Many elements of Indian Hindu culture have insinuated themselves into the
Malay adat the most obvious being the Malay marriage ceremony, vice versa the
Indian Muslim community in the country share a common religion and hence a
similar culture and religious observances as the Muslim Malays as do the Baba-Nyonya
Muslim Chinese from Melaka that date back to the aforementioned Chinese princess
in ancient times. The Malays have also very recently adopted an age old Chinese
custom, the giving of "Ang Pows", or money gifts wrapped in colored
envelopes. The Chinese use red, the Malays green.
Malaysians are usually at least bi-lingual, Bahasa Malaysia or the Malay language
is the official language and English is the second most widely spoken. The
Chinese and Indians are generally tri-lingual, speaking Malay, English and
their mother tongue.
Following are brief descriptions on the various peoples and their ways of life
in Malaysia.
The Malays
The modern Malaysian Malay can probably trace their ancestry to the myriad
seafaring islander tribes in the region, from Indonesia, Phillipines and
Borneo, they are widely believed to be the first civilization to take root
in Malaysia and can be said, with the exception of the "Orang Asli" indigenous
tribes, to be the original settlers to populate the Malay Peninsula.
Currently comprising roughly half the 22 million Malaysian population, the
Malay people can be found virtually everywhere in the country though they are
less concentrated in East Malaysia. In urban centers they are pervasive in
all industries and businesses. The government in Malaysia is staffed predominantly
by Malays and the Malays have held great political power ever since the country's
independence. In the countryside the Malay population is even more omnipresent,
their villages or "kampungs" are scattered far and wide all across
the Peninsula.
The Malay Kampung is a reflection of the Malay people, easy-going, warm and
accommodating. The kampong is usually a homely and serene setting where everybody
knows everybody and all members pitch in and contribute to their community.
Traditionally farmers and fishermen, the Malay culture has always been intrinsically
linked by a love of the land and a strongly devout belief in Islam. Thusly
social norms or the "adat" of the Malay peoples emphasize good manners,
family ties, tolerance and goodwill. The development of the nation has taken
into consideration the somewhat deficient modern education level of the rural
Malays and for the past few decades great changes have been made to remedy
this with aid in the form of new schools, new infrastructure and subsidies
for the lower income population.
Malays, no matter how well educated and urbanized to suit the breakneck speed
of modern day life have always retained the traditions and beliefs of their
forefathers. During any holiday, especially any of religious significance we
still see a mass exodus called "Balik Kampung" or "Return to
the Kampung", when Malays working in the urban centers all return to their
hometowns to reunite with their families and friends there. This phenomenon
has now extended to all the races in Malaysia and during the main holidays,
the huge celebrations of Hari Raya Puasa, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas,
the cities, normally teeming with throngs of people turn into veritable ghost
towns.
Being Muslim, the Malays strictly do not eat pork and only eat Halal (Food
prepared in accordance to Islamic methods) food. They also observe daily prayers
and more importantly the Friday prayers. During the month of Ramadan all Muslim
observe a half day fast for the month leading to the celebrations of Hari Raya
Puasa on the month of Syawal. All Muslims are expected, if at all possible,
to conduct a pilgrimage called the "Hadj" to the holy city of Mecca
at least once in their lives.
Traditional garments for the Malay male compose the "Baju Melayu" and "Songket",
and on formal occasions "Batik" a colorful, silk garment with a brilliant
floral motif is usually worn. "Songkok" a hat, which somewhat resembles
a Turkish Tarbush is also sometimes worn. For the female the "Baju Kurung" and
the more formal "Baju Kebaya" are commonly worn, many Malay women
also wear a "Tudung" a religious headdress that covers the hair,
neck and shoulders but leaves the face visible. As with everybody else in Malaysia
western attire is just as commonly worn.
It should be noted that a dress code for Malaysia, though not a strict rule
should be adhered to in any public place, being an Islamic nation, a "decent" appearance
is highly desirable, provisions are made for the tropical weather but being
too scantily clad is generally frowned upon, especially if one is visiting
a mosque or any other place of worship. A tee shirt with jeans or Bermudas
is quite acceptable.
Traditionally Malay celebrations are community affairs where the people of
the village gather together with the womenfolk responsible for the cooking,
the men for the preparation of the venue and decorations, and the children
for having a good time. Celebrations that are not strictly religious; such
as the harvest festival, are still accompanied by prayers conducted by the
local religious leader. Typically, depending on which state one is in, the
celebration may consist of dances such as the "Joget" or the "Kuda
Kepang", "Mak Yong" opera, "Dikir Barat" performances, "Gasing" or
top spinning spectacles or the most famous, "Wau" or giant kite flying
competitions, accompanied without fail by large amounts of food and drink.
In the cities the celebrations are usually conducted by organizations, companies
or government bodies and held at select venues where the public at large is
invited for a huge party.
In a nutshell the Malay culture is a blend of traditional values, religious
adherences and a modern outlook that has served to instill the Malays with
integrity and piety while at the same time preparing them to face a new world
and new challenges.
The Chinese
One of the oldest civilizations in the world the Chinese were said to have
been the original inhabitants of Malaysia, some findings point that the
indigenous peoples or "orang asli" originated from south western China many
millennia ago. But it was continuous presence of the Chinese traders during
the Melaka Sultanate in the 14th and 15th centuries that the Chinese left
a lasting presence in the country.
In the late 15th century, the Ming Dynasty princess Hang Li-Po was sent to
the Melaka Sultan to be wed in order to forge an alliance between China and
Melaka, and thusly was the rich cultural legacy of the Baba-Nyonya born. Chinese
continued to ply the trade route for hundreds of years after the fall of Melaka
but few stayed for any great length of time. However during the British rule
of Malaysia, large numbers of Chinese labourers were brought in to do the difficult
and back-breaking work of mining, construction and transportation.
It was during these times that a large community of Chinese came and called
Malaysia home. Over the years the Chinese have made a very comfortable home
for themselves in the country, adapting to the harmonious way of life with
the other races while maintaining a very strong bond with their parent culture.
Being traditionally merchants the Chinese are often regarded as the "towkays" or
bosses and business owners, they comprise the majority of the moneyed in Malaysia.
The Chinese culture is strongly based on family ties, the community and entrepreneurship.
As such they are in some ways more driven than the other races to provide a
better life for themselves and their family. However as with everyone else
they have fostered a symbiotic relationship that serves to help their fellow
Malaysians to advance, a "prosper thy neighbor" approach. The main
Chinese festival of Chinese New Year is always celebrated with much gaiety
and goodwill throughout Malaysia, to attend the all important reunion dinner
on new years eve, the Chinese (and just about everybody else) vacate the capital
city en-masse and return to their hometowns. Once there everybody sits down
to a feast and much reconciling. "Open Houses" or "Rumah Terbuka" is
another Malaysian custom whereby all are welcome to visit and make merry regardless
of race or creed.
Chinese communities tend to congregate in the towns and cities, and are far
more common than the Malays or Indians in East Malaysia where they have thrived
for many years in the lumber industry. The Chinese communities are somewhat
less convivial when compared to the Malays, this may be due to the fact that
the urban landscape tends to be less neighborhood oriented. Social norms such
as the respect for elders and exchanging of pleasantries are very common and
serves to strengthen ties. During special occasions such as weddings, the "Moon
Yuet" ceremonies for newborn infants and of course the New Year open invitations
are commonly extended to the neighbours.
The lion and dragon dances associated worldwide with the Chinese are a common
sight during any celebration; other sights include Dragon Boat races, lantern
parades during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the unique "Chingay" flag
parade.
Other Chinese celebrations include the Mid-Autumn Festival better known as
the "Moon Cake Festival", a celebration in honor of a mythical moon
princess dating back for hundreds of years, the "Chap Goh Mei" which
is basically a celebration on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year to mark
the end of the festivities and being mostly Buddhists and Taoists the Chinese
also observe various other religious celebrations in honor of the vast number
of Buddhist deities and auspicious dates. A large number of Chinese have also
converted to Christianity and a smaller number to Islam and Hinduism.
The average Chinese is typically never dressed in the traditional and elegant
silk "Cheongsam" unless it's a very special occasion, mainly due
to the pervasive influence of western culture and the aforementioned drive
to obtain a better life. The average Malaysian Chinese professional will be
identically dressed as his American or European expatriate colleague. Leisure
wear is similarly orientated towards current western fashions. One item of
note is that the older and more conservative generation will frown on the color
black when one comes to visit them, especially if its head to toe black, as
black along with white is associated with death and funerals. Wearing these
colors to any celebration and Chinese New Year in particular is a MAJOR faux-pas.
In summary an urban lifestyle, high ambitions and a great dose of practicality
have molded the Chinese into a driven and dynamic force in Malaysia's economy.
Chinese culture and values have remained and often tempers the relentless pursuit
of betterment with a deep concern for the community and a desire for the advancement
of the country.
The Indians
India like China is a truly ancient civilization and Indians have played
a pivotal role in Malaysia, another similarity is that they were also a merchant
nation with caravans and trading ships that went far and wide across the
world. Indians have been documented as having been in Malaysia for some
2000 years as traders and travelers. The Hindu religion has been documented
in Malaysia as far back as the 4th and 5th century AD. By the time of the Melaka
Sultanate in the 15th century, the Indians were already a political power
with the Hindu faith and Indian traders an accepted part of everyday life.
During the English colonial period Indian laborers were brought in to work
in rubber and other plantations. Indian, Sikh and Gurkha soldiers were also
brought in to maintain peace and to quell rebellions. Over the years the Indians
would carve a niche for themselves in Malaysia and would become an integral
part of the nation. The Indian community constitutes fewer than 10 percent
of the Malaysian population and is concentrated around the urban areas and
rural and suburban rubber estates.
The Malaysian Indians are the smallest of the three main ethnic groups and
are oftentimes regarded as a minority race, however their contributions to
the culture is no less important or substantial than the other races. Although
there is a general perception that most Indians in Malaysia today are either
small business owners, professionals or labourers, the truth is Indians are
found and excel in virtually every vocation and business in the country.
On a less positive note, there appears to be a divide in the Indian community
with the an affluent, well educated, middle and upper middle class on one side
and the less educated, lower income, blue collar workers on the other. This
schism; although still a nagging problem in the country and more specifically
in the Indian community; is slowly being addressed by the government and community
leaders. Most middle class Indians are usually well educated professionals.
Indians in Malaysia are something of a middle ground socially between the
Chinese and Malays, Indians are often as industrious and entrepreneurial as
the Chinese and yet still retain much of their values and traditions and closeness
and community awareness. To the Indians filial piety is of paramount importance
and ties to the family and their community are extremely strong. Indians are
also a deeply religious people, many are devout Hindus and others are Christians
and Muslims.
The Indian Hindu community celebrates two main and a great many smaller religious
events each year. The two main ones are called "Deepavali" and "Thaipusam",
these celebrations are on a somewhat smaller scale than Hari Raya and Chinese
New Year because of the smaller Indian community, but are still celebrated
in the same spirit of togetherness and unity among all the races in Malaysia.
Deepavali the "celebration of light", the literal translation "Deepam" and "Avali",
actually means row or column of light. While there are several interpretations
about the origins of Deepavali, the most popular one is that of a celebration
commemorating the victory of the Hindu god Krishna over Narakasuran a demon
who was terrorizing the people. Deepavali is therefore a celebration of light
over darkness, good over evil.
Typically, as with everyone else in Malaysia, western culture has influenced
Indian lifestyle. Many urban dwelling Indians have adapted their way of life
to better reflect their surroundings and peers. As an example, fewer and fewer
Indian women wear the "Saree", a simple, elegant and quite practical
traditional dress, especially in view of Malaysia's generally hot and humid
tropical climate. Among the three races, the use of the English language is
perhaps the most widespread and ingrained amongst the Indian community. In
general, Indians are also regarded as the most open in terms of cultural acceptance
and adaptability among the races in Malaysia. These characteristics have aided
immensely in their efforts to better themselves and the country.
In summary the Indians in Malaysia though smaller in number compared to the
Malays and Chinese have nevertheless made enormous contributions to the resilient
and prosperous socio-political and economic structure that is Malaysia. Economic
disparities within the urban and rural Indian communities are slowly but surely
being addressed. The Indian community represents an integral and vital component
of Malaysian society and thusly they, along with all other Malaysians are justly
proud of their accomplishments and their contributions to Malaysia's success.
