Malaysia's Culture

WHAT IS MALAYSIA ? 

• Destination Malaysia a virtual guide to the country in Southeast Asia that was known as “Malaya”.

• Malaysia consists of two geographical region divided , the South China Sea or West Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo or the other name of that was East Malaysia. South China Sea located in between Thailand on the north and Singapore in south but Malaysian Borneo was located on the northem part of the island of Borneo near by Indonesia and surrounding the Sultanate of Brunei

• Sept 16 , 1963. The Malaysian flag was adopted. The flag was designed by Mohamed Hamzah, an old Public Works Department architect in Johor Bharu who entered a design competition with two design.

PEOPLE / RELIGION

• The population of Malaysia consists of three main ethnic groups—Malays, Chinese, and peoples of the South Asian subcontinent. Collectively, indigenous groups are known as Bumiputras ("sons of the soil"). Malays predominate in the rural areas, while the Chinese are concentrated in urban and mining areas, where they control much of the nation's wealth, enmity between Malays and Chinese has occasionally erupted into violence. The non-Malay indigenous groups on the peninsula, collectively called the Orang Asli (aborigines) they represent the poorest group of people in the country.

• Non-Malay indigenous tribes constitute about half of Sarawak's residents; the largest indigenous group consists of the Sea Dayaks, or Ibans, followed by the Land Dayaks, or Bidayuh. the majority of Sabah's population consists of indigenous peoples, principally Kadazans, Bajaus and Muruts. The balance is dominated by Chinese.

• Religion in Malaysia. Malaysia is a multicultural and multiconfessional country. As of the 2010 Population and Housing Census, 61.3 percent of the population practices Islam,19.8 percent Buddhism; 9.2 percent Christianity, 6.3 percent Hinduism, and 1.3 percent traditional Chinese religions.

FESTIVAL AND CELEBRATION 

Malaysian culture is multi-faceted, each of these facets is adorned with a festival of its own. Festivals in Malaysia are celebrated with much splendour and enthusiasm.

• Hari Raya / Eid

Hari Raya is one of the most prominent festivals celebrated in Malaysia, as the majority of the population residing in Malaysia follows Islam. Hari Raya is celebrated during the 9th month of the lunar calendar for a period of one month. Muslims observe daily fasts from dawn to dusk and refrain from consuming food and wrong-doing. Hari Raya is celebrated on the last day of Ramadan, it marks the end of the fasting period for Muslims.

• Deepavali

Deepavali is a festival celebrated by Indians living in Malaysia. This is the festival of lights, it signifies the victory of light and hope over darkness. Houses and streets of Malaysia are adorned with colourful lights and oil lamps. The day starts off by taking a bath with oil and praying. Later during the day processions, street-fairs, fireworks and get-togethers take place. The aromas of a variety of  dishes lingering across the streets is one of the things that truly symbolises the festivities of Deepavali in the areas where Indians live in a large number

• Chinese New Year

This is the time when Malaysia turns red. All the Chinese living in Malaysia decorate their houses and streets with traditional red decorations, they do so in order to ward off evil spirits. As a part of the 15 day long celebration lion and dragon dances accompanied by fireworks are performed across Malaysia. Family get togethers, cooking of numerous dishes on the same day, and decorating houses are a few things that happen during the Chinese New Year.