Malaysia Culture

Along with their precious trades, they also brought with them their religious beliefs. Ten centuries later, bargainers from Arabia made it to Malacca and imparted Islam principles and practices to them. When the Portuguese finally made it to the country the whole empire that welcomed them was far more universally joint than their own.

The early immigrants brought wealth to Malaysia as well as their own unique cultural heritages and religions and this diversity in culture has remained in place through the centuries up until today. The most significant of these is the ancient Malayan culture and the civilization brought about by their two most outstanding merchandising partners throughout the time, the Chinese and the Indians.

These groups are linked together by a range of indigenous tribes and many of these tribes are scattered in the forests and coastal regions of Borneo. Despite the fact that each of these cultures have smartly preserved its customs and their way of living, they have also blended together to create a cultural mosaic that would have a lasting charm in Malaysia.

The history of Chinese immigrants reveals an example of the complexity with which the nation's immigrant populations have led to Malaysia culture as a whole. The first Chinese settlers, mainly in and around Malacca, bit by bit assumed elements of Malaysian culture and intermarried with the Malaysian community. Known as babas and nonyas, they finally gave rise to a synthetic set of practices, beliefs and arts, mixing Malay and Chinese customs in a way as to create a new Malaysia culture.

Afterwards, Chinese who came to exploit tin and rubber have upheld their culture much more meticulously. For example, Penang can often give the feeling of being in China rather than in Malaysia.

Another example of an extraordinary cultural exchange in the country is the Malay wedding ceremony which integrate elements of the Hindu practices of Southern India; the bride and the groom dress in gorgeous fabrics, sit in state and feed each other yellow rice with hands beautifully painted with henna. The Muslims have also adopted the Chinese tradition of giving little red packets of money (ang pau) at festivals to their own need; the packets given on Muslim holidays are green and have Arab characters on them.

Malaysia culture, being so diverse overwhelms most of its travelers and perhaps the easiest way to begin to fully see the highly complex cultural interaction is to look at the open door policy exerted during its religious festivals. This practice is more than just a simple way to break down cultural barriers and nurture understanding, it is a positive festivity of a custom of tolerance that has for thousands of years formed the basis of Malaysia's progress.

Malaysia History »
Seventh and Eighth century Chinese and Sanskrit records first speak about the area now called Malaysia, beginning the first written record of Malaysia history....

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Both the coat of arms and the Malaysia flag promote unity of the federation and are symbols of the country's status and sovereignty...

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