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Promoting Malaysia Culture
Name:Tan Ying Hui
Class:6BS1
Teacher:Pn. Anandamala
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Content
Contents Pages
Introduction to Malaysia4
People and customs5
Celebrations and Festivals8
Traditional Food11
Architectural Heritage14
Reference
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Introduction to Malaysia
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Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen
states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometers (127,350
sq mi). It is separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular
Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (also known as West and East Malaysia respectively). Land
borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and maritime borders exist
with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur,
while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population as of 2009 stood at over 28
million.
The states on Peninsular Malaysia, then known as Malaya, were first unified as the Union
in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved
independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to form
Malaysia on 16 September 1963. However, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was
expelled from the federation, and became an independent city state. Since its independence,
Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5%
for the first 50 years of independence. The economy of the country has, traditionally, been fuelled
by its natural resources, but is now also expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce
and medical tourism.
The head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and monarch chosen from the hereditary
rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
The government system is closely modeled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the
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legal system is based on English Common Law. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural,
factors that influence its culture and play a large role in politics.
Malaysia contains the southernmost point of continental Eurasia,Tanjung Piai, and is
located near the equator and has a tropical climate. It has a biodiversity range of flora and fauna,
and is considered one of the 17 mega diverse countries. It is a founding member of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and a
member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-
Aligned Movement.
Welcome to Malaysia, Enjoy our cultural heritage.
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People and Customs
Many visitors are surprised of all ethnic from Asia can live harmony in Malaysia. The
world's major religions also exist in this land. In the towns, mosques, temples and churches next
to each other which is forming an interesting phenomenon.
In Malaysia, the population has more than twenty-five million. Most of them are Malay
and other indigenous people, including Orang Asli, Dayaks, Kadazan Dusun, Melanau, Murut
and others. Apart from this, Malaysia also include Chinese, Indian, mixed descent such as Baba
Nyonyas.
Malay
Malays made up an estimated 64.5% of the population of Malaysia
and is the largest population in Malaysia. Malaysian Malay is a
Malaysian of Indonesia origin. Most are descendants of Malaysian
Malay arrived between the thirteen and the mid-fifteen centuries,
they known for gentle manners and cultural literacy. All ethnic
Malays are considered Muslim. They speak in Malaysia’s national
language – Bahasa Malaysia.
Chinese
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Chinese is the second largest population in Malaysia. Most are descendants of Chinese who
arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries, they known for diligence and
hard. Chinese Malaysians mostly speak Chinese dialects from the southern provinces
of China, with the more common dialects
being Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, and Fuzhou.
Indian
Malaysian Indians are a group of Malaysians largely descended from those who migrated
from southern India during the British colonization of Malaya.. They were predominantly
estate workers, the majority being employed on rubber estates, though a significant
minority worked in Government public works departments and also many Tamil
merchants and businessmen in Malaysia. Tamil is used predominantly by Indians, who
form a majority of Malaysian Indians. Malaysian Indian is a significant dialect which is
different from Tamil spoken in India.
Orang Asal
The Orang Asal are the indigenous people of Malaysia. The term is Malay for "Original People",
and the Orang Asal along with Malays are granted Bumiputra status in Malaysia.
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The Orang Asal in Peninsular Malaysia are collectively
known as the Orang Asli, and form small minorities there.
However, the Orang Asal of East Malaysia form a
majority of the population. The Orang Asal have their
own religions and customs, as well as unique languages.
The languages of the peninsular can be divided between
Negrito, Senoi, and Malayic, together divided into about
18 subgroups. The primary languages in East Malaysia
are Kadazan-Dusun and Iban, both used by multiple
indigenous groups.
Baba-Nyonya
Baba-Nyonya (are terms used for the descendants of late
15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to
the Nusantara region during the Colonial era. This
community in Melaka, they address themselves as
"Nyonya Baba" instead of "Baba-Nyonya". Nyonya are
for the ladies and Baba is for the gentlemen. They are
usually traders, the middleman of the British and the
Chinese, or the Chinese and Malays, or vice versa. They almost always have the ability to speak
two or more languages. In later generations, some lost the ability to speak Chinese as they
became assimilated to the Malay Peninsula's culture and started to speak Malay fluently as a first
or second language.
Celebrations and Festivals
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Aidil Fitri
Idul Fitri also known as Hari Raya is the biggest holiday Malaysia. The night before Idul Fitri is
filled with the sounds of many muezzin chanting the
takbir in the mosques or musallahs. In many parts of
Malaysia, especially in the rural
areas, pelita or panjut or lampu colok are lit up and
placed outside and around homes. Special dishes like
ketupat, dodol, lemang and other Malay delicacies are
served during this day. Muslims greet one another with "maaf zahir dan batin which is to ask for
forgiveness for sins which they may have committed but was cleansed as a result of the fasting in
the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Hari Haji
Hari Haji or "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is an important religious holiday celebrated
by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his
son Ishmael (Isma'il) as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a
ram to sacrifice instead. The meat is divided into three
parts to be distributed to others. The family retains one
third of the share, another third is given to relatives,
friends and neighbors, and the other third is given to the
poor & needy.Eid al-Adha is the latter of
two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims,
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Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional
Chinese holidays. The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked
by visits to kin, relatives and friends, a practice known as "new-
year visits" .New clothes are usually worn to signify a new year.
The colour red is liberally used in all decorations. Red packets are
given to juniors and children by the married and elders.
Mid-Autumn FestivalThe Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar,
which is in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is a date that parallels
the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and roundest. The
traditional food of this festival is the moon cake, of which
there are many different varieties. During the Lantern
Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper
lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns.
Depavali
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Deepavali,popularly known as the "festival of lights", is an important five-day festival
in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For
Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year
and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities
together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday
in Malaysia.The signification of Depavali are celebration of the
victory of good over evil and the uplifting of spiritual darkness.
Thaipusam
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in
the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). The word Thaipusam is derived from the month
name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The
signification of celebrate Thaipusam is to celebrate of the birth of god Murugan. Devotees
prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting. Kavadi-bearers
have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of
assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to
Murugan.
Traditional Food
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Malaysian cuisine reflects the multicultural aspects of Malaysia. Various ethnic groups in
Malaysia have their own dishes, but many dishes in Malaysia are derived from multiple ethnic
influences. Food preparation differs from place to place, even though they are all cooking the
same food. Different preparations have different taste and decoration, but generally the
ingredients used are the same.
Nasi Lemak
A popular dish based on rice is Nasi Lemak, rice steamed with coconut milk to lend it
special fragrance, and served with fried anchovies, peanuts, sliced cucumber, hard boiled eggs,
and a spicy chili paste known as sambal. For a more substantial meal, nasi lemak can also be
served with a choice or curries, or a spicy meat stew called rendang. Of Malay origin, Nasi
Lemak is often called the national dish, and a national
heritage of Malaysia.
Malaysian Indian food
Malaysian Indian cuisine of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia is similar to its roots in India,
especially South India. Hands are washed before and the right hand is used during the meal.
Malaysian Indian curries uses a lot of spices, coconut milk, and curry leaves. Some of the most
popular curries include Chicken Curry, Fish Curries, and Squid Curry.
Example of Indian cuisine:
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Chapati is a type of bread originated from Punjab. It is made from a dough of atta flour
(whole grain durum wheat), water and salt by rolling the dough out into discs of approximately
twelve centimeters in diameter and browning the discs on both sides on a very hot, dry tava or
frying pan (preferably not one coated with Teflon or other nonstick material). Chapatis are
usually eaten with vegetable curry dishes, and pieces of the chapati are used to wrap around and
pick up each bite of the cooked dish.
Malaysian Chinese food
Malaysian Chinese food is derived from mainland Chinese cuisine but has been
influenced by local ingredients and dishes from other cultures though it remains distinctly
Chinese. Most Chinese meals have pork as their sub-ingredient, but due to the popularity and
unique taste of the actual food, there are chicken options available for the local Malays (most
Malays are Muslims, and Islam forbids them from eating pork). Some Chinese food restaurants
nowadays can be found serving halal food i.e. food without ingredients that are forbidden by the
Islamic religion. Chinese restaurants serving food in Halal can introduce a wider range of
customers to it.
Example of Chinese food:
Rojak. A fruit salad with a topping of thick dark prawn paste and some sliced fried 'yau
cha kwai'. The Penang version is particularly popular and well regarded.
Nyonya food
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Nyonya food was developed by the Nyonya (Straits Chinese) and Peranakan (mixed
Chinese/Malay ancestry) people of Malaysia and Singapore. It uses mainly Chinese ingredients
but blends them with South-East Asian spices such as coconut milk, lemon grass, turmeric, screw
pine leaves, chilies and sambal. It can be considered as a blend of Chinese and Malay cooking.
Examples of nyonya dish include:
Asam Laksa a bowl of thick white rice noodles served
in a soup made of fish meat, tamarind, onion, basil, pineapple
and cucumber in slices.
Desserts
Desserts in Malaysia tend to make use of generous amounts of coconut milk. Some common
desserts include:
Cendol. Smooth green rice noodles in chilled coconut milk and gula melaka (coconut
palm sugar).
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Architectural Heritage
Malay
Traditional Malay architecture employs relatively sophisticated architectural processes
ideally suited to tropical conditions such as wide roof overhangs and high-pitched roofs. Building
on stilts allows cross-ventilating breezes beneath the dwelling to cool the house whilst mitigating
the effects of the occasional flood.
Traditional houses in Negeri Sembilan were built
entirely free of nails. Built of hardwood, they are constructed
using a post and beam construction, which are held together
by wedges. A beautiful example of this type of architecture
can be seen in the Old Palace of Sri Menanti in Negeri
Sembilan, which was build around 1905.
Another truly magnificent example of Malay architectural creativity is the Istana
Kenangan in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar. Built in 1926, it is the only Malay palace with
bamboo walls.
Today, many Malay or Islamic buildings incorporate Moorish elements as part of their
design as can be seen of the Islamic Arts Museum, a number of buildings in Putrajaya - the new
administrative capital, and many mosques throughout the country.
Chinese
In Malaysia, Chinese architecture is of two broad types:
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traditional and Baba-Nyonya. Examples of traditional architecture include Chinese temples found
throughout the country such as the Cheng Hoon Teng that dates from 1646. Many old houses
especially those in Malacca and Penang are of Baba-Nyonya heritage.
A rare architectural combination of Chinese and Western elements is displayed by
Malacca's Tengkera mosque. Its pagoda-like appearance is a fine example of Chinese-influenced
roof form combined with Western detailing in its balustrades and railings.
Indian
With most of Malaysian Hindus originally from southern India, local Hindu temples
exhibit the colourful architecture of that region. The Sikhs, although a small minority, also have
their temples of more staid design in many parts of the Country.
Built in the late nineteenth century, the Sri Mahamariaman
Temple in Kuala Lumpur is one of the most ornate and elaborates
Hindu temples in the country. The detailed decorative scheme for
the temple incorporates intricate carvings, gold embellishments,
hand-painted motifs and exquisite tiles from Italy and Spain.
Indigenous Peoples of Sabah & Sarawak have two unique architectural highlights of the
indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak are longhouses and water villages.
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Homes to interior riverine tribes, longhouses
are traditional community homes. These elongated and
stilted structures often built of axe-hewn timber, tied
with creeper fibre and roofed with atap or thatched
leaves can house between 20 to 100 families.
Rustic water villages built on stilts are also commonly
found along riverbanks and seafronts. Houses are linked by plank walkways with boats anchored
on the sides. Transport around the village is usually by sampan or canoe.
Reference
http://www.theodora.com/wfb/photos/malaysia/malaysia_photos_15.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Nyonya
http://www.audioguidemalaysia.com/blog/?paged=3
http://www.about-malaysia.com/culture-heritage/architecture.htm
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