Malaysia is a country that embraces the harmonious fusion of various Asian cultures, forming a unified nation. The Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board promotes Malaysia as “Malaysia- Truly Asia.” One distinctive aspect of Malaysia is its multicultural population. People are essential in every country, and Malays make up the largest ethnic group, comprising 50% of the population.
The Malays are believed to be the first civilization in Malaysia and the original settlers of the Malay Peninsula, according to popular belief. Except for indigenous communities, they hold a special status as Bumiputras in Malaysia’s Constitution, which means ‘son of earth’.
Many Malay families today can trace their ancestry back to Javanese, Bugis, and Minang sailors from Indonesia. All Malays are Muslims, as enshrined in the Constitution. The community predominantly uses Malay, also known as Bahasa Melayu, as their language. They are moderate Muslims and emphasize being warm, good-natured, and well-mannered. Being the majority community with special privileges as Bumiputra, the Malays have a dominant role in Malaysia’s politics.
Various aspects of Malaysian culture, including Batik (patterned cloth), wau bulan flying (traditional kite flying), wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), dikir barat (traditional group singing with instrumental accompaniment), and silat (a stylized martial art) all show the influence of Malay contributions. These cultural traditions have been shaped by Malay families, who make up a significant portion of the population and have ancestors originating from Indonesia stretching back several centuries. Consequently, it is only natural for the music and art of the Malays to bear some similarity to that of their neighboring countries.
While the Malays and Chinese in Malaysia have notable distinctions, they both have a significant impact on shaping the country’s culture. The contributions of the Malays are uniquely Malaysian, while the Chinese make up 26% of Malaysia’s population and are the second largest community. The Chinese in Malaysia can trace their roots back to Chinese merchants who traded in Malacca during the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as to Chinese immigrants who arrived to work in tin mines under British rule.
Although the Chinese in Malaysia have successfully assimilated into Malaysian society, they have still managed to preserve their original culture and can trace their heritage to different provinces in China. Some individuals even travel back to China to reconnect with their roots or reinforce old relationships. While Buddhism and Taoism are the main religions followed by Malaysians of Chinese descent, there are also some who have embraced Christianity.
The Chinese community in Malaysia possesses a strong entrepreneurial mindset, which can be traced back to their ancestral ties with ancient Chinese merchants and traders. This community holds significant influence over the country’s economy and business sectors. As a result of limited assimilation, many individuals within this group are proficient in Mandarin or other Chinese dialects.
Despite English being the first language for the younger generation, around 8% of Malaysia’s population is Indian and has a shared ancestry with the Chinese. Indian traders played a significant role during the peak of the Malacca Sultanate, while under British rule, Indian immigrants were brought in as laborers for plantations across Malaysia.
The Indian community in Malaysia uses Tamil and English as their main languages, making a significant contribution to the country despite being smaller in population than Malays and Chinese. They continue to play a crucial role in shaping Malaysia’s cultural landscape.
