markets.[55]
Government and politics
Main articles: Politics of Malaysia and Government of
Malaysia
Perdana Putra.
Perdana Putra houses the office complex of the Prime
Minister of Malaysia.
Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy.
The system of government is closely modelled on that of the Westminster
parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule.[56] The head of state
is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commonly referred to as the King. The King is
elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the
Malay states; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not
participate in the selection. By informal agreement the position is systematically
rotated among the nine,[56] and has been held by Abdul Halim of Kedah since
December 2011.[57] The King's role has been largely ceremonial since changes to
the constitution in 1994, picking ministers and members of the upper house.[58]
Legislative power is divided between federal and state
legislatures. The bicameral federal parliament consists of the lower house, the
House of Representatives and the upper house, the Senate.[59] The 222-member
House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from
single-member constituencies. All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are
elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the remaining 44 are appointed by the
King upon the Prime Minister's recommendation.[3] The parliament follows a multi-party
system and the government is elected through a first-past-the-post system.
Since independence Malaysia has been governed by a multi-party coalition known
as the Barisan Nasional.[3]
Each state has a unicameral State Legislative Assembly
whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. State governments
are led by Chief Ministers,[3] who are state assembly members from the majority
party in the assembly. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief
Minister is normally required to be a Malay, appointed by the ruler upon the
recommendation of the Prime Minister.[60] Parliamentary elections are held at
least once every five years, the most recent of which took place in May
2013.[3] Registered voters of age 21 and above may vote for the members of the
House of Representatives and, in most of the states, for the state legislative
chamber. Voting is not mandatory.[61] Except for state elections in Sarawak, by
convention state elections are held concurrently with the federal election.[58]
an official photo of prime minister Najib Tun Razak.
Najib Razak, Prime Minister since 2009.
Executive power is vested in the Cabinet, led by the
Prime Minister. The prime minister must be a member of the house of
representatives, who in the opinion of the King, commands a majority in
parliament. The cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament.[3]
The Prime Minister is both the head of cabinet and the head of government.[58]
The incumbent, Najib Razak, appointed in 2009, is the sixth prime minister.[62]
Malaysia's legal system is based on English Common
Law.[3] Although the judiciary is theoretically independent, its independence
has been called into question and the appointment of judges lacks
accountability and transparency.[63] The highest court in the judicial system
is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal and two high courts, one
for Peninsular Malaysia and one for East Malaysia. Malaysia also has a special
court to hear cases brought by or against Royalty.[64] Separate from the civil courts
are the Syariah Courts, which apply Shariah law to cases which involve
Malaysian Muslims[65] and run parallel to the secular court system.[66] The
death penalty is in use for crimes such as murder, terrorism and drug
trafficking.[67]
Race is a significant force in politics, and many
political parties are ethnically based.[3] Affirmative actions such as the New
Economic Policy[54] and the National Development Policy which superseded it,
were implemented to advance the standing of the bumiputera, consisting of
Malays and the indigenous tribes who are considered the original inhabitants of
Malaysia, over non-bumiputera such as Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian
Indians.[68] These policies provide preferential treatment to bumiputera in
employment, education, scholarships, business, and access to cheaper housing
and assisted savings. However, it has generated greater interethnic
resentment.[69] There is ongoing debate over whether the laws and society of
Malaysia should reflect secular or Islamic principles.[70] Islamic laws passed
by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party in state legislative assemblies have been
blocked by the federal government.[71]
Foreign relations and military
Main articles: Foreign relations of Malaysia and
Malaysian Armed Forces
With Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak with Vladimir
Putin.
A founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN)[72] and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),[73] the
country participates in many international organisations such as the United
Nations,[74] the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation,[75] the Developing 8
Countries,[76] and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).[77] It has chaired ASEAN,
the OIC, and the NAM in the past.[3] A former British colony, it is also a
member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[78] Kuala Lumpur was the site of the
first East Asia Summit in 2005.[79]
Malaysia's foreign policy is officially based on the
principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries,
regardless of their political system.[80] The government attaches a high
priority to the security and stability of Southeast Asia,[79] and seeks to
further develop relations with other countries in the region. Historically the
government has tried to portray Malaysia as a progressive Islamic nation[80]
while strengthening relations with other Islamic states.[79] A strong tenet of
Malaysia's policy is national sovereignty and the right of a country to control
its domestic affairs.[58]
The policy towards territorial disputes by the government
is one of pragmatism, with the government solving disputes in a number of ways,
such as bringing the case to the International Court of Justice.[81] The
Spratly Islands are disputed by many states in the area, and the entirety of
the South China Sea is claimed by China. Nevertheless, unlike its neighbours of
Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia has avoided any conflicts with China.[82]
Brunei and Malaysia in 2009 announced an end to claims of each other's land, and
to resolve issues related to their maritime borders.[83] The Philippines has a
dormant claim to Sabah. Singapore's land reclamation has caused tensions, and
maritime border disputes exist with Indonesia.[84]
Malaysian submarine
Malaysian Navy's Scorpène-class submarine.
Malaysia has never recognised Israel and has no
diplomatic ties with it.[85] It has remained a strong supporter of the State of
Palestine,[86] and has called for Israel to be taken to the International
Criminal Court over the Gaza flotilla raid.[87] Malaysian peacekeeping forces
are present in Lebanon[88] and have contributed to many other UN peacekeeping
missions.[3][89]
The Malaysian Armed Forces have three branches, the Royal
Malaysian Navy, the Malaysian Army, and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. There is
no conscription, and the required age for voluntary military service is 18. The
military uses 1.5% of the country's GDP, and employs 1.23% of Malaysia's
manpower.[90] Currently, Malaysia is undergoing major program to expand and
modernize all three branches of its armed forces.
The Five Power Defence Arrangements is a regional
security initiative which has been in place for almost 40 years. It involves
joint military exercises held among Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New
Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[91] Joint exercises and war games also been
held with Indonesia[92] and the United States.[93] Malaysia and the Philippines
have agreed to host joint security force exercises in order to secure their
maritime border and tackle issues such as illegal immigration.[94] There are
fears that unrest in the Muslim areas of the Mindanao, Philippines[95] and
southern Thailand[96] could spill over into Malaysia.
Subdivisions
Main articles: States and federal territories of
Malaysia, Divisions of Malaysia and Districts of Malaysia
Perlis
Kedah
Penang
Kelantan
Terengganu
Perak
Selangor
Negeri Sembilan
Malacca
Johor
Pahang
Sarawak
Sabah
Labuan
Kuala Lumpur
Putrajaya
West Malaysia
East Malaysia
(Blue) States
(Red) Federal TerritoriesSouth China Sea
Strait
of
Malacca
Gulf of Thailand
Sulu Sea
Celebes Sea
Brunei
Indonesia
Indonesia
Singapore
Thailand
Petronas Building in Kuala Lumpur |
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal
territories. These are divided between two regions, with 11 states and two
federal territories on Peninsular Malaysia and the other two states and one
federal territory in East Malaysia. Each state is divided into districts, which
are then divided into mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into
divisions.[97]
Governance of the states is divided between the federal
and the state governments, with different powers reserved for each, and the
Federal government has direct administration of the federal territories.[98]
Lower-level administration is carried out by local authorities, which include
city councils, district councils, and municipal councils, although autonomous
statutory bodies can be created by the federal and state governments to deal
with certain tasks.[99] The federal constitution puts local authorities outside
of the federal territories under the exclusive jurisdictions of the state
government,[100] although in practice the federal government has intervened in
the affairs of state local governments.[101] There are 144 local authorities,
consisting of 11 city councils, 33 municipal councils, and 97 district
councils.[102]
The 13 states are based on historical Malay kingdoms, and
9 of the 11 Peninsular states, known as the Malay states, retain their royal
families. The King is elected by and from the nine rulers to serve a five-year
term.[3] This King appoints governors serving a four year term for the states
without monarchies, after consultations with the chief minister of that state.
Each state has a unicameral legislature known as the State Legislative
Assembly, and its own written constitution.[103] Sabah and Sarawak have
considerably more autonomy than the other states, most notably having separate
immigration policies and controls, and a unique residency
status.[104][105][106]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Malaysia
Malaysia on a satellite map globe
Malaysia is within the equatorial region, where a
tropical rainforest climate is apparent all year round.
Malaysia is the 67th largest country by total land area,
with a land area of 329,847 km2 (127,355 sq mi). It has land borders with
Thailand in West Malaysia, and Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia.[2] It is
linked to Singapore by a narrow causeway and a bridge. The country also has
maritime boundaries with Vietnam[107] and the Philippines.[108] The land
borders are defined in large part by geological features such as the Perlis
River, the Golok River and the Pagalayan Canal, whilst some of the maritime
boundaries are the subject of ongoing contention.[2] Brunei forms what is
almost an enclave in Malaysia,[109] with the state of Sarawak dividing it into
two parts. Malaysia is the only country with territory on both the Asian
mainland and the Malay archipelago.[110] Tanjung Piai, located in the southern
state of Johor, is the southernmost tip of continental Asia.[111] The Strait of
Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most
important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the world's
trade.[112]
The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by
the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular
and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.[2]
Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per cent of Malaysia's land area,[110]
extends 740 km (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 km
(200 mi).[113] It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa
Mountains,[114] rising to a peak elevation of 2,183 metres (7,162 ft) at Mount
Korbu,[115] part of a series of mountain ranges running down the centre of the
peninsula.[110] These mountains are heavily forested,[116] and mainly composed
of granite and other igneous rocks. Much of it has been eroded, creating a
karst landscape.[110] The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia's
river systems.[116] The coastal plains surrounding the peninsula reach a
maximum width of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the peninsula's coastline is nearly
1,931 km (1,200 mi) long, although harbours are only available on the western
side.[113]
East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline
of 2,607 km (1,620 mi).[2] It is divided between coastal regions, hills and
valleys, and a mountainous interior.[110] The Crocker Range extends northwards
from Sarawak,[110] dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095
m (13,435 ft) high Mount Kinabalu,[117][118] the tallest mountain in Malaysia.
Mount Kinabalu is protected as the Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.[119] The highest mountain ranges form the border between
Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave
system in the world.[110]
Around these two halves of Malaysia are numerous islands,
the largest of which is Banggi.[120] The local climate is equatorial and
characterised by the annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October
to February) monsoons.[113] The temperature is moderated by the presence of the
surrounding oceans.[110] Humidity is usually high, and the average annual
rainfall is 250 cm (98 in).[113] The climates of the Peninsula and the East
differ, as the climate on the peninsula is directly affected by wind from the
mainland, as opposed to the more maritime weather of the East. Local climates
can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate
change is likely to affect sea levels and rainfall, increasing flood risks and
leading to droughts.[110]
Biodiversity
Main article: Wildlife of Malaysia
A male proboscis monkey sitting on a branch
Proboscis monkey in Borneo, has been declared by Tourism
Malaysia as the official mascot for "Visit Malaysia 2014".[121]
Malaysia signed the Rio Convention on Biological
Diversity on 12 June 1993, and became a party to the convention on 24 June
1994.[122] It has subsequently produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 16 April 1998.[123] The
country is megadiverse with a high number of species and high levels of
endemism.[124] It is estimated to contain 20 per cent of the world's animal
species.[125] High levels of endemism are found on the diverse forests of
Borneo's mountains, as species are isolated from each other by lowland
forest.[110]
Animals
Hawksbill sea turtle
Hawksbill sea turtle in waters around Sipadan.
There are about 210 mammal species in the country.[126]
Over 620 species of birds have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia,[125] with
many endemic to the mountains there. A high number of endemic bird species are
also found in Malaysian Borneo.[110] 250 reptile species have been recorded in
the country, with about 150 species of snakes[127] and 80 species of
lizards.[126] There are about 150 species of frogs,[126] and thousands of
insect species.[126] Malaysia's exclusive economic zone is 1.5 times larger
than its land area,[128] and some of its waters are in the Coral Triangle, a
biodiversity hotspot.[129] The waters around Sipadan island are the most
biodiverse in the world.[125] Bordering East Malaysia, the Sulu Sea is a
biodiversity hotspot, with around 600 coral species and 1200 fish species.[130]
The unique biodiversity of Malaysian Caves always attracts lovers of ecotourism
from all over the world.[131]
Fungi
Nearly 4,000 species of fungi, including lichen-forming
species have been recorded from Malaysia. Of the two fungal groups with the
largest number of species in Malaysia, the Ascomycota and their asexual states
have been surveyed in some habitats (decaying wood, marine and freshwater
ecosystems, as parasites of some plants, and as agents of biodegradation), but
have not been or have been only poorly surveyed in other habitats (as
endobionts, in soils, on dung, as human and animal pathogens); the
Basidiomycota are only partly surveyed: bracket fungi, and mushrooms and
toadstools have been studied, but Malaysian rust and smut fungi remain very
poorly known. Without doubt, many more fungal species in Malaysia have not yet
been recorded, and it is likely that many of those, when found, will be new to
science.[132]
Plants
Red flower made of 5 petals surrounding a depressed
centre, on the forest floor surrounded by dead leaves and small green plants
Some species of Rafflesia can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
in diameter, making them the largest flowers in the world.
About two thirds of Malaysia is covered in forest,[113]
with some forests believed to be 130 million years old.[126] The forests are
dominated by dipterocarps.[133] Lowland forest covers areas below 760 m (2,490
ft),[113] and formerly East Malaysia was covered in such rainforest,[133] which
is supported by its hot wet climate.[110] There are around 14,500 species of
flowering plants and trees.[126] Besides rainforests, there are over 1,425 km2
(550 sq mi) of mangroves in Malaysia,[113] and a large amount of peat forest.
At higher altitudes, oaks, chestnuts, and rhododendrons replace
dipterocarps.[110] There are an estimated 8,500 species of vascular plants in
Peninsular Malaysia, with another 15,000 in the East.[134] The forests of East
Malaysia are estimated to be the habitat of around 2,000 tree species, and are
one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with 240 different species of
trees every hectare.[110] These forests host many members of the Rafflesia
genus, the largest flowers in the world,[133] with a maximum diameter of 1 m (3
ft 3 in).[126]
Conservation issues
Main article: Environmental issues in Malaysia
Logging, along with cultivation practices has devastated
tree cover, causing severe environmental degradation in the country. Over 80
per cent of Sarawak's rainforest has been cleared.[110] Floods in East Malaysia
have been worsened by the loss of trees, and over 60 per cent of the
Peninsular's forest have been cleared.[126] With current rates of
deforestation, the forests are predicted to be extinct by 2020.[110]
Deforestation is a major problem for animals, fungi and plants, as the forest
is cut to make room for plantations.[135] Most remaining forest is found inside
national parks.[126] Habitat destruction has proved a threat for marine
life.[130] Illegal fishing is another major threat,[130] with fishing methods
such as dynamite fishing and poisoning depleting marine ecosystems.[136]
Leatherback turtle numbers have dropped 98 per cent since the 1950s.[127]
Hunting has also been an issue for some animals,[126] with overconsumption and
the use of animal parts for profit endangering many animals, from marine
life[130] to tigers.[135] Marine life is also detrimentally affected by
uncontrolled tourism.[137]
The Malaysian government aims to balance economic growth
with environmental protection, but has been accused of favouring big business
over the environment.[126] Some state governments are now trying to counter the
environmental impact and pollution created by deforestation;[133] and the
federal government is trying to cut logging by 10 per cent each year. 28
national parks have been established; 23 in East Malaysia and five in the
Peninsular.[126] Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as Sipadan
island.[137] Animal trafficking is a large issue, and the Malaysian government
is holding talks with the governments of Brunei and Indonesia to standardise
anti-trafficking laws.[138]
Economy
Main article: Economy of Malaysia
A Proton car. Malaysia is the only country in Southeast
Asia which manufactures indigenously designed automobiles.
Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly
industrialised market economy.[139][140] The state plays a significant but
declining role in guiding economic activity through macroeconomic plans.
Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an
average 6.5 per cent annually from 1957 to 2005.[3] In 2014, the GDP (PPP) was
about $555 billion, the third largest
economy in ASEAN and the 29th largest in the world.[141] In 1991, former Prime
Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad outlined his ideal in Vision 2020,
in which Malaysia would become a self-sufficient industrialized nation by
2020.[142] Najib Razak has said Malaysia could attain developed country status
much earlier from the actual target in 2020, adding the country has two program
concept such as Government Transformation Programme and the Economic
Transformation Programme.[143]
According to a report of HSBC, Malaysia will become the
world's 21st largest economy by 2050, with a GDP of $1.2 trillion (Year 2000
dollars) and a GDP per capita of $29,247 (Year 2000 dollars). The report also
says "The electronic equipment, petroleum, and liquefied natural gas
producer will see a substantial increase in income per capita. Malaysian life
expectancy, relatively high level of schooling, and above average fertility
rate will help in its rapid expansion." Viktor Shvets, the managing
director of Credit Suisse, has said "Malaysia has all the right
ingredients to become a developed nation."[144]
Kuala Lumpur at night
Night aerial view of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's biggest
city from Bukit Tabur lookout point.
In the 1970s, the predominantly mining and
agricultural-based economy began a transition towards a more multi-sector
economy. Since the 1980s, the industrial sector, with a high level of
investment, has led the country's growth.[3][145] The economy recovered from
the 1997 Asian financial crisis earlier than neighbouring countries did, and
has since recovered to the levels of the pre-crisis era with a GDP per capita
of $14,800.[146][147] Economic inequalities exist between different ethnic
groups. The Chinese make up about one-third of the population, but accounts for
70 per cent of the country's market capitalisation.[148] Chinese businesses in
Malaysia are part of the larger bamboo network, a network of overseas Chinese
businesses in the Southeast Asian market sharing common family and cultural
ties.[149]
Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers house the headquarters of the
national oil company Petronas and are the tallest twin-towers in the world.
International trade, facilitated by the shipping route in
adjacent Strait of Malacca, and manufacturing are the key
sectors.[150][151][152] Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural
resources, and petroleum is a major export.[3] Malaysia has once been the
largest producer of tin,[153] rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing
has a large influence in the country's economy,[154] although Malaysia's
economic structure has been moving away from it.[155] Malaysia remains one of
the world's largest producers of palm oil.[156]
In an effort to diversify the economy and make it less
dependent on export goods, the government has pushed to increase tourism to
Malaysia. As a result, tourism has become Malaysia's third largest source of
foreign exchange, although it is threatened by the negative effects of the
growing industrial economy, with large amounts of air and water pollution along
with deforestation affecting tourism.[157] The tourism sector came under some
pressure in 2014 when the national carrier Malaysia Airlines had one of its
planes disappear in March, while another was brought down by a missile over
Ukraine in July, resulting in the loss of a total 537 passengers and crew. The
state of the airline, which had been unprofitable for 3 years, prompted the
government in August 2014 to nationalise the airline by buying up the 30 per
cent it did not already own.[158] Between 2013 and 2014, Malaysia has been
listed as one of the best places to retire in the world too, with the country
in third position on the Global Retirement Index. This in part was the result
of the Malaysia My Second Home programme to allow foreigners to live in the
country on a long-stay visa for up to 10 years.[159]
The country has developed into a centre of Islamic
banking, and is the country with the highest numbers of female workers in that
industry.[160] Knowledge-based services are also expanding.[155] To create a
self-reliant defensive ability and support national development, Malaysia
privatised some of its military facilities in the 1970s. The privatisation has
created defence industry, which in 1999 was brought under the Malaysia Defence
Industry Council. The government continues to promote this sector and its
competitiveness, actively marketing the defence industry.[161]
Science policies in Malaysia are regulated by the
Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The country is one of the
world's largest exporters of semiconductor devices, electrical devices, and IT
and communication products.[3] Malaysia began developing its own space
programme in 2002,[162][163] and in 2006, Russia agreed to transport one
Malaysian to the International Space Station as part of a multi-billion dollar
purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by the Royal Malaysian Air
Force.[164] The government has invested in building satellites in through the
RazakSAT programme.[165]
Infrastructure
See also: Transport in Malaysia and Energy policy of
Malaysia
View of KL Sentral, Hilton and Le Meridian at dusk
Kuala Lumpur Sentral railway station is the largest
railway station in South East Asia.
The infrastructure of Malaysia is one of the most
developed in Asia.[166] Its telecommunications network is second only to
Singapore's in Southeast Asia, with 4.7 million fixed-line subscribers and more
than 30 million cellular subscribers.[167][168] The country has seven
international ports, the major one being the Port Klang. There are 200
industrial parks along with specialised parks such as Technology Park Malaysia
and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.[169] Fresh water is available to over 95 per cent of
the population. During the colonial period, development was mainly concentrated
in economically powerful cities and in areas forming security concerns.
Although rural areas have been the focus of great development, they still lag
behind areas such as the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.[170] The
telecommunication network, although strong in urban areas, is less available to
the rural population.[167]
Malaysia's road network covers 144,403 kilometres (89,728
mi) and includes 1,821 kilometres (1,132 mi) of expressways.[2] The longest
highway of the country, the North-South Expressway, extends over 800 kilometres
(497 mi) between the Thai border and Singapore. The road systems in East
Malaysia are less developed and of lower quality in comparison to that of
Peninsular Malaysia.[171] Malaysia has 118 airports, of which 38 are paved. The
country's official airline is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and
domestic air service alongside two other carriers. The railway system is
state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 kilometres (1,149 mi).[2] Relatively
inexpensive elevated Light Rail Transit systems are used in some cities, such
as Kuala Lumpur.[172] The Asean Rail Express is a railway service that connects
Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, and is intended to eventually stretch from Singapore
to China.[166]
Traditionally, energy production in Malaysia has been
based on oil and natural gas.[173] The country has 13 GW of electrical
generation capacity.[174] However, the country only has 33 years of natural gas
reserves, and 19 years of oil reserves, while the demand for energy is
increasing. In response, the government is expanding into renewable energy sources.[173]
Sixteen per cent of electricity generation is hydroelectric, the remaining 84
per cent being thermal.[174] The oil and gas industry is dominated by state
owned Petronas,[175] and the energy sector as a whole is regulated by the
Energy Commission of Malaysia, a statutory commission that governs the energy
in the peninsula and Sabah, under the terms of the Electricity Commission Act
of 2001.[176]
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Malaysia
Percentage distribution of Malaysian population by ethnic
group, 2010
The percentage distribution of Malaysian population by
ethnic group based on 2010 census.
As of the 2010 census, the population of Malaysia was
28,334,135,[8] making it the 42nd most populated country. The population of
Malaysia consists of many ethnic groups. In 2010, Malaysian citizens, of which
bumiputera were 67.4%, made up 91.8% of the population.[177] According to
constitutional definition, Malays are Muslims who practice Malay customs and
culture. They play a dominant role politically.[178] Bumiputera status is also
accorded to certain non-Malay indigenous peoples, including ethnic Thais,
Khmers, Chams and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Non-Malay bumiputera make
up more than half of Sarawak's population and over two thirds of Sabah's
population.[2] There also exist aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on
the peninsula, where they are collectively known as the Orang Asli.[179] Laws
over who gets bumiputera status vary between states.[180]
Other minorities who lack bumiputera status make up a
large amount of the population. 24.6 per cent of the population are of Chinese
descent, while those of Indian descent comprise 7.3 per cent of the
population.[177] The Chinese have historically been dominant in the business
and commerce community, and form a plurality of the population of Penang.
Immigrants from India, the majority of them Tamils, began arriving in Malaysia
early in the 19th century.[181][182]
Malaysian citizenship is not automatically granted to
those born in Malaysia, but is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents
outside Malaysia. Dual citizenship is not permitted.[183] Citizenship in the
states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship
in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a
biometric smart chip identity card known as MyKad at the age of 12, and must
carry the card at all times.[184]
A map of Malaysia depicting the expected 2010 estimated
population density.
Population density (person per km2).
The education system features a non-compulsory
kindergarten education followed by six years of compulsory primary education,
and five years of optional secondary education.[185] Schools in the primary
education system are divided into two categories: national primary schools,
which teach in Malay, and vernacular schools, which teach in Chinese or
Tamil.[186] Secondary education is conducted for five years. In the final year
of secondary education, students sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education
examination.[187] Since the introduction of the matriculation programme in
1999, students who completed the 12-month programme in matriculation colleges
can enroll in local universities. However, in the matriculation system, only 10
per cent of places are open to non-bumiputera students.[188]
The infant mortality rate in 2009 was 6 deaths per 1000
births, and life expectancy at birth in 2009 was 75 years.[189] With the aim of
developing Malaysia into a medical tourism destination, 5 per cent of the
government social sector development budget is spent on health care.[190] The
population in concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia[191] where 20 million of
approximately 28 million Malaysians live.[3] 70 per cent of the population is
urban.[2] Kuala Lumpur is the capital[2] and the largest city in Malaysia,[192]
as well as its main commercial and financial centre.[193] Putrajaya, a
purpose-built city constructed from 1999, is the seat of government,[194] as
many executive and judicial branches of the federal government were moved there
to ease growing congestion within Kuala Lumpur.[195]
Due to the rise in labour-intensive industries,[196] the
country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10 per cent
of the population.[197] Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million
that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.[198]
Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering
approximately 171,500. Of this population, approximately 79,000 are from Burma,
72,400 from the Philippines, and 17,700 from Indonesia. Malaysian officials are
reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in 2007, and
Malaysia employs RELA, a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to
enforce its immigration law.[199]
Largest cities of Malaysia (2010)[200]
KL at night.jpg
Kuala Lumpur
Johor Bahru City.jpg
Johor Bahru
Rank City State Population view talk edit
Ipoh, Perak.jpg
Ipoh
Shah Alam Lake Gardens, Selangor.jpg
Shah Alam
1 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory 1,475,337
2 Johor Bahru Johor 916,409
3 Ipoh Perak 704,572
4 Shah Alam Selangor 671,282
5 Petaling
Jaya Selangor 638,516
6 Kuching Sarawak 617,887
7 Kota
Kinabalu Sabah 462,963
8 Kuala
Terengganu Terengganu 343,284
9 Malacca City Malacca 331,790
10 Alor Setar Kedah 295,624
11 Miri Sarawak 280,518
12 George Town Penang 227,972
Religion
Main article: Religion in Malaysia
Percentage distribution of Malaysian population by
religion, 2010.
The percentage distribution of Malaysian population by
religion based on 2010 census.
The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion
while making Islam the state religion.[201] According to the Population and
Housing Census 2010 figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly.
Approximately 61.3% of the population practice Islam, 19.8% practice Buddhism,
9.2% Christianity, 6.3% Hinduism and 1.3% practice Confucianism, Taoism and
other traditional Chinese religions. 0.7% declared no religion and the
remaining 1.4% practised other religions or did not provide any information.[8]
Sunni Islam of Shafi'i school of jurisprudence is the dominant branch of Islam
in Malaysia.[202][203]
The Malaysian constitution strictly defines what makes a
"Malay", considering Malays those who are Muslim, speak Malay
regularly, practise Malay customs, and lived in or has ancestors from Brunei,
Malaysia and Singapore.[110] Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that
83.6% of the Chinese population identify as Buddhist, with significant numbers
of adherents following Taoism (3.4%) and Christianity (11.1%), along with small
Hui-Muslim populations in areas like Penang. The majority of the Indian
population follow Hinduism (86.2%), with a significant minority identifying as
Christians (6.0%) or Muslims (4.1%). Christianity is the predominant religion
of the non-Malay bumiputera community (46.5%) with an additional 40.4%
identifying as Muslims.[8]
Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of Syariah
courts in matters concerning their religion. The Islamic judges are expected to
follow the Shafi'i legal school of Islam, which is the main madh'hab of
Malaysia.[202] The jurisdiction of Syariah courts is limited to Muslims in
matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion,
and custody among others. No other criminal or civil offences are under the
jurisdiction of the Shariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the Civil
Courts. Despite being the supreme courts of the land, the Civil Courts do not
hear matters related to Islamic practices.[204]
Language
Main article: Languages of Malaysia
The distribution of language families of Malaysia shown
by colours:
(click image to enlarge)
Malayic
Bornean
Aslian
Land Dayak
Sama–Bajaw
Philippine
Creole
Areas with
multiple languages
The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian,[2] a
standardised form of the Malay language.[205] The terminology as per government
policy is Bahasa Malaysia (literally "Malaysian language")[206] but
legislation continues to refer to the official language as Bahasa Melayu (literally
"Malay language").[207] Historically English was the de facto
administrative language, with Malay becoming predominant after the 1969 race
riots.[208] Under the National Language Act 1967, "The script of the
national language shall be the Rumi [Latin] script: provided that this shall
not prohibit the use of the Malay script, more commonly known as the Jawi
script, of the national language."[209]
English remains an active second language, with its use
allowed for some official purposes under the National Language Act of
1967,[209] and serves as the medium of instruction for maths and sciences in
all public schools.[210][211] Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian
Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. Malaysian
English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a colloquial
form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The government
discourages the use of non-standard Malay but has no power to issue compounds
or fines to those who use improper Malay on their advertisements.[212][213]
Malaysian Maps |
Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains
speakers of 137 living languages.[214] Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of
41 of these languages.[215] The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own
languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay. Iban is
the main tribal language in Sarawak while Dusunic and Kadazan languages are
spoken by the natives in Sabah.[216] Chinese Malaysians predominantly speak
Chinese dialects from the southern provinces of China. The more common dialects
in the country are Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, and Fuzhou.
Tamil is used predominantly by Tamils, who form a majority of Malaysian
Indians. Other south Asian languages are also widely spoken in Malaysia, as
well as Thai[2] A small number of Malaysians have Caucasian ancestry and speak
creole languages, such as the Portuguese based Malaccan Creoles,[217] and the
Spanish based Chavacano language.[218]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Malaysia
A cook making Murtabak, a type of pancake, in an outdoor
stall. He is pictured leaning over his custom-made flattened wok filled with
pieces of murtabak.
A cook making murtabak, a type of pancake mixed with
eggs, small pieces of meat and onions, in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and
multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous
tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there.
Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to
when foreign trade began. Other cultural influences include the Persian,
Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure of the government, coupled
with the social contract theory, there has been minimal cultural assimilation
of ethnic minorities.[219]
In 1971, the government created a "National Cultural
Policy", defining Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture must
be based on the culture of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia, that it may
incorporate suitable elements from other cultures, and that Islam must play a
part in it.[220] It also promoted the Malay language above others.[221] This
government intervention into culture has caused resentment among non-Malays who
feel their cultural freedom was lessened. Both Chinese and Indian associations
have submitted memorandums to the government, accusing it of formulating an
undemocratic culture policy.[220]
Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and
neighbouring countries, notably Indonesia. The two countries have a similar
cultural heritage, sharing many traditions and items. However, disputes have
arisen over things ranging from culinary dishes to Malaysia's national anthem.
Strong feelings exist in Indonesia about protecting their national
heritage.[222] The Malaysian government and the Indonesian government have met
to defuse some of the tensions resulting from the overlaps in culture.[223]
Feelings are not as strong in Malaysia, where most recognise that many cultural
values are shared.[222]
Fine arts
See also: Music of Malaysia and Malaysian literature
Making Malaysian batik
A batik craftsman making batik, Malaysian batik are
usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring.
Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred around the
areas of carving, weaving, and silversmithing.[224] Traditional art ranges from
handwoven baskets from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts.
Common artworks included ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and
songket fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known for their wooden
masks.[110] Each ethnic group have distinct performing arts, with little
overlap between them. However, Malay art does show some North Indian influence
due to the historical influence of India.[225]
Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to
have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India,
China, Thailand and Indonesia. The music is based around percussion
instruments,[225] the most important of which is the gendang (drum). There are
at least 14 types of traditional drums.[226] Drums and other traditional
percussion instruments and are often made from natural materials.[226] Music is
traditionally used for storytelling, celebrating life-cycle events, and occasions
such as a harvest.[225] It was once used as a form of long-distance
communication.[226] In East Malaysia, gong-based musical ensembles such as
agung and kulintang are commonly used in ceremonies such as funerals and
weddings.[227] These ensembles are also common in neighbouring regions such as
in Mindanao in the Philippines, Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Brunei.[227]
A Malaysian wau
Wau bulan, originated from Kelantan is one of Malaysia's
fine arts.[228]
Malaysia has a strong oral tradition that has existed
since before the arrival of writing, and continues today. Each of the Malay
Sultanates created their own literary tradition, influenced by pre-existing
oral stories and by the stories that came with Islam.[229] The first Malay
literature was in the Arabic script. The earliest known Malay writing is on the
Terengganu stone, made in 1303.[110] Chinese and Indian literature became
common as the numbers of speakers increased in Malaysia, and locally produced
works based in languages from those areas began to be produced in the 19th
century.[229] English has also become a common literary language.[110] In 1971,
the government took the step of defining the literature of different languages.
Literature written in Malay was called "the national literature of Malaysia",
literature in other bumiputera languages was called "regional
literature", while literature in other languages was called
"sectional literature".[221] Malay poetry is highly developed, and
uses many forms. The Hikayat form is popular, and the pantun has spread from
Malay to other languages.[229]
Cuisine
Main article: Malaysian cuisine
A glass of Teh tarik
Teh tarik.
Nasi lemak in a plate
Nasi lemak.
The national drink and national dish of the
country.[230][231]
Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of
its population.[232] Many cultures from within the country and from surrounding
regions have greatly influenced the cuisine. Much of the influence comes from
the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, and Sumatran cultures,[110] largely
due to the country being part of the ancient spice route.[233] The cuisine is
very similar to that of Singapore and Brunei,[126] and also bears resemblance
to Filipino cuisine.[110] The different states have varied dishes,[126] and
often the food in Malaysia is different from the original dishes.[182]
Sometimes food not found in its original culture is
assimilated into another; for example, Chinese restaurants in Malaysia often
serve Malay dishes.[234] Food from one culture is sometimes also cooked using
styles taken from another culture,[126] This means that although much of
Malaysian food can be traced back to a certain culture, they have their own
identity.[233] Rice is popular in many dishes. Chili is commonly found in local
cuisine, although this does not necessarily make them spicy.[232]
Media
Main article: Media of Malaysia
Malaysia's main newspapers are owned by the government
and political parties in the ruling coalition,[235][236] although some major
opposition parties also have their own, which are openly sold alongside regular
newspapers. A divide exists between the media in the two halves of the country.
Peninsular-based media gives low priority to news from the East, and often
treats the eastern states as colonies of the Peninsula.[237] The media have
been blamed for increasing tension between Indonesia and Malaysia, and giving
Malaysians a bad image of Indonesians.[238] The country has Malay, English,
Chinese, and Tamil dailies.[237]
Freedom of the press is limited, with numerous
restrictions on publishing rights and information dissemination.[239] The
government has previously tried to crack down on opposition papers before
elections.[236] In 2007, a government agency issued a directive to all private
television and radio stations to refrain from broadcasting speeches made by
opposition leaders,[240] a move condemned by politicians from the opposition
Democratic Action Party.[241] Sabah, where all tabloids but one are independent
of government control, has the freest press in Malaysia.[237] Laws such as the
Printing Presses and Publications Act have also been cited as curtailing
freedom of expression.[242]
Holidays and festivals
Main article: Public holidays in Malaysia
Temple at night illuminated with light from decorations
Southeast Asia's largest temple—Kek Lok Si in
Penang—illuminated in preparation for the Lunar New Year.
Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities
throughout the year. Some are federally gazetted public holidays and some are observed
by individual states. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or
religion groups, and the main holiday of each major group has been declared a
public holiday. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka
(Independence Day) on 31 August, commemorating the independence of the
Federation of Malaya in 1957.[110] Malaysia Day on 16 September commemorates
federation in 1963.[243] Other notable national holidays are Labour Day (1 May)
and the King's birthday (first week of June).[110]
Muslim holidays are prominent as Islam is the state
religion; Hari Raya Puasa (also called Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Malay for Eid
al-Fitr), Hari Raya Haji (also called Hari Raya Aidiladha, the translation of
Eid ul-Adha), Maulidur Rasul (birthday of the Prophet), and others being
observed.[110] Malaysian Chinese celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year
and others relating to traditional Chinese beliefs. Hindus in Malaysia
celebrate Deepavali, the festival of lights,[201] while Thaipusam is a
religious rite which sees pilgrims from all over the country converge at the
Batu Caves.[244] Malaysia's Christian community celebrates most of the holidays
observed by Christians elsewhere, most notably Christmas and Easter. East
Malaysians also celebrate a harvest festival known as Gawai.[245] Despite most
festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group,
celebrations are universal. In a custom known as "open house"
Malaysians participate in the celebrations of others, often visiting the houses
of those who identify with the festival.[169]
Sports
Main article: Sport in Malaysia
2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
The Sepang International Circuit during the 2011
Malaysian Grand Prix which attracted many fans to the country.
Golf is the most popular sport in Malaysia. Other popular
sports include football, badminton, field hockey, bowls, tennis, squash,
martial arts, horse riding, sailing, and skate boarding.[169] The country is
currently studying the possibility of bidding as a joint host for 2034 FIFA
World Cup.[246] Badminton matches attract thousands of spectators, and since
1948 Malaysia has been one of four countries to hold the Thomas Cup, the world
team championship trophy of men's badminton.[247] The Malaysian Lawn Bowls
Federation was registered in 1997.[248] Squash was brought to the country by
members of the British army, with the first competition being held in
1939.[249] The Squash Racquets Association Of Malaysia was created on 25 June
1972.[250] Malaysia has proposed a Southeast Asian football league.[251] The
men's national field hockey team ranked 13th in the world as of June 2014.[252]
The 3rd Hockey World Cup was hosted at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, as well
as the 10th cup.[253] The country also has its own Formula One track–the Sepang
International Circuit. It runs for 310.408 kilometres (192.88 mi), and held its
first Grand Prix in 1999.[254]
Silat Melayu
Silat Melayu is the main martial arts for the ethnic
Malays in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.[255]
The Federation of Malaya Olympic Council was formed in
1953, and received recognition by the IOC in 1954. It first participated in the
1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. The council was renamed the Olympic Council of
Malaysia in 1964, and has participated in all but one Olympic games since its inception.
The largest number of athletes ever sent to the Olympics was 57 to the 1972
Munich Olympic Games.[256] Malaysian athletes have won a total of six Olympic
medals, five in Badminton, one in Platform diving.[257] The country has
competed at the Commonwealth Games since 1950 as Malaya, and 1966 as Malaysia,
and the games were hosted in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.[258][259] The most common
martial arts are Silat Melayu and kickboxing or tomoi.
List of ethnic groups in Malaysia
Indonesian From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from List of tribes in Malaysia)
Contents [hide]
1 Bumiputra in Peninsular Malaysia (Malay)
2 Bumiputra in Peninsular Malaysia (Orang Asli)
3 Bumiputra in Peninsular Malaysia (others)
4 Bumiputra in Sabah
5 Bumiputra in Sarawak
6 Chinese Malaysian
7 India Malaysia
8 Peranakan
9 Others
Bumiputra in Peninsular Malaysia (Malay) [edit | edit source]
Malay Children Teak: the natives of Peninsular Malaysia
which has been categorized as Malays.
Johor - Johor Malays who founded the ancient kingdom
Gelanggi City.
Kedah - the Malays in the state of Kedah, Penang and
Perlis who founded the kingdom of ancient Kedah Tua.
Kelantan - Kelantan Malays who founded the ancient
kingdom Langkasuka and Pan Pan.
People Sea - Melaka and Johor natives loyal to the
Sultanate of Melaka and Johor-Riau Sultanate.
Pahang - Pahang Malays who founded the ancient royal city
of Pahang (or Biram City or Muang Pahang).
Silver - Silver Malays who founded the ancient kingdom of
State Ganges.
Terengganu - Terengganu Malays who founded the ancient
kingdom of Tan-Tan.
Children Malay Trade: tribes originating from the islands
of Indonesia and Indo-China, but it has been categorized as Malays.
Aceh
Banjar
Batak
Bawean
Bugis
Cham
Jambi
Java
Kampar
Kerinci
Mandailaing
Minangkabau
swamp
Malay Kacukan: manifestation result of intermarriage
between the Malays of Malaysia with other people.
Malay Arabic
Malay Chinese - not including the Chinese-Muslim.
Malay Europe
Malay Indian - not including Indian-Muslim and Mamak.
Malay Turkey
Bumiputra in Peninsular Malaysia (Orang Asli) [edit |
edit source]
Semang (Negrito)
Kensiu
Kintak
Lanoh
Jahai
Mendriq
Bateq
Senoi
Temiar
Semai
Give Semoq
Jah Hut
Mahmeri
Che Wong
Proto Malay (Melayu Original)
people Kuala
people Kanaq
people Seletar
Adam's apple
Semelai
findings
Bumiputra in Peninsular Malaysia (others) [edit | edit
source]
Serani
Siam Malaysia
Bumiputra in Sabah [edit | edit source]
Kadazandusun
hamlet
Dusun Liwan
Dusun Tindal
hamlet Pahu
hamlet Lotud
hamlet Labuk
hamlet Kimaragang
hamlet Tobilung
Hamlet Segama / Subpan
hamlet Tombonuo
Dusun Tambunan
Dusun Tatana
Kadazan Papar
Penampang Kadazan
Tagahas
Tangara
Rungus
people River
Kuijau
Bagahak
Bajau
Iranun
Bajau
Ubian
Binadan
Suluk tribe
Murut
paitan
Bonggi
Idahan
People Brunei (Brunei Malay)
Lundayeh (in Sabah)
Iban (in Sabah)
Cocos
Kedayan
Bisaya
Kimarang
Rumanau
Minokok
Sabah Bugis (Malay Bugis)
Tidung
Bundu
Kimensi
Lobou
people Ulu
Bumiputra in Sarawak [edit | edit source]
Iban
Sarawak Malay
Melanau
Bidayuh
people Ulu
Kayan
Kenyah
Kajang
cruelty
Punan
Ukit
Penan
Lun Bawang
Lun Dayeh
Murut
cloudy
Kelabit
Bisaya
Kedayan
Malaysian Chinese [edit | edit source]
Malaysian Chinese:
Hokkien
Hakka
Cantonese
Hainan
Hoklo
Hui
Henghua
Teochew
India Malaysia [edit | edit source]
Malaysian Indians:
Tamil
Bengali
Gujerati
malayali
Sinhala
Telugu
Punjabi
Peranakan [edit | edit source]
tribe Peranakan
Chetty
Other [edit | edit source]
Jewish Malaysia (Continoe)
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