Saturday, February 19, 2011

CMM 111 Assignment

Statistics about Malaysia's Population


Population distribution by states and territories

StatePopulation
(2000)
Population
(2010, est.)
Area
(km2)
Pop. density
(2010, est.)
Urban pop. %
(2010, est.)
Bumiputera (%)Chinese (%)Indian (%)
Johor2,740,6253,305,9001898717466.257.135.46.9
Kedah1,649,7561,966,900942520940.876.614.97.1
Kelantan1,313,0141,670,5001502411136.195.03.80.3
Malacca635,791771,500165246769.263.829.16.5
Negeri Sembilan859,9241,011,700664415256.657.925.616.0
Pahang1,288,3761,534,800359654342.976.817.75.0
Penang1,313,4491,596,9001031154980.927.561.510.6
Perak2,051,2362,460,8002100511760.544.737.020
Perlis204,450240,10079530235.785.510.31.3
Sabah2,603,4853,214,200736194449.380.513.20.5
Sarawak2,071,5062,506,5001244502049.972.926.70.2
Selangor4,188,8765,037,600796063388.343.535.719.6
Terengganu898,8251,050,000129558151.296.82.80.2
FT Kuala Lumpur1,379,3101,722,5002437088100.038.646.513.4
FT Labuan76,06795,50092103878.179.615.81.3
FT Putrajaya45,00065,000148439100.094.81.82.7

Source: National Census 2000, Department of Statistics Malaysia


Sorce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Malaysia

Dance in Malaysia

As regards the dances of Malaysia, there are many traditional dance forms which are still very much liked and performed in the country. Joget is a conventional dance form which is performed usually by couples, combining fast, graceful movements with good humor. Malaysia's most superb dance form is known to be the Candle Dance in which the candles are fixed on small plates and the dancer performs, holding plates in each hand. It becomes all the more fascinating to the onlooker with elegant body movements and curves.

Many of the dance forms have been originated from martial arts or theatrical forms, like Silat. Silat was actually a deadly martial art accompanied by drums and gongs, but now it has become a full-fledged performing art and is often performed at occasions. In this, the dancers carry out sparring and other graceful movements as per the beats of drums and other musical instruments. For entertaining the royal guests, Malaysians have their own folk dance - Inang.

Inang dance is a modernized version of the traditional mak inang folk dance. It is performed at social functions.
This dance moves at fast tempo set by the rebana, biola and gendang.
The Mak Inang song and dance originated during the period of the Malacca Sultanate. The song is said to have been composed by the order of Sultan Mahmud Shah possibly as a lullaby to help him go to sleep.
The dance is very graceful and has all the qualities of a palace performance. This dance is also called Tarian Si Kembang Cina as it has a strong Chinese flavour in the music. Sometimes the dancers hold long scarves during the performance. 

Datun Julud is another popular dance form which is often recognized with Sarawak. This is a longstanding practice of storytelling, while performing dance movements. A dynamic dance form, Lion Dance is a renowned dance from Malaysia which is carried out during Chinese festivals like Chinese New Year. This dance is considered to bring good fortune and improve resistance to evil spirits. It requires perfect co-ordination and elegance on the part of dancers.
Datun Julud in Sarawak

Lion Dance
In Indian Culture, dance is a form of worship and an expression of the human emotion.
It is difficult to trace the origins of Indian dance but the tradition is extremely old. Initially dance was very much an integral part of the worship and prayer in temples and practiced by devotees who spent their entire lives in the temple – the devadasees.
This has now changed with the times and dance has moved out to the people and the tradition of Indian Dance is very much alive in Malaysia. Among the more popular forms are the Odissi and Bharathanatyam. 

Odissi

Malaysia's Landmark, cant miss it!

Malaysia is a country blessed with natural, out-of-the-world beauty combined with a myriad of culture influences that inspires the birth of a true tourist attraction. The landmarks in Malaysia signify the aesthetic expression of culture and everything about Malaysia. One of the most famous landmarks is Batu Caves, containing brillliant rocks formations, recreating the scenes of Indian mythology.


The infamous Thaipusam Festival held annually here is a massive tourist attraction, drawing tourists to mythicism of Indian culture. Besides that, the pride of Malaysia currently rest with the Petronas Twin Tower, and the KL tower, erected in the heart of KL's commercial hub. The wonderful glimpse of the city can be witnessed and cherished from the peaks of these towers.


From the national planetarium to the Selangor House, the landmarks in Malaysia have always something to offer from education to excitement of the whole family.

A) Menara Kuala Lumpur ( KL tower)
The Kuala Lumpur Tower which looms majestically at the height of 421m above sea level, is more than just a prominent and arresting landmark. It's the world's fifth tallest communication and multimedia broadcasting tower to date, as well as novel composition of retali, leisure and entertainment hub-including the world's highest McDonalds.





B) Petronas Twin Tower
The 88-storey Petronas Twin Tower is currently the second tallest buliding in the world after Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The Twin Tower symbolises the strength and graces using geometric principles typified in Islam architecture. It is located at the former of Selangor Tuff Club, a 100-arce site in the heart Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle.
Completed in 1997, the Twin Towers are a striking glass-and-steel combination with floor plans based on an eight-pointed star.
The towers are joined at the 41st and 42nd floors- linking the two sky lobbies and facilitating the movement between the two towers. 


C) Penang Bridge

The Penang Bridge is a 13.5km long bridge stretching from Seberang Prai on the mainland to Gelugor on the island, this is one of many architectural wonder in Malaysia.
It was officially opened by our visionary Prime Minister, Dato' Dr. Mahathir in 1985. It ranks as the longest bridge in Asia and 5th largest in the world.
The Penang Bridge costs RM 800 million and took five years to build. Before the bridge was built, people depended upon ferry services to cross the Penang Straits



Source: http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/destination/destination_list.cfm?CurrentPage=1&Type=landmark

Malaysian Festival and Fiesta! Wohoo~

One of the significant characteristics of Malaysian culture is its celebration of various festivals and events. The year is filled with colourful, exhilarating and exciting activities. Some are religious and solemn but others are vibrant, joyous events. One interesting feature of the main festivals here is the ‘open house’ custom. This is when Malaysians celebrating the festival invite friends to come by their homes for some traditional delicacies and fellowship. 


Festivals such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri are celebrated mostly in the villages or home towns of the urbanites. Every year, just before the festival, Muslims nationwidebalik kampung or return to their home towns to meet their family and friends. These family reunions are also celebrated during other main festivals in the country. With people decked out in their traditional finery, these festivals are an integral feature of Malaysian society. Here are some of the festivals in Malaysia(dates may vary from year to year as some are based upon the lunar calendar).



o     Thaipusam
The sights and sounds of thousands of devotees carrying kavadis, or ornate frames as penance makes this an extraordinary festival to witness at the Batu Caves in Selangor, or in Penang.

o     Chinese New Year 
The Lunar New Year is celebrated by the Chinese throughout the world and here in Malaysia it’s just as joyful with an abundance of food and family gatherings.

o     Malaysia Water Festival 
All over Malaysia, visitors can enjoy an entire month of water-based activities and have a splashing good time participating in a host of aquatic sports.

o     Tadau Ka’amatan 
Thanksgiving is offered to the spirit of the padi, Bambaazon, by the KadazanDusun in Sabah. Abundant rice wine or tuak, delicious food, dancing and other festivities take place as part of the celebrations.

o     Vesak 
Religious offerings and rituals such as the ‘bathing of the Buddha’, chanting of sutras, lighting of joss sticks and ordination of monks take place in Buddhist temples around the country.

o     Colours of Malaysia 
This event kicks off with a colourful parade displaying the diversity of Malaysian culture through music and dance.

o     Gawai 
The Ibans, Orang Ulu and Bidayuh in Sarawak celebrate this harvest festival where traditional ceremonies and dances are held in various ‘long houses’ or communal homes around the state.

o     Food and Fruits Fiesta 
This is your chance to sample the best of Malaysia’s tempting local delicacies such as satay and nasi lemak, tropical fruits and delectable desserts during this month-long fiesta.

o     National Day 
Malaysians everywhere celebrate Merdeka Day or the nation’s independence on this day.

o     Lantern & Mooncake Festival (Mid-Autumn) 
This festival has come to symbolise a quiet celebration of peace and shared prosperity. Take delight in the colourful lanterns displayed during this time while enjoying the variety of mooncakes available.

o     Deepavali 
Hindus celebrate this festival of lights by adorning their homes with oil lamps, taking a ritual morning bath and offering ceremonial prayers in temples.

o     Hari Raya Aidilfitri 
The holy month of Ramadan culminates in the celebration of Han Raya Aidilfitni for Muslims around the world. Special morning prayers are held in mosques and visits are made to homes of friends and relatives.

o     Christmas 
Like their brethren around the world, Malaysian Christians attend church services, hold family dinners and exchange gifts on this festive day.

Malaysian Culture

Malaysia culture is rich and diverse. Malaysia is home to an estimated 28 million people and Malaysian culture is a unique blend of many different cultures which is not surprising given that the country has a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society and which has always been a point of pride for its people.


The Malays account for 50% of Malaysia’s population, making them the largest community. Many Malay families in Malaysia can trace their ancestry to the Javanese, Bugis and Minang sailors who came from Indonesia. It is widely believed that the Malays were the first civilization to take root in Malaysia, and excluding the pockets of indigenous tribes, were the first settlers to make the Malay Peninsula their home. It is for this reason that they are given a privileged status in the form of Bumiputra (literal translation – son of earth) rights, which are stipulated in the Constitution.

As per Malaysia’s Constitution, Malays are Muslims. They often converse in Malay or Bahasa Melayu (literal translation – Malay language) and play a dominant role in the country’s politics. Social norms among the Malays tend to emphasize being warm, easy-going and well-mannered.
The Malays have numerous contributions to the Malaysian culture, among them Malaysian Batik (patterned cloth), wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), wau bulan flying (traditional kite flying), dikir barat (traditional group singing with instrumental accompaniment) and silat (a stylized martial art).
Some of the music and art of the Malays might seem to share some similarities to those of other countries in the region, most notably Indonesia, but there are distinct differences which make them uniquely Malaysian.


Malaysia also has a vibrant Chinese population, and at 26% of the Malaysian population, is the country’s second largest community. It was the continuous presence of the Chinese traders during the Malacca Sultanate in the 14th and 15th centuries and the immigration of Chinese laborers and miners during the British Rule that has left a strong and lasting presence in Malaysia.
Like the Indians, the Chinese have adapted to the way of life in Malaysia culture, getting along very well with the melting-pot of cultures and ethnicities, while still keeping very strong bonds with their parent culture. Most Chinese families in Malaysia still have relations or other ties with China and some even take a pilgrimage back to trace their roots.


Most Chinese in Malaysia are Buddhists or Taoists, with many also having converted to Christianity. Historically being merchants, they have a very strong entrepreneurship spirit and have come to play a dominant role in the country’s business and commerce industry. A large proportion of the Chinese in Malaysia can speak fluent Mandarin or the other Chinese dialects, although some of the younger generation might not how to read or write. There is an increasing number of the present generation who speak English as a first language.


Indians make up about 8% of Malaysia’s population and have been in Malaysia since some 2000 years ago. When Malacca became a center of power and learning in the region in the 15th century, Indian traders were part and parcel of everyday life. Similar to the Chinese, the Indian community in Malaysia was boosted during colonial times when the British brought in Indian laborers to work in various plantations.






Although not as numerous as the Malays or Chinese, the contributions they have made to country are substantial and are an integral part of the Malaysia culture landscape. 


Source: http://www.gomalaysiamap.com/malaysia-culture.html

Malaysian Food

Malaysian food is not one particular distinction of food but a culinary diversity originating from its multi-ethnic population of Malay, Chinese, Indians, Nyoya and Indigenous Peoples of Borneo. A brief look into past and how this multi-ethnic came to be, is essential in order to comprehend how such a cosmic array of food, has now become to be known all over the world as "Malaysian Food". 

The food of Malaysia richly reflect the meeting of three separate cuisine: the Malay, Chinese and Indian. Each retains their own traditional recipes, but is still able to a acknowledge and use ideas from the other's cuisine. The Malays are a fine-featured, elegant and graceful people and are devout Muslims. Bumiputra 'sons of  soil' is a word frequently used in reference to the people of the rural areas where fishing and farming are the main occupations. The 'sia' in Malaysia covers the remaining population of Chinese, Indian and other settlers. Intermarriage between the races is rare unless the intended is also Muslim.



The Chinese are very industrial people. There are now Malaysia's largest immigrant group. This is mainly a result of demand for labor in the mining industry almost 100 years ago, but in fact Chinese merchants had established settlements all along the coast of Malaysia, especially in Malacca, as long ago as 1500.

The Indians are another important part of the Malaysian society. Large numbers came late in the last century to work on the coffee and rubber estates. There are as many different sects as there are on mainland of India and Sri Lanka. Each continue to cook their own regional, traditional dishes, nut greatest Indian influent is that of the Tamils from the south of India.

Rice in Malaysia, plays a very important part in the customs and religious traditions; our custom of throwing rice over the bride and groom to signify fertility is most probably borrowed from them. In Sarawak, they are drink 'arrak' (rice brandy) and its made by rice also.

The food of Malaysia bears a close affinity to its neighbor Indonesia - the same cooking equipment and methods are used, as well as basic spices, coconut milk and oil, and fish, but having said that, the Chinese and Indian influence is very strong too, making it one of the most fascinating countries to visit. In Malacca, and later in Penang where the Chinese took Malay wives, another style of cooking known as Straits Chinese or Nyonya developed. These recipes are include in the Singapore chapter, where the Nyonya style of cooking is so popular.

Nyoya Kuih

Eating out is an accepted way of life. It can be impromtu and is always informal. In the morning most business people will only have a cup of tea at home, then at 10.30am or earlier, off they go to the coffee shops or street stalls for dim sum(chinese food also known as steamed buns), Nasi lemak (coconut rice) or others. The evening meal is usually eaten early 5.30 - 8.00pm, although there is always somewhere to eat at any hour of the day. Eating is very important; Malaysians never seem to stop yet they retain their trim and figures - men and women alike. The other appealing aspect in any of the cities and towns (or villages for that matter). Each stallholder pushes his stall (gerais) into either Formica-topped or covered with plastic cloths. In no time the benches are full of eager patrons, indulging in a vast variety of 

foods cooked by Chinese, Malay or Indians. In the larger cities, areas will be knows for their SATAY, KWAY TEOW, LAKSA, MURTABAK.


Kway Teow
Asam Laksa

Souce: http://www.malaysianfood.net/index.html
           http://www.foodmalaysia.net/

3 Basic Tenets of 1 Malaysia

1 Malaysia leans against 3 tenets in enhancing national unity, which are:

a) Principle of acceptance
    Acceptance principle means that even though Malaysian live different lifestyle, practices and culture, we 
    accept each other as loyal friend.

b) Principle of national spirits
    Unity concept, nationalism and love for the country have inculcated early on by past leaders. Tunku Abdul 
    Rahman, through the Alliance Party which he led with the assistance of Tun Tan Cheng Lok and Tun V.T 
    Sambanthan fought for independence and freedom from British Colonist for the Malay States.
  Tun Abdul Razak, in turn, inspired New Economic Policy, which aims to unite multi-racial of this country.
    
    Subsequently, Tun Hussein Onn, known best for his efforts in instilling the unity among the multi racial in 
    Malaysia was bestowed the name "Father of Unity".
  
    Tun Dr. Mahathir and Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi introduced Vision 2020 and the Concept of
    Excellence, Glory and Distinction, respectively, in efforts to instill unity among many races of this country.
    
c) Principle of social justice
    Each races in this country regardless of background and religion will be accounted for fairly and equitably 
    in their welfare and other social aspects.
   
    Even then, the 1 Malaysia Concept, each representative needs to transcend racial boundaries and extend 
    their services to other races.
  
    Even then, the 1 Malaysia Concept, which espouses social justice principles, is not a platform for any 
    quarter or party to make outrageous claims or demands.





Thursday, February 17, 2011

What is 1 Malaysia?

Well, I think most of us still have shallow understanding about the concept of 1 Malaysia which have been proposed by our 6th Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on 16th September 2008. Here I am going to start briefing u all about it.


One Malaysia is an on-going political programme, calling for cabinet, government agencies, and civil servants to more strongly emphasize on ethnic harmony, national unity and efficient governance. Datuk Seri Najib states that it is a goal of national unity envisioned by the past prime minister of our countries with different approach and method according to the current condition of the world. In other words, he updated the concepts that is brought by the previous Malaysian leaders. He also states that the concept of 1 Malaysia is a guideline on how to achieve "Malaysian race" (translated as Bangsa Malaysia).


1 Malaysia Values

The 2010 values of 1 Malaysia as articulated by our Prime Minister are preseverance, a culture excellence, acceptance, loyalty, education, humility, integrity and meritocracy. A logo and slogans are introduced in conjunction with the launching 1 Malaysia concept. In year 2009, the slogan is "Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan" ( People First, Performance Now) and is followed by the new slogan "Menjana Transformasi" (Generating Transformation) in year 2010. The logo is symbol of "1"  which incorporates the national "Jalur Gemilang" flag and the word "Malaysia".


Logo of 1 Malaysia

 Sorce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1Malaysia