MalaysianStudies (220911)

Society is a grouping of individual, which is characterized by common interest Society can be explained as an organized group of people associated together for religious, cultural, political, patriotic, or other purposes In a society, members can be from different ethnics groups

Each group holds by its own religion, culture and language, ideas and ways As individuals they meet, but only in the marketplace in buying and selling He made this observation when he was in Burma or Myanmar

International Relations -> country refers as nation-state = 1 nation/race country Japan = Japanese, China = Chinese, Serbia= Serbs Malaysia ?? Multiracial/plural society/ melting pot/rojak

Consists of many races and ethnics

14 749 378 total Malay population in

2010
The largest race in the country

According to the Federal Constitution, all

Malays are MUSLIM, speak BAHASA

MELAYU, and embracing MALAY

CUSTOMS

Malays are the poorest (5.3%), Chinese

(0.6%), and Indian (2.5%)

Poverty among the Malays is often

related with occupation :

Agriculture & traditional sectors Low productivity Failure to incorporate latest technology

Poverty also related with the living area

Live in rural areas Live backward states less endowed with physical, social and economic amenities

British policy
Ultimately left the Malay in the rural area and involved in traditional economy activities Denied the Malay involvement in modern economic activities (participated by non Malays)

Malays are strong in the political sense

Since 1946, the Malays were the dominant

prime movers in Malaya/Malaysia

UMNO and PAS

Most Malays live in villages strong social ties and strict social control toward the behavioral of an individual Only Malays in urban areas seem to experience a loose pressure on social control Malay are described as humble people, to be even tempered, able to control themselves

Seldom to vent anger and avoid being

frank
So it is difficult to understand their

feelings, attitudes, views, and convictions

Always misunderstood by others

Second largest group 6 520 559 Can be traced back to the period of early Melaka Most immigrants came from southern China, mostly (province of Fujian and Guangdong) In the 19th century, many came as coolies

work in tin mining and railway construction

Some owned businesses

MalaysianStudies (260911)

Some by force, some came freely to work The factors that led the Chinese migrate to Malaya :
Difficulties living in China
Rapid growth in population Frequent natural disaster, limited natural resources

Growth in tin and rubber industry in Malaya

Expanding in rubber and tin industries created a need for work forces

Political stability in Malaya

Malaya were in a state of stability under British rule This stability caused the economy to improve and acquire many workers

Migration facilities
Improvement of the transportation like steamship and also immigration agents made migration easier

Chinese population
hardworking and like travelling

MalaysianStudies (260911)

The people from Guangdong and Fujian are said to be

The main clusters are Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew, and Hailam

Differs in dialect, customs, economic

specialization and living area

Even hostile towards each other

Stereotype belief that Chinese are

business-minded
Because relatively few Chinese could

acquire land for agriculture, many of them

involve in business and craftsmen

Largest community as architects and

accountants

Most of the Chinese activities were small, family-type business Based on sub-ethnic groups : Hokkienbussinessman, shopkeeper, Cantonese-miners, craftsman (carpenter, cobbler, iron smith), Hailam-restaurant owner, supplies household need, and Teochew-shopkeeper, farmer

Chinese were not allowed to be involved in

politics during World War 2

There were less interest in politics from the

Chinese community

MCA was formed by the English educated

Chinese Labour Party, Peoples Progressive Party, and Peoples Action Party

Most Chinese are believe in Taoism and

Buddhism but many of them are Christian now

Most of the culture based on Taoism and

Buddhism
The Chinese can be divided according the

dialect group such as Hokkien, Hakka and

Cantonese

The Mandarin is the official language

Third largest ethic group in Malaysia 1 969 343 Mostly migrated from South India during the

British colonisation of Malaya

Settled during the 19th century

Brought by agent through contract system

(3years). Then it change to kangani system

Kangani system-supervisors of plantation labourers bring in worker from their village in India. No contract-but need to pay back expenses Many worked in rubber estate, built the infrastructure or worked as administrators and small businessmen

Factors that encouraged the migration of

Indian :
Difficulties living in India
Land for agriculture and work opportunities were scarce Rapid increase in population Natural disaster-farmer lost their land and in debt Difficult for employment for those who educated Caste system restrict the social mobility

Rapid economy development in Malaya

Rubber industries need workers

Encouragement from British government

Encourage the migration of Indian to work in the plantation, civil service (clerical and technical) and construction (building and road) The immigrants consist of Tamils, Malayalis, Telegus and Sikhs They concentrated in west of Malaya. e.g : KL, Ipoh, Penang, Klang, Taiping

Malayan Indian Population

Tamil
Largest ethnic group (80%) Worked in rubber estates and oil palm plantation

Malayali (7%)
Consist the working and middle class Found in plantation and middle class clerical and professional employment Famous for their restaurant

Telegu (4%)
Mostly worked as labourers in plantation

Sikh
From Punjab Worked as police and railway station officers, security guard Many had involved in business and professional fields

Majority had low income, involve in low

skill or unskilled occupation

Mostly remained in the plantation

economy as labourers
Some own grocery, book and textile store

and few in medical and legal profession

The patterns of Indian political activities

in Malaya were quite similar in India

The opposition by the citizens of India

against the British influenced the political

activities of Indians in Malaya

The main political party is Malayan Indian

Congress (MIC)

They can be differentiate in term of origin, language, caste and religion South Indian descent speak Tamil Their religion Hinduism, Sikhism, Christian and Islam