| Malaysia History: | | | | afterwards as the country had a strong growth in |
| Wikipedia, the encyclopedia says: "the history of | | | | exports, particularly that of electronics and electrical |
| Malaysia is a relatively recent offshoot of the history | | | | products to the Unites States. Today, the country |
| of the wider Malay-Indonesian world". It is so because | | | | enjoys faster economic recovery compared to the |
| anthropologists and historians could see very little | | | | neighbouring South-East Asian countries, though it is |
| aspects culturally and linguistically, to distinguish today's | | | | true that the level of affluence that was before 1997 |
| Malaysian territories from the lands of the Malay | | | | financial crisis has yet to be achieved. |
| Archipelago. According to their research, today's | | | | Malaysia Culture/Religion: |
| division of the Malay world into six different states-- | | | | A multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society, |
| Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and | | | | housing 65% Malays, 25% Chinese and 7% Indians, |
| East Timor - is largely the result of external influences, | | | | Malaysia is also home to the largest indigenous tribe in |
| like the Hindu India, the Islamic Middle East and Christian | | | | terms of numbers, the Iban of Sarawak (over |
| Europe (west), China and Japan (north-east). Besides, | | | | 600,000). As an interesting matter-of-fact, the largest |
| the most direct shipping route passing through the | | | | community in Malaysia, the malays, are all Muslims |
| Strait of Malacca, Malaysia has naturally been a | | | | since one has to be Muslim to be legally Malay under |
| melting pot of trade routes and cultures. Thus, it has | | | | Malaysian law. However, there are also Christians and |
| been found out that the geographical position of | | | | Hindus amongst them. Playing a dominant political role, |
| Malaysia has literally made it difficult for the Malay | | | | the Muslims amongst the Malays are included in a |
| people to resist foreign influence and domination. | | | | group identified as "bumiputera", speaking the native |
| If one analyses the history of Malaysia, he can see | | | | language "Bahasa Melayu". However, despite "Bahasa |
| these successive phases before the final assertion of | | | | Melayu" being the official language, when members of |
| Malay independence.o The domination of Hindu culture | | | | these different communities talk to each other, they |
| imported from India reached its peak in the great | | | | generally speak English, recently reinstated as the |
| Srivijaya civilisation in Sumatra (from the 7th to the 14th | | | | language of instruction in higher education. |
| centuries).o The arrival of "Islam" in the 10th century, | | | | The Iban of Sarawak, interestingly, still live in traditional |
| leading to the conversion of the Malay-Indonesian | | | | jungle villages in longhouses along the Rajang and |
| world, having a profound influence on the Malay | | | | Lupar rivers and their tributaries in Malaysia. Along with |
| people. The Srivijayan empire broke up into smaller | | | | them, Malaysia also houses quite a large number of |
| sultanates, the most prominent one being Melaka | | | | Orang Asli or aboriginal people, who comprise a |
| (Malacca).o The intrusion of the European colonial | | | | number of different ethnic communities living in |
| powers and European domination: (i) Portuguese, (ii) | | | | Peninsular Malaysia. Traditionally nomadic |
| Dutch and (iii) British, who established bases at Penang | | | | hunter-gatherers and agriculturists, many have been |
| and Singapore. This triggered off the most | | | | sedentarised and partially absorbed into modern |
| revolutionary event in Malay history - the Anglo-Dutch | | | | Malaysia, though still remaining the poorest group in the |
| treaty of 1824, which drew a frontier between British | | | | country. |
| Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies (now | | | | Apart from the original nomadic tribes, there are the |
| Indonesia). Thus, the division of the Malay world was | | | | Chinese comprising of about a quarter of the |
| established permanently.o The British had obvious | | | | population and also Indians who account for about 7% |
| economic intentions in establishing their empire in the | | | | of the population. While the Chinese are mostly |
| Malay world. In colonizing the Malay world, they had | | | | Buddhists, Taoists or Christian, and speak a variety of |
| forseen financial profit, banking on the obvious | | | | Chinese dialects, the Indians are mainly south-indian |
| attractions of Malaya, the tin and gold mines. However, | | | | Hindus, speaking Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam and Hindi. |
| soon after, the British planters started exploring the | | | | However, english as a first language is used by |
| tropical plantation crops including pepper and coffee. | | | | umpteen middle to upper-middle class Chinese as well |
| On the other hand, there was a mass immigration of | | | | as Indians in Malaysia. |
| Chinese and Indian workers to meet the needs of the | | | | The remaining population of Malaysia comprises of a |
| colonial economy. To meet the needs of a large and | | | | sizeable Sikh community, of Eurasians (of mixed |
| disciplined work-force, plantation workers, mainly | | | | Portuguese and Malay descent as well as mixed |
| Tamil-speakers from South India as well as immigrant | | | | Malay and Spanish descent), Cambodians, and |
| workers from southern China were imported to the | | | | Vietnamese. In most cases, the Cambodians and |
| land. Thus, the Malay society suffered the loss of | | | | Vietnamese are Buddhists of the Theravada sect and |
| political sovereignty to the British and of economic | | | | Mahayana sect. |
| sovereignty to the Chinese. | | | | The Chinese forming a sizeable part of the population, |
| However, after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese | | | | Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by |
| War in the 1930's, Chinese emigration to Malaya | | | | Chinese forms. Saying that, the Islamic forms also |
| stopped significantly, thereby stabilising the | | | | influence the music to a great extent. The music, |
| demographic situation. In 1957, Malay became an | | | | based largely around the gendang (drum), also includes |
| independent nation, with 55% Malay population, and | | | | a number of interesting percussion instruments, and |
| with rich export industries, consisting of rubber, tin, palm | | | | even flutes and trumpets. Infested with a strong |
| oil, and iron ore. | | | | tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, |
| 1963 was a significant year for the Malay world, when | | | | Indian and Portuguese origin, the malaysian culture also |
| Malaya became Malaysia with the acquisition of the | | | | incorporates artistic forms like wayang kulit (shadow |
| British territories in North Borneo and Singapore. It was | | | | puppet theatre), silat (a stylised martial art) and crafts |
| followed by various political onslaughts like | | | | like batik, weaving, silver and brasswork. |
| confrontation with Indonesia, the race riots of 1969, the | | | | In terms of religion, Malaysians usually tend to |
| establishment of emergency rule and a curtailment of | | | | personally respect one another's religious beliefs. |
| political life and civil liberties forever. However, after the | | | | However, inter-religious problems arise mainly from the |
| New Economic Policy introduced by the government in | | | | political sphere. Often non-muslims are said to |
| 1971, the Malaysian economy improved significantly, | | | | experience restrictions in activities like construction of |
| with the elimination of rural poverty, and with the | | | | religious buildings. All Muslims here are obliged to follow |
| identification between race and economic function. The | | | | the decisions of sharia courts, although when it comes |
| political culture of Malaysia, on the other hand, remains | | | | to leaving/renouncing the Islam faith, the court of |
| increasingly authoritarian till recent times, with a notable | | | | malaysia is said to have denied one the right (such as |
| decline of democracy. The question of when and how | | | | the Yeshua Jalilludin versus the Minister of Home |
| Malaysia will acquire a multi-party democracy, a free | | | | Affairs case in the 1980's). |
| press, an independent judiciary and the restoration of | | | | Malaysia Travel/Tourism: |
| civil and political liberties remain unanswered, despite its | | | | A glorious haven comprising of island life, adventures, |
| economic maturity which has been quite a | | | | city excitement and oriental culture & heritage, |
| phenomenon in the Malaysian history. | | | | Malaysia has been attracting tourists from all nook and |
| Malaysia Economy: | | | | corner of the world as an ideal travel destination for |
| With a small and a relatively open economy, Malaysia | | | | over a decade now. With energetic, entertaining dance |
| is a country on the move. Earlier what had been a | | | | forms, with a mythical culture that represents fertility, |
| country dependent on agriculture and primary | | | | vigilance and dignity, with elaborate traditional festivals |
| commodities has today grown to be an export-driven | | | | like the bamboo dance and the warrior dance, and |
| nation, thriving on high technology, knowledge-based | | | | with a strong sense of community, Malaysia is truly a |
| and capital-intensive industries. | | | | land of many cultures, wonders and attractions in the |
| This drastic structural transformation of Malaysia's | | | | heart of Asia. |
| economy which has been quite spectacular in these | | | | A land of fascinating extremes, where towering |
| forty years, has been the result of pragmatism and a | | | | skyscrapers look down upon primitive longhouses, it |
| number of decisive steps taken by the Malaysian | | | | truly accounts for a memorable eco-holiday. Above all, |
| government. Largely depending on its wealth of mineral | | | | with some of the best beaches and diving spots in the |
| resources, fertile soils, agriculture and manufacturing, | | | | world, it is ideal for island getaways. It is no wonder |
| the Malaysian economy achieved average annual | | | | then, that with promoting Malaysia as a destination of |
| growth rates of about 7% during the last decade. And | | | | excellence, the travel/tourism development department |
| it has been possible because the government did not | | | | of Malaysia has been able to increase the number of |
| rest on its laurels, but took important steps instrumental | | | | foreign tourists and also extend their average length of |
| to the country's economic progress, like eradicating | | | | stay, thereby increasing Malaysia's tourism revenue |
| poverty with a controversial race-conscious program | | | | considerably over the years. |
| called New Economic Policy (NEP). First established in | | | | Island Life highlights in Malaysia consist mainly of the |
| 1971, it was designed in particular to enhance the | | | | Langwaki Island, Kedah, and the Pangkor Laut, Perak. |
| economic standing of ethnic Malays and other | | | | While the local legends, beautiful beaches and natural |
| indigenous people, collectively known as "bumiputras". | | | | marvels make the Langwaki Island especially |
| The results of such a revolutionary economic policy | | | | enchanting and unforgettable as a fascinating Island |
| introduced by the government clearly shown, as the | | | | getaway, the Pangkor Laut, Perak, is basically a |
| GDP doubled to reach an estimated RM219.4 billion | | | | private island whose market value has increased |
| (US$57.7 billion) in 2002. On the other hand, the country | | | | dramatically after it was voted as the 'Best Island in |
| has shown tremendous potentials in its exports and | | | | the World' by the UK-based Conde Naste Traveller |
| imports which have almost quadrupled to reach | | | | Magazine. Aficionados of adventure would just love to |
| RM349.6 billion (US$92.0 billion) and RM298.5 billion | | | | explore Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia's first World |
| (US$78.6 billion) respectively. These highly contributed in | | | | Heritage Site and one of Southeast Asia's highest |
| placing Malaysia among the world's top 20 trading | | | | mountains (4,093 metres). Towering amidst a veil of |
| nations, for which today the country even boasts of | | | | clouds, while the largest cave chamber in the world at |
| being an important trading partner for the United | | | | Mulu Caves beckons the tourists with its inexplicable |
| States. With a manufacturing sector that now | | | | mystery, on the other hand, lush tropical jungles |
| accounts for 30.4% of Malaysia's GDP, Malaysia | | | | teeming with wildlife for millions of years, like the |
| today is considered one of the world's leading | | | | Taman Negara, Pahang, would be tempting one to |
| exporters of semiconductor devices, computer hard | | | | experience the exhilaration of endless escapades. |
| disk drives, audio and video products, and room | | | | Those looking for city attractions in Malaysia like |
| air-conditioners. | | | | glamour, shopping, fine dining and more will definitely be |
| Rapid industrialization became a boon for the country, | | | | able to satisfy their fine tastes and sensibilities. With |
| after the government opened itself to foreign direct | | | | the ultra-modern Petronas Twin Towers (in the Kuala |
| investments (FDI) in the 1960s. Currently, with its | | | | Lumpur City Centre), the classic Moorish-style old |
| market-oriented economy, combined with an educated | | | | Railway station, the luxurious and extravagant |
| workforce and a well-developed infrastructure, | | | | shopping malls and restaurants with succulent Chinese |
| Malaysia has been regarded as one of the largest | | | | and oriental food fests, one cannot fail to revel in the |
| recipients of FDI among developing countries. Though | | | | umpteen alluring attractions of Malaysia. |
| the Asian Financial crisis in 1997 saw Foreign direct | | | | With all these and much more in store, its no wonder |
| investment in Malaysia falling at an alarming rate and | | | | that global tourists continue to return to Malaysia time |
| Ringgit depreciating substantially from MYR 2.50 per | | | | and again to explore its mixture of cultures and |
| USD to much levels lower (up to MYR 4.80 per USD | | | | environments for a fantastic, inspiring holiday. |
| at its bottom), the economy rejuvinated shortly | | | | |