Different Cultures in Malaysia

Malaysia is a multicultural society, with Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by
side. The Malays are the largest community. They are mostly Muslims, but there
are Christians and Hindus amongst them. The Malays speak Bahasa and are
largely responsible for the political fortunes of the country. The Chinese comprise
about a third of the population. They are Buddhists and Taoists, speak Hokkeen,
Hakka and Cantonese, and are dominant in the business community. The Indians
account for about 10% of the population. They are mainly Hindu Tamils from
southern India, they speak Tamil, Malayalam, and some Hindi, and live mainly in
the larger towns on the west coast of the peninsula. There is also a sizeable Sikh
community. Eurasians and indigenous tribes make up the remaining population.
Despite Bahasa Malaysia being the official language, when members of these
different communities talk to each other, they generally speak English, which was
recently reinstated as the language of instruction in higher education. The main
indigenous tribe is the Iban of Sarawak, who number 395,000. They are largely
longhouse dwellers and live along the Rejang and Baram rivers. The Bidayuh
(107,000) are concentrated on Sarawak's Skrang River. The Orang Asli (80,000)
live in small scattered groups in Peninsular Malaysia.
Malays are the largest ethnic group in Malaysia. They are mainly muslims and
speaks Malay language. They are known for their gentle mannerism and rich arts
heritage. Traditional Malay architecture employs sophisticated architectural
processes ideally suited to tropical conditions such as structures built on stilts,
which allow cross-ventilating breeze beneath the dwelling to cool the house
whilst mitigating the effects of the occasional flood. High-pitched roofs and large
windows not only allow cross-ventilation but are also carved with intricate
organic designs. Today, many Malay or Islamic buildings incorporate Moorish
design elements as can be seen in the Islamic Arts Museum and a number of
buildings in Putrajaya. Malay women wear baju karung, which is an elegant
modest styled clothing. These traditional outfits are completed with a selendang
or shawl or tudung or headscarf. The traditional attire for Malay men is the baju

melayu. The baju melayu is a loose tunic worn over trousers. It is usually
complemented with a sampin - a short sarong wrapped around the hips.
Chinese are the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia. Chinese are known for
their diligence and keen business sense. Chinese, in Malaysia, can be divided into
three sub divided groups who speaks different dialects of Chinese language,
Hokkien who live predominantly on the northern island of Penang; the Cantonese
who live predominantly in the capital city Kuala Lumpur; and the Mandarinspeaking group who live predominantly in the southern state of Johor. In
Malaysia, Chinese architecture is of two broad types: traditional and BabaNyonya. Examples of traditional architecture include Chinese temples found
throughout the country. Many old houses especially those in Melaka and Penang
are of Baba-Nyonya heritage, built with indoor courtyards and beautiful, colourful
tiles. A rare architectural combination of Chinese and Western elements is
displayed by Melaka's Terengkera mosque. Chinese ladies wear traditional
cheongsam which is a comfortable and elegant clothing. Usually, it has a high
collar, buttons or frog closures near the shoulder, a snug fit at the waist and slits
on either one or both sides. It is often made of shimmering silk, embroidered
satin or other sensual fabrics.
Malaysian Indians are the smallest of the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia.
They are mainly Hindus and speaks Tamil and Hindi. South Indians , who came to
Malaysia during British colonial rule brought their colourful culture such as ornate
temples, spicy cuisine and exquisite sarees. Local Hindu temples exhibit the
colourful architecture of Southern India. Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala
Lumpur is one of the most ornate and elaborate 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.
Sikhs also have temples of more staid design in many parts of country. Most of
the Indian women wear their traditional dress, Saree. Made from a myriad of
materials, textures and designs, the saree is truly exquisite. Popular with northern
Indian ladies is the salwar kameez or Punjabi suit; a long tunic worn over trousers
with a matching shawl. The kurta is the traditional attire for men on formal

occasions. It is a long knee-length shirt that is typically made from cotton or linen
cloth.
The largest indigenous ethnic groups of Sabah's population are the Kadazan
Dusun, the Bajau and the Murut. Kadazan Dusun is the largest ethnic group in
Sabah followed by Bajau and Murut. In Sarawak, Iban is the largest ethnic group
followed by Bidayuh and Orang Ulu. Two unique architectural highlights of the
indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak are longhouses and water villages.
Homes to interior riverine tribes, longhouses are traditional community homes.
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. Sarawak, has a
plethora of unique tribal costumes. Using a variety of designs and native motifs,
common materials for the Orang Ulu or upriver tribes are hand-loomed cloths,
tree bark fabrics, feathers and beads. Sarawak is known for the woven pua kumbu
of the Iban tribe, songket of the Sarawak Malay, colourful beaded accessories,
traditional jewellery and head adornments. Like Sarawak, Sabah is also blessed
with a rich mix of ethnic groups. Each group adorns attire, headgears and
personal ornaments with distinctive forms, motifs and colour schemes
characteristic of their respective tribe and district. Notable hats and headdresses
include the Kadazan Dusun ladies' straw hats, the Bajau woven dastar and the
headdress of the Lotud man, which indicate the number of wives he has by the
number of fold points.
Malaysia's multi-cultural and multi-racial heritage is most prominently exhibited
in its diverse music and dance forms. The dances of the indigenous Malay, Orang
Asli and different ethnic peoples of Sabah and Sarawak are truly exotic and
enchanting. As the Chinese, Indians and Portuguese settled in Malaysia, the
traditional dances of their homelands became a part of Malaysia's culture and
heritage. Malaysia boasts a delightful variety of traditional handicrafts. As most
artisans are Muslims, Malaysian handicraft designs are heavily influenced by
Islam. The religion prohibits the depiction of the human form in art. Hence, most
designs are based on natural elements such as the interlacing of leaves or vines,
flowers and animals. Malaysians' strong sense of community is reflected in many

of their traditional games and pastimes. These activities are still played by local
children on cool afternoons and are also a communal activity during festivities
such as before or after the rice harvest season and weddings.