CULTURE
Malaysia
is a multi-racial country with a rich cultural heritage. The base
of the national culture is Malay culture, which is native to this
region. Islamic values are embedded in Malay Culture.
The Malay culture emphasises values on courtesy, moderation, tolerance,
harmony and cordial relations among family members, neighbours
and community. As Malaysian respect each other's beliefs and faiths,
cultural and religious festivals such as Hari Raya, Chinese New
Year, Deepavali, Christmas, Gawai Day and other auspicious occasions
are given due importance.
One of the unique features of Malaysia is its multi-racial population
which practises various religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Taoism,
Hinduism and Christianity. Each ethnic group has its own beliefs.
Under the Federal Constitution, Islam is the official religion
of Malaysia but there is freedom of worship.
The Malay Language is the national language of the country. However,
the people are free to use their mother tongue and other languages.
English as the second language is widely used in business.
Malaysia reflects different cultural traditions, including those
of China, India, the Middle East, Europe, and the entire Malay
Archipelago. Early Malay empires absorbed Indian influences, such
as Hindu epics and the Sanskrit language. The kingdom of Malacca,
centered in the present-day state of Melaka, developed as an Islamic
state, or sultanate, in the 1400s. Later, new cultural influences
from Europe and China mixed with Hindu and Islamic traditions.
A collective but distinctively Malay cultural pattern has emerged
out of all these influences, with artistic expressions in literature,
music, dance, and art forms.
External
cultural influences have made the least impact in music, dancing,
literature, and the decorative arts. In East Malaysia the indigenous
cultural background includes no written history or literature.
Architecture is little developed, and the principal art forms
are dancing and handicrafts, represented notably by the textiles
handwoven by the Punan tribe, cloth made by the Bajau people,
patterned rattan mats and basketwork, and wood carvings. Particularly
on the peninsula, the artistic manifestations of Malay culture
are mainly in literature, music, dancing, and the decorative arts.
Painting and sculpture are poorly developed, primarily because
Islam does not encourage the representation of the human form.
Examples of Malay decorative arts include batik cloth (cloth hand-dyed
by using a special technique), silverware, the handmade kris (a
short sword or heavy dagger with a wavy blade), wood carving,
and basketwork. Malaysian Chinese culture is derived from Chinese
civilization and is represented by literature, drama, music, painting,
and architecture. Some Malaysian artists—of Malay, Chinese,
and Indian origin—also have begun to produce new, synthesized,
and distinctively Malaysian art forms, especially in painting
and architecture.
