4. Facts About Malaysia
Full Name: Malaysia
Independence: 31 August 1957
Population: 26,121,000
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Major Religion: Islam
Area: 329,847 square km (127,355 sq miles)
Major Language: Malay
Currency: Ringgit
Life Expectancy: 73
GDP per Capita: U.S. $9.699 (IMF, 2012)
Literacy Rate: 89%
5. INTRODUCTION
Malaysia has a rich history dating back to the 13th century. It was a busy
seaport for European and Far East traders for many hundreds of years.
6. HISTORY OF MALAYSIA (Malacca 1400 - 1511)
• Malacca was founded in the 13th
century by a Sumatran prince.
It became the most influential
port city in Southeast Asia.
• The early Arab traders brought
Islam to Malacca.
The local chiefs became the
“sultans” whose main purpose
was to facilitate trade.
7. HISTORY OF MALAYSIA (1511 - 1957)
In 1511, Portuguese sailed into
Malacca.
• ln 1641, the Dutch captured the
city.
• In 1819, the British replaced the
Dutch.
• The Britishers lasted 138 years
until independence in 1957.
8. HISTORY OF MALAYSIA AT INDEPENDENCE
• The name "Malaysia" was adopted in
1963.
• The British granted independence
to Malaya in 1957 in Kuala Lumpur's
Merdeka Square.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman became the
first prime minister of Malaya. It has
a secular and democratic
government.
9. PRESENT DAY
• Malaysia has undergone
tremendous growth and
prosperity since 1957.
• Today, Malaysia has one of
the best airports, highways
and telecommunication
systems in Asia.
10. PRESENT DAY
•The literacy rate is above
90%.
•With a highly educated
workforce and modern
infrastructure, it attracts large
foreign investments.
11. MALAYSIA RELIGIOSITY
• Malaysia has a population of just over 27 million. As of the last Population
and Housing Census
• 60.4 percent of the population practices Islam
• 19.2 percent Buddhism
• 9.1 percent Christianity;
• 6.3 percent Hinduism
• 2.6 percent traditional Chinese religions.
13. ISLAMIC RELIGION
• Islam is the predominant religion of the country and is recognised as the
state's official religion.
• It is practised by about 60 per cent of Malaysians.
• Islam is thought to have been brought to Malaysia around the 13th century
by Arab and Indian traders.
• In the early 15th century the Malacca sultanate , commonly considered
the first independent state in the peninsula, was founded.
14. ISLAMIC RELIGION
• Islam came to Malaysia with the Arab and Indian traders from South India
and was not of the more orthodox Islamic tradition of Arabia. Islam was
adopted peacefully by the coastal trading ports people of Malaysia and
Indonesia, absorbing rather than conquering existing beliefs.
• As in many Muslim countries, Islam in Malaysia has seen a significant
revival over the past 10 years or so. It is wise for visitors to be
appropriately discreet in dress and behaviour, particularly on the more
strictly Muslim east coast of the peninsula.
15. ISLAMIC RELIGION
• Malay ceremonies and beliefs still exhibit pre-Islamic traditions, but most
Malays are ardent Muslims and to suggest otherwise to a Malay would
cause great offence. With the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, the calls to
introduce Islamic law and purify the practices of Islam have increased, but
while the Government is keen to espouse Muslim ideals, it is wary of
religious extremism.
16. ISLAMIC RELIGION
• Malacca led to the spread of Islam throughout the Malay population.
• Although most people in Malaya were Muslim by the 15th century, the
tolerant form of Islam brought by the Sufi meant that many traditional
practices were incorporated into Islamic traditions.
• The official code of Islam in Malaysia is Sunni , and the practice of any
other form of Islam is heavily restricted.
17. LAW IN MALAYSIA
• The laws of Malaysia can be divided into two types of laws.
• This is known as the Islamic Law and English law.
• Islamic law refers to the sharia law, and in Malaysia it is known
and spelled as syariah. The court is known as the Syariah Court.
Looking at the Malaysian legal system such as in matters of
marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion, and
custody among others, sharia law plays a relatively small role in
defining the laws on the country. It only applies to Muslims.
18. LAW IN MALAYSIA
• English Law is known as common law in Malaysia.
• The law of Malaysia is mainly based on the common law legal system
that means that English law forms part of the laws of Malaysia. In Article
160 of the Federal Constitution states the definition of law which
includes ‘the common law in so far as it is in operation in the Federation
or any part thereof’ that concerns the extent to which the English law is
applicable in Malaysia. In the Section 3 of the Civil Law Act 1956 (Act 67)
(Revised 1972) gives the meaning of the English law which means ‘the
common law of England and the rules of equity’ and, in prescribed
circumstances, English statutes.
19. ARTS AND CULTURE
• Many traditional arts, culture and handicrafts are there, which are
performed during religious festivals.
• Communities get together to celebrate public events like the
Chingay in Penang and Merdeka Day.
20. ARTS AND CULTURE
• The harvest season is
celebrated with the giant
kites, top spinning and
traditional puppet shows.
21. ARTS AND CULTURE
• Joget – Traditional barndance
• Wayang Kulit – Puppet Show
• Giant Kite – The Wau
• Top Spinning – Gasing
• Rattan Football – Sepak Tekraw
• Martial Art – Silat
22. CONCLUSION
• 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.
