Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Ethnic Mix
There are distinct cultural differences between Malaysia's three main ethnic communities -
Malays, Chinese and Indians. There's also the Peranakan (Straits Chinese) and other
mixed-race communities to take into account, alongside older aboriginal nations - the
Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia - comprising scores of different tribal groups and
speaking well over 100 languages and dialects.
Kuala Lumpur continues, as it always has been, to be a city of immigrants: there are
communities of Indonesians and Thais (many of whom live in the Kampung Baru) as well
as Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalis and citizens of Myanmar (Burma), some of whom are
refugees. People from the Middle East have also settled here. The Western expat population
is relatively small in comparison.
Government economic policies since the early 1970s have favoured Malays, thus helping defuse this com-
munity's fears and resentment of Chinese economic dominance. The cost has been Chinese and Indian
Malaysians becoming second-class citizens in a country where they also have roots stretching back gener-
ations.
The Malays
All Malays, Muslims by birth, are supposed to follow Islam, but many also adhere to older
spiritual beliefs and
adat
. With its roots in the Hindu period,
adat
places great emphasis on
collective responsibility and maintaining harmony within the community - almost certainly
a factor in the general goodwill between the different ethnic groups in Malaysia.
The enduring appeal of the communal
kampung
(village) spirit shouldn't be underestim-
ated - many an urban Malay hankers after it, despite the affluent Western-style living con-
ditions they enjoy at home. In principle, villagers are of equal status, though a headman is
appointed on the basis of his wealth, greater experience or spiritual knowledge. Tradition-
ally the founder of the village was appointed village leader
(penghulu
or
ketua kampung)
and often members of the same family would also become leaders. A
penghulu
is usually a
haji, one who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Muslim religious leader, the imam, holds a position of great importance in the com-
munity as the keeper of Islamic knowledge and the leader of prayer, but even educated urb-
an Malaysians periodically turn to
pawang
(shamans who possess a supernatural know-
ledge of harvests and nature) or
bomoh
(spiritual healers with knowledge of curative plants
