Malaysia
Malaysia, federation of 13 states forming a constitutional monarchy in South East Asia, comprising two distinct regions separated by some 650 km (400 mi) of the South China Sea. Malaysia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The regions are Peninsular Malaysia, formerly known as West Malaysia; and Sarawak and Sabah, formerly known as East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia comprises 11 states occupying the southern half of the Malay Peninsula, bordered on the north by Thailand, on the south by Singapore, on the west by the Strait of Malacca, and on the east by the South China Sea. The states of Sabah and Sarawak occupy the northern third of the island of Borneo, and are bordered on the north and west by the South China Sea, on the east by the Sula and Celebes seas, and on the south by the Indonesian province of Kalimantan. The island of Labuan, formerly part of Sabah, was made a federal territory in 1984. The sultanate of Brunei forms a coastal enclave in northern Sarawak.
POPULATION
Malaysia has a very diverse population, reflecting its position on one of the major sea-route crossroads of Asia. Ethnic Malays, who originated in different parts of the peninsula and archipelagic South East Asia, make up about 47 per cent of the country’s total population. About 32 per cent of the population is Chinese, 9 per cent indigenous ethnic peoples of Borneo, and 9 per cent Indian. There are also small communities of Orang Asli, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Indonesians, and Europeans. The Orang Asli were the original inhabitants of the peninsula, but today comprise only a tiny minority of the population. Divided ethnically into the Jakun, who speak an archaic Malay, and the Semang and Senoi, whose languages belong to the Mon-Khmer family, the Orang Asli are primarily adherents of traditional religions. In Peninsular Malaysia about half the population is ethnic Malay (see Malayan Peoples) living mainly in the rural areas. About 30 per cent is Chinese, concentrated in the cities. The remainder is made up mainly of Indians, Pakistanis, and Tamils, many of whom work on the plantations.
Islam is the national religion of Malaysia, and about half the population, principally the Malays, are Muslims. However, the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the many other ethnic groups practise a variety of faiths. About 25 per cent of the population, almost all Chinese, practise the so-called Chinese religion, a blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Another 6 per cent, also predominantly Chinese, are Buddhists. Indians make up the 7 per cent of the population who are Hindus. Christians form about 6 per cent of the population; Sabah’s largest ethnic group, the Kadayan, are Christian. Many of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak follow traditional beliefs.
LANGUAGE
Malay (Bahasa Malaysia, an Austronesian language) is the official language, spoken throughout the country and a mother tongue for almost half the population. There are 140 indigenous languages in total that are spoken across Malaysia. In Peninsular Malaysia, 39 are heard, mainly from the Austronesian family, but also many Sino-Tibetan, Dravidian, and Austro-Asiatic languages. Besides Malay, the most widespread in this area are Min Nan Chinese (1,946,700 speakers), Hakka Chinese (985,600), and Tamil (1,060,000). English is widely spoken as a second language.
In Sarawak state, 46 languages are spoken, all Austronesian. Iban (1 million, including second-language speakers) is the most widely spoken language in this area of Malaysia, and is taught in some primary schools. Melanu (25,120) and Lundeyeh are the other two most popular languages. Many of the other languages have very small numbers of speakers, some numbering fewer than a hundred. Fifty-four languages are spoken in Sabah state, all Austronesian except for Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole with Pilippino influences spoken in one Semporna village. Banjar (900,000) is the language most widely used in Sabah; Central Dusun (140,500) and Tausug, a mother tongue for Sulu Archipelago (Philippines) immigrants (110,000), are also spoken in large numbers
Religion
Islam is the national religion of Malaysia, and about half the population, principally the Malays, are Muslims. However, the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the many other ethnic groups practise a variety of faiths. About 25 per cent of the population, almost all Chinese, practise the so-called Chinese religion, a blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Another 6 per cent, also predominantly Chinese, are Buddhists. Indians make up the 7 per cent of the population who are Hindus. Christians form about 6 per cent of the population; Sabah’s largest ethnic group, the Kadayan, are Christian. Many of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak follow traditional beliefs.
Malaysia, federation of 13 states forming a constitutional monarchy in South East Asia, comprising two distinct regions separated by some 650 km (400 mi) of the South China Sea. Malaysia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The regions are Peninsular Malaysia, formerly known as West Malaysia; and Sarawak and Sabah, formerly known as East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia comprises 11 states occupying the southern half of the Malay Peninsula, bordered on the north by Thailand, on the south by Singapore, on the west by the Strait of Malacca, and on the east by the South China Sea. The states of Sabah and Sarawak occupy the northern third of the island of Borneo, and are bordered on the north and west by the South China Sea, on the east by the Sula and Celebes seas, and on the south by the Indonesian province of Kalimantan. The island of Labuan, formerly part of Sabah, was made a federal territory in 1984. The sultanate of Brunei forms a coastal enclave in northern Sarawak.
POPULATION
Malaysia has a very diverse population, reflecting its position on one of the major sea-route crossroads of Asia. Ethnic Malays, who originated in different parts of the peninsula and archipelagic South East Asia, make up about 47 per cent of the country’s total population. About 32 per cent of the population is Chinese, 9 per cent indigenous ethnic peoples of Borneo, and 9 per cent Indian. There are also small communities of Orang Asli, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Indonesians, and Europeans. The Orang Asli were the original inhabitants of the peninsula, but today comprise only a tiny minority of the population. Divided ethnically into the Jakun, who speak an archaic Malay, and the Semang and Senoi, whose languages belong to the Mon-Khmer family, the Orang Asli are primarily adherents of traditional religions. In Peninsular Malaysia about half the population is ethnic Malay (see Malayan Peoples) living mainly in the rural areas. About 30 per cent is Chinese, concentrated in the cities. The remainder is made up mainly of Indians, Pakistanis, and Tamils, many of whom work on the plantations.
Islam is the national religion of Malaysia, and about half the population, principally the Malays, are Muslims. However, the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the many other ethnic groups practise a variety of faiths. About 25 per cent of the population, almost all Chinese, practise the so-called Chinese religion, a blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Another 6 per cent, also predominantly Chinese, are Buddhists. Indians make up the 7 per cent of the population who are Hindus. Christians form about 6 per cent of the population; Sabah’s largest ethnic group, the Kadayan, are Christian. Many of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak follow traditional beliefs.
LANGUAGE
Malay (Bahasa Malaysia, an Austronesian language) is the official language, spoken throughout the country and a mother tongue for almost half the population. There are 140 indigenous languages in total that are spoken across Malaysia. In Peninsular Malaysia, 39 are heard, mainly from the Austronesian family, but also many Sino-Tibetan, Dravidian, and Austro-Asiatic languages. Besides Malay, the most widespread in this area are Min Nan Chinese (1,946,700 speakers), Hakka Chinese (985,600), and Tamil (1,060,000). English is widely spoken as a second language.
In Sarawak state, 46 languages are spoken, all Austronesian. Iban (1 million, including second-language speakers) is the most widely spoken language in this area of Malaysia, and is taught in some primary schools. Melanu (25,120) and Lundeyeh are the other two most popular languages. Many of the other languages have very small numbers of speakers, some numbering fewer than a hundred. Fifty-four languages are spoken in Sabah state, all Austronesian except for Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole with Pilippino influences spoken in one Semporna village. Banjar (900,000) is the language most widely used in Sabah; Central Dusun (140,500) and Tausug, a mother tongue for Sulu Archipelago (Philippines) immigrants (110,000), are also spoken in large numbers
Religion
Islam is the national religion of Malaysia, and about half the population, principally the Malays, are Muslims. However, the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the many other ethnic groups practise a variety of faiths. About 25 per cent of the population, almost all Chinese, practise the so-called Chinese religion, a blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Another 6 per cent, also predominantly Chinese, are Buddhists. Indians make up the 7 per cent of the population who are Hindus. Christians form about 6 per cent of the population; Sabah’s largest ethnic group, the Kadayan, are Christian. Many of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak follow traditional beliefs.
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