5. EARLY HISTORY
Why do we need to know history?
To know our origin – identity of the people, nation
and country
For a guidance
To nurture the spirit of patriotism – love and loyal to
the country
7. EARLY HISTORY
Malaysia is a multiethnic country in which each
ethnic group practices its own language, culture
and religion.
During British colonization, with the migration of
Chinese and Indian labour into Malaysia, the state
was changed from a primarily Malay homogeneous
society to plural society.
The ‘divide and rule’ policy practised by the British
during its colonization had led Malaysia to be
ethnically and geographically divided
8. Consequently, after Malaysia achieved its
independence in 1957, uniting the various ethnics
groups and developing a national identity was one
of the state’s major tasks
Since the early stages of independence, the state
managed to reduce its poverty rate from 35 percent
in 1970 to 5 percent in 2000 and also to overcome
the 1997 economic crisis
EARLY HISTORY
9. Malaysia, previously called Malaya gained its
independence from the British in 1957.
In 1963, the Federation of Malaysia was born when
Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya.
However, in 1965 Singapore seceded from
Malaysia to form the Republic of Singapore.
Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and
since 1999 Putrajaya replaced Kuala Lumpur as the
seat of Malaysian Government.
EARLY HISTORY
10. In 1952, the Alliance Party; a political federation of
the United Malay National Organization (UMNO)
representing the Malay, the Malayan Chinese
Association (MCA); the Chinese; the Malayan
Indian Congress (MIC) and the Indians, agreed to :-
compromise on the sensitive issues of
citizenship, education and Malay special
privileges
EARLY HISTORY
11. COMMUNITY / SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
The demographics of Malaysia are represented by the
multiple ethnic groups that exist in this country.
Malaysia's population, as of July 2010, is estimated to be
28,334,000, which makes it the 41st most populated country
in the world.
Of these, 5.72 million Malaysians live in East Malaysia and
22.5 million live in Peninsular Malaysia.
12. Bumiputera (the son of the soil) which consists of
the Malay and the Orang Asli (the original people)
in Peninsular Malaysia and the other native groups
Sabah and Sarawak is the largest ethnic group in
Malaysia followed by Chinese and Indians.
COMMUNITY / SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
13. All Malay in Malaysia are Muslim and generally speak
the Malay language.
The Chinese are more internally divided as there are
Chinese who practice Buddhism, Cofusionism, Taoism,
and other traditional Chinese religions.
There are many dialects such as Hokkien, Cantonese,
Hakka, Teochew and Hainanese.
The Indians’ religions are Hindu and their dialects are
Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati and
Urdu.
COMMUNITY / SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
14. There are also Chinese, Indian and the indigenous
people of Sarawak and Sabah who embrace
Christianity.
During the British colonization (1824 – 1957) and
post colonization period, due to the ‘divide and rule’
policy practiced by the colonizer, the ethnic groups
were geographically divided based on their
occupational structure.
COMMUNITY / SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
15. The Chinese in the mining industry and commercial
sectors
The better educated Indian in the urban areas while
most Indians in the rubber plantations
Most Malay in agriculture and fishing in rural areas.
Being in the urban areas had also made it easier for the
Chinese and Indians to get access to an English
education and to higher levels of education.
COMMUNITY / SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
16. With such differences in religious, linguistic,
economic and cultural background, uniting
Malaysia’s diverse ethnic groups together in
common shared values that are accepted by all
ethnic groups has always been the government’s
major task.
COMMUNITY / SOCIETY IN MALAYSIA
17. ACTIVITY
Name four ethnic in Malaysia.
Describe them.
Include, their history , culture , attire ,
food ,
festivals , etc…
