4. Malaysia
* Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country in Southeast Asia and one of the
wealthiest and most developed countries.
* Type of government – Federal Constitutional Monarchy
* The “Yang di-Pertuan Agong” (He who is made lord) also known as the paramount
ruler or simply called the “Agong” of Malaysia is sultan Abdullah of Pahang.
* The Malaysian governemnt is ruled by their prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob since
2021. (Najib Tun Razak)
* In 1511, Malacca fell into the hands of the Portuguese and that began the colonial era in
Malaysia. After that, Malaya fell into the hands of the Dutch and British in 1824.
British colonization was the longest compared to others.
* They got their independence on September 16, 1963.
5. * 42nd most populated
country
* About two – thirds of
Malaysia is covered with
forest, with some forests
believed to be 130
million years old
* Raflessia genus, one of
the largest flowers can
be found in Malaysia
with 7 species.
Malaysia
6. Malaysia
* Malaysia contains speakers of 137 living languages
* The three major languages are Malay which is spoken by 61.3% of their total
population, Mandarin – 20.8%, and Tamil – 11.3%
Originating in Sumatra, the Malay language or Bahasa
Melayu, is the national language of the three countries:
Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. In Malaysia, it is known as
Bahasa Malaysia.
There are altogether 10 dialects of Malay; Bahasa Malaysia,
Kelantanese, Terengganuan, Kedahan, Sarawakian, Bajau,
Negeri Sembilan Malay, Banjar, Bruneian, and Indonesian.
Malay
7. Malaysia
Mandarin is generally spoken by
Chinese in Malaysia, but Hokkien
is the biggest Chinese dialect in the
country followed by Cantonese,
Hakka, Teochew, Fuzhou,
Hainanese, and Foochow.
Mandarin
Malaysian Chinese are descendants
of Chinese who migrated to
Malaysia between the fourteenth
and mid-twentieth century. The
Chinese are the second largest
ethnic group in Malaysia.
Tamil
Majority of Indians in Malaysia are
Tamils and thy speak Tamil.
Others are Telugu, Malayalam,
Hindi, Punjabi, and Gujatari.
Malaysian Indians are descendants of those who
migrated from India when the British are
colonizing Malaysia. The Indians first came to
Malaysia for trading purposes.
English
- English is widely spoken in Malaysia and is known as their second language.
9. Dominant Religions
Islam
- Islam is constitutionally the country’s official religion with 61.3 percent are Muslim.
- It is believed that Islam first arrived in Malaysia sometime between the 13th and 14th century
CE, via Arab and Indian-Muslim traders.
- Islam became widespread with the arrival and conversion of Parameswara, a Hindu prince who
established the sultanate of Melaka.
5 Pillars of Islam
1. Shahadah – declaring there is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is god’s messenger
2. Salat – ritual prayer five times a day
3. Zakat – giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy
4. Sawm – fasting and self-control during the holy month of ramadan
5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if one is able
10. Dominant Religions
Buddhism
- It is the second largest religion in Malaysia with 19.8 of the population being Buddhist.
- The majority of them are ethnic Chinese who follow the Mahayana tradition.
- The Mahayanists conduct their services in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, although some
urban-area temples have been preaching in English.
- Indian traders are widely believed to have brought Buddhism to Malaysia.
Christianism
- It is the third religion practiced by 11.8 percent of their population
- The major Christian denomination in Malaysia are Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists,
Brethren, Lutherans, Methodists, and others.
- It arrived in Malaysia in the 7th century by Arab, Persian, and Turkish traders.
11. Dominant Religions
Hinduism
- Indian traders brought Hinduism and Buddhism to Malaysia more than two millennia ago.
- Malaysia’s current Hindu population are mainly descendants of migrants from Tamil Nadu
region in India.
- Hinduism was the most influential religion before Islam.
12. Petronas Twin Towers
- Petronas Twin Towers is the tallest
twin tower in the world
- The twin tower is located in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
- It stands at 451.9 meters (1, 481 feet)
- It has a total of 88 floors and joined by
a flexible skybridge on the 42nd floor.
- It is built to house the headquarters of
Petronas, the national petroleum
company of Malaysia.
13. Kuan yin Temple
- The temple was built in the
honor of the Chinese Goddess
of mercy, Kuan Yin by the
early Chinese immigrants.
- The temple is still worshipped
by people and is a holy plae for
Chinese.
- Chinese New Year is the most
festive period to visit.
14. Sri Mahamariamman Temple
- This Hindu temple with
Dravidian architecture is
located in Kuala Lumpur and
is a major tourist attraction.
- It is a five-storied building
with 228 idols sculpted in it.
- These idols portray various
Hindu Gods which gives the
tower a colorful outlook.
- This temple worships Sri Maha
Mariamman, the incarnation
of goddess Parvati.
15. St. Paul’s Church
- The St. Paul’s Church is
located on the hilltop of St.
Paul’s hill.
- The church was built by the
Portuguese as a place of
worship, but when the Dutch
invaded Malacca, the church
was turned into a burial
ground.
16. Malacca Sultanate Palace
- The Malacca Sultanate Palace
lies towards the north of the
historical city of Malacca.
- the palace is an imitation of
the ancient Malay kingdom of
Sultan Mansur Shah that was
the most ornate royal palace
built in the 15th century.
- It is said that, it is constructed
entirely with carved, wooden
pillars without using any nails.
17. The A’Famosa Fortress
- A’Famosa, the former
Portuguese fortress is among
the oldest European
architechture in Southeast
Asia.
- A Famosa means “The
Famous” in Portuguese.
- Located in Malacca, the Porta
de Santiago gate is the only
surviving part of the fortress
today.
18. Snake Temple
- It was built in honor of Chor
Soo Kong, a Chinese man who
is adamant in attaining great
spiritual powers. He was a
healer and helped a great
number of people.
- after his death, many temples
were built for him and the
snake temple is one of them.
- Initially, it was called Azure
cloud but when suddenly pit
vipers started taking shelter in
this temple, its name was
changed.
20. Malay Literature
●●● Malaysian literature is typically written in any of the country’s four main languages (Malay, English,
Tamil, Chinese)
●●● begins with the coming of the Islam in the late 15th century; no literary works dating from the Hindu
period (4th to 15th centuries) survives
●●● Earliest Malaysian literature works were orally transmitted (folklore, myth, legend, poetry…)
●●● Early Malay literature was influenced by Indian epics (Mahabharata & Ramayana) which formed the
Malay literary heritage – Hikayat Mara Karma, Hikayat Panca Tanderan, and Hikayat Gul Bakawali.
●●● By the 19th century, oral literature on the Malay peninsula was suspended by written literature.
●●● One of the important works is Sejarah Malayu (The Malay Annals), which was written during the
Malacca Sultanate, rewritten in 1536, and revised in 1612.
21. AUTHORS
Munshi Abdullah
- Abdullah bin Abdul al Kadir - father of
modern Malay literature
- Language teacher and interpreter, proficient
in Arabic, Tamil, Hindustani, English, and
Malay
- He wrote the critically
acclaimed “Hikayat
Abdullah” (Story of
Abdullah)
- He was the first local
to give a written
account of everyday
life in Malaya,
published in 1849.
Usman Awang
- Poet, dramatist, novelist
- He received the Malaysian National Laureate
in 1983 for his contributions to Malay lit.
- His poetry reflects public sentiments during
his times.
- “Pak Utik” (Father
Utih) written in 1954,
shows the tension
between politicians and
public during the time.
- His poetry stands the
test of time and
remains relevant ‘till
now.
22. AUTHORS
A. Samad Said
- Novelist and poet named in 1976 as Pejuang
Sastera (Literary Exponent) and received the
SEA Write Award in 1979.
- A decade later, he received the Malaysian
National Laureate.
- One of the poems he is
most recognized is “The
Dead Crow”
- “Hidup Bersama”
(Living Together) about
living and working
together to achieve a
better Malaysia.
KS Maniam
- Subramaniam Krishnan
- He is a writer of poems, short stories, novels,
and plays
- He won the first prize for The Loved Flaw:
Stories from Malaysia in The New Straits
Times – McDonald short-story contest
(1987)
- The Return
(1981)
- In a Far
Country
(1993)
23. AUTHORS
Shahnon Akmad
- Novelist, satirist, short story writer
- He won Pejuang Sastera (Champion of
Literature), 1976; Anugerah Sastera Negara
(Writer Laureate Award), 1982
- His novels often dealt with controversial issues
His works:
- Anjing – anjing,
1964
- Debu merah,
1965
- Terdedah, 1965
- Rentong (Rope
of Ash), 1965
Tash Aw
- Born in Taiwan, raised in Malaysia, and
educated in England
- He’s the novelist behind the gripping, The
Harmony Silk factory, Map of the Invisible
World, Five Star Billionaire, and We, the
Survivors.
- He won prizes
such as;
Whitbread First
Novel Award;
Commonwealth
Writers’ Prize;
Man Booker
Prize
24. AUTHORS
Tan Twan Eng
- Malaysian novelist
- Known for his book, “The Garden of Evening
Mists,” which won the Man Asian Literary
Prize and Walter Scott Prize for Historical
Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Man
Booker prize, making him the first Malaysian
to be recognized by all three awards.
Lloyd Fernando
- Malaysian author and professor at the
University of Malaya in the English
department
- Green is the Colour – described as a sensitive
novel about racial and religious tolerance set
against the shadow
of the 1969 racial
riot in Kuala
Lumpur.
25. Literature
Poetry Forms
1. Gurindam – the first specimen of Malay poetry
- two-line rhyming pieces with no word limit, known for providing advice or guidance
- First line – “syarat” (condition); second line – “jawab” (answer)
Kurang fikir, kurang siasat,
Tentu dirimu, kelak tersesat.
Fikir dahulu, sebelum berkata,
Supaya terelak silang – sengketa.
Lack of thought, lack of investigation,
Of course, you will get lost.
Think before you say,
To avoid cross – dispute.
26. Literature
Poetry Forms
2. Pantun – the most basic Malay poetic form, the best known, and most popular
- Rhyme scheme “a-b-a-b”
- First half – “pembayang” (shadow), serves as a preamble to the second half; second half –
“maksud” (meaning), conveys the intention of the pantun reciter.
Pisang emas dibawa belayar,
Masak sebiji diatas peti,
Hutang emas boleh dibayar,
Hutang budi dibawa mati.
Golden bananas are carried by sail,
Cook one on the chest,
Gold debt can be paid,
Moral debt is brought to death.
27. Literature
Poetry Forms
3. Syair – the most common Malay poetic form, a piece of four lines
- Tells a story, gives advice, or provides teaching
- “a-a-a-a” rhyme scheme, often sung
Wahai muda, kenali dirimu,
Lalah perahu tamsil tubuhmu,
Tadalah berapa lama hidupmu,
Ke akhirat jua kekal diammu
Oh youth, know thyself,
It is a boat representing your body,
No matter how long you live,
In the afterlife, you will remain silent.
28. Literature
Poetry Forms
4. Mantera – usually any repeated word or phrase; came from the Sanskrit word (sacred message
or text)
5. Selokah
6. Madah
29. Literature
Prose
●●● Fables
- often used to explain certain natural phenomena
- the Kancil or mouse deer serves as the main character in a number of stories
:Kisa Sang Kancil dengan Buaya (The Tale of the Mouse Deer and the Crocodile)
●●● Ghost Myths
- hantu (Malay term for ghost – demons, goblins, and undead creatures)
- Pontianak/ Matianak – female stillborn child which lures men in the form of a beautiful woman
- Bajang (stillborn child in the form of a Civet Cat)
- Hantu Kopek (female ghost with large bosoms who lures men to cheat on their wives)
- Penanggal (flying head with its disembodied stomach sac; sucks the blood of infants)
- Hanru kum – kum (old woman who sucks the blood of a virgin woman to regain her youth)
- Lang Suir (mother of Potianak; attacks pregnant women; takes the form of an owl)
30. Literature
Prose
●●● Fairy Tales
- Kisah dongeng
●●● Hikayat
- epics
- stories of legends of heroism that often involve mythlogical and historical figures.
- examples (Hikayat Abdullah; HikayatAmir Hamzah; Hikayat Bayan Budiman… )
