About Malaysia

Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other ethnic groups have lived together in Malaysia for generations. All these cultures   have influenced each other, creating a truly Malaysian culture.

MALAY
Today, the Malays, Malaysia's largest ethnic group, make up more than 50% of the population. In Malaysia, the term Malay    refers to a person who practices Islam and Malay traditions, speaks the Malay language and whose ancestors are Malays.  Their conversion to Islam from Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism began in the 1400s, largely influenced by the decision of the royal court of Melaka. The Malays are known for their gentle mannerisms and rich arts heritage.

CHINESE
The second largest ethnic group, the Malaysian Chinese form about 25% of the population. Mostly descendants of Chinese immigrants during the 19th century, the Chinese are known for their diligence and keen business sense. The three sub-groups who speak a different dialect of the Chinese language are the Hokkien who live predominantly on the northern island of Penang; the Cantonese who live predominantly in the capital city Kuala Lumpur; and the Mandarin-speaking group who live predominantly in the southern state of Johor.

INDIAN
The smallest of three main ethnic groups, the Malaysian Indians form about 10% of the population. Most are descendants of  Tamil-speaking South Indian immigrants who came to the country during the British colonial rule. Lured by the prospect of breaking out of the Indian caste system, they came to Malaysia to build a better life. Predominantly Hindus, they brought  with them their colourful culture such as ornate temples, spicy cuisine and exquisite sarees.

Orang Asli
Orang Asli is a general term used for any indigenous groups that are found in Peninsular Malaysia. They are divided into three main tribal groups: Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay. The Negrito usually live in the north, the Senoi in the middle and the Proto-Malay in the south. Each group or sub-group has its own language and culture. Some are fishermen, some farmers and some are semi-nomadic.

Collectively known as the Dayaks, the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu are the major ethnic groups in the state of Sarawak.    Dayak, which means upstream or inland, is used as a blanket term by the Islamic coastal population for over 200 tribal      groups. Typically, they live in longhouses, traditional community homes that can house 20 to 100 families.

Iban
The largest of Sarawak's ethnic groups, the Ibans form 30% of the state's population. Sometimes erroneously referred to as the Sea Dayaks because of their skill with boats, they are actually an upriver tribe from the heart of Kalimantan. In the past,  they were a fearsome warrior race renowned for headhunting and piracy. Traditionally, they worship a triumvirate of gods under the authority of Singalang Burung, the bird-god of war. Although now mostly Christians, many traditional customs are still practised.

Bidayuh
Peace-loving and easy-going, the gentle Bidayuh of Sarawak are famous for their hospitality and tuak or rice wine. Making   their homes in Sarawak's mountainous regions, they are mostly farmers and hunters. In their past headhunting days, their  prized skulls were stored in a 'baruk' a roundhouse that rises about 1.5 metres above the ground. Originally animists, now  most of them have converted to Christianity.

Orang Ulu
Also known as upriver tribes of Sarawak. Forming roughly 5.5% of Sarawak's population, there are over 100,000 different    Orang Ulu tribes. Arguably Borneo's most artistic people, their large longhouses are ornately decorated with murals and    superb woodcarvings; their utensils are embellished with intricate beadwork; and aristocratic ladies cover their bodies with  finely detailed tattoos.

The largest indigenous ethnic groups of Sabah's population are the Kadazan Dusun, the Bajau and the Murut.

Kadazan Dusun
The largest ethnic group of Sabah, the Kadazan Dusuns form about 30% of the state's population. Actually consisting of two tribes; the Kadazan and the Dusun, they were grouped together as they both share the same language and culture. However,  the Kadazan are mainly inhabitants of flat valley deltas, which are conducive to paddy field farming, while the Dusun traditionally lived in the hilly and mountainous regions of interior Sabah.

Bajau
The second largest ethnic group in Sabah, the Bajaus make up about 15% of the state's population. Historically a nomadic sea-faring people that worshipped the Omboh Dilaut or God of the Sea, they are sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies. Those who chose to leave their sea-faring ways became farmers and cattle-breeders. These land Bajaus are nicknamed 'Cowboys of the East' in tribute to their impressive equestrian skills, which are publicly displayed in the annual  Tamu Besar festival at Kota Belud.

Murut
The third largest ethnic group in Sabah the Muruts make up about 3% of the state's population. Traditionally inhabiting the   northern inland regions of Borneo, they were the last of Sabah's ethnic groups to renounce headhunting. Now, they are     mostly shifting cultivators of hill paddy and tapioca, supplementing their diet with blowpipe hunting and fishing. Like most    indigenous tribes in Sabah, their traditional clothing is decorated with distinctive beadwork.

A fascinating fusion of tradition and modernity, Malaysia's architecture today is a reflection of Asia's many styles, cultures     and religions. These influences include Hindu-Indian, Arab-Muslim, Chinese and European. Portuguese, Dutch and British colonization have also influenced local architecture. Now, the country embraces an independent modern Malaysian vision whilst staying true to its rich culture and heritage.

Malay
Traditional Malay architecture employs sophisticated architectural processes ideally suited to tropical conditions such as   structures built on stilts, which allow cross-ventilating breeze beneath the dwelling to cool the house whilst mitigating the    effects of the occasional flood. High-pitched roofs and large windows not only allow cross-ventilation but are also carved    with intricate organic designs.

Traditional houses in Negeri Sembilan were built of hardwood and entirely free of nails. They are built using beams, which  are held together by wedges. A beautiful example of this type of architecture can be seen in the Old Palace of  Seri Menanti in Negeri Sembilan, which was built around 1905.

Another truly magnificent example of Malay architectural creativity is the Istana Kenangan in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar. Built in 1926, it is the only Malay palace made of bamboo walls.

Today, many Malay or Islamic buildings incorporate Moorish design elements as can be seen in the Islamic Arts Museum and a  number of buildings in Putrajaya - the new administrative capital, and many mosques throughout the country.

Chinese
In Malaysia, Chinese architecture is of two broad types: traditional and Baba-Nyonya. Examples of traditional architecture    include Chinese temples found throughout the country such as the Cheng Hoon Teng that dates back to 1646.

Many old houses especially those in Melaka and Penang are of Baba-Nyonya heritage, built with indoor courtyards and       beautiful, colourful tiles.

A rare architectural combination of Chinese and Western elements is displayed by Melaka's Terengkera mosque. Its      pagoda-like appearance is a fine example of Chinese-influenced roof form, combined with Western detailing in its balustrades and railings.

Indian
With most of Malaysian Hindus originally from Southern India, local Hindu temples exhibit the colourful architecture of that   region.

Built in the late nineteenth century, the Sri Mahamariaman Temple in Kuala Lumpur is one of the most ornate and elaborate Hindu temples in the country. The detailed decorative scheme for the temple incorporates intricate carvings, gold embellishments, hand-painted motifs and exquisite tiles from Italy and Spain.

The Sikhs, although a small minority, also have their temples of more staid design in many parts of the country.

Indigenous Peoples of Sabah & Sarawak
Two unique architectural highlights of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak are longhouses and water villages.

Homes to interior riverine tribes, longhouses are traditional community homes. These elongated and stilted structures, often built of axe-hewn timber, tied with creeper fibre and roofed with woven atap or thatched leaves, can house between 20 to  100 families.

Rustic water villages built on stilts are also commonly found along riverbanks and seafronts. Houses are linked by plank    walkways with boats anchored on the sides. Transport around the village is usually by sampan or canoe.

The architectural styles of the different colonial powers are used in many buildings built between 1511 and 1957.

Portuguese
The most notable example of Portuguese architecture in Malaysia is the A'Famosa fort in Melaka, which was built by        Alfonso d'Albuquerque in 1511. Nearly annihilated by the Dutch, only a small part of the fortification is still on the hill          overlooking the Melaka town, old port and the Straits of Melaka.

Dutch
Located in Melaka Town, the Stadthuys with its heavy wooden doors, thick red walls and wrought-iron hinges is the most   imposing relic of the Dutch period in Melaka. It is a fine example of Dutch masonry and woodworking skills. Built between   1641 and 1660 it is believed to be the oldest building in the East.

British
Among the most significant landmarks built by the British is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which grandly overlooks the  Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur. This Moorish beauty, completed in 1897, served as the Colonial Secretariat offices during the British administration.

Pre-Merdeka or pre-independence shophouses still emanate the characteristic charm of their earlier days. A display of   English ingenuity is the 'five-foot-way' or covered sidewalk designed to shield pedestrians from the heat and rain.

Malaysia boasts a delightful variety of traditional handicrafts. Choices range from priceless authentic antiques to exquisite  modern hand-made crafts.

As most artisans are Muslims, Malaysian handicraft designs are heavily influenced by Islam. The religion prohibits the depiction of the human form in art. Hence, most designs are based on natural elements such as the interlacing of leaves or vines,  flowers and animals.

Popular items of traditional design include Perak's labu sayong, geluk, belanga, Chinese dragon kiln ceramics and Sarawakian tribal motif pottery. Contemporary items include vases, flower pots, decorative pottery, sculpture and kitchenware.

Labu sayong
Labu Sayong is a black-coloured gourd-shaped clay jar typically used to store and cool water. The state of Perak is renowned for this type of pottery.

Belanga
Found in many rural Malaysian homes, The belanga is often characterised by a round base and wide rim. It is often used to cook curries, as it is believed that its round base allows heat to be distributed more evenly.

Terenang
This angular-shaped jar is popularly used for storing water in the states of Pahang and Terengganu. It has a concave neck  and a convex body.

Wood Crafts
Blessed with an abundance of timber in boundless tropical forests, Malaysia is renowned for an assortment of distinctive   wood crafts. Traditionally, whole houses were built from elaborate hand-carved timber. Today, antique Malay-styled         engraved panels, keris dagger handles, Chinese containers, unique Orang Asli spirit sculptures, intricate walking sticks,    kitchen utensils and carved scented woods are among the wide range of exotic decorative items found in Malaysia.

Metal Crafts
Popular since the early days, traditional brass casting and bronze working are still used to make an array of utensils. More  recently in the 19th century, with the discovery of tin in Malaysia, pewter has become increasingly popular. Metal craft      products include modern decorative items, kitchen ware and traditional artifacts like tepak sireh sets, rose-water instruments and keris blades.

Hand-woven Crafts
Marvel at the creative hand-woven crafts of Malaysia. Local plant fibres and parts from bamboo, rattan, pandan and         mengkuang leaves are coiled, plaited, twined and woven to produce items such as bags, baskets, mats, hats, tudung saji and  sepak raga balls.

Colourful and captivating, Malaysia's traditional textiles are much sought after worldwide. Varieties include batik, songket,   pua kumbu and tekat. These textiles are made into all sorts of decorative items, from haute couture clothes to shoes,  colourful curtains and delicate bed linen.

Batik
Referring to the process of dyeing fabric by making use of a resistant technique; covering areas of cloth with wax to prevent  it absorbing colours. The colours in batik are much more resistant to wear than those of painted or printed fabrics because the cloth is completely immersed in dye.

Songket
Utilising an intricate supplementary weft technique where gold threads are woven in between the longitudinal silk threads   of the background cloth. In the past, this rich and luxurious fabric demonstrated the social status of the Malay elite.

Pua Kumbu
Made from individually dyed threads on a back strap loom. Its supernatural motifs are inspired by dreams and ancient animist beliefs. The patterns that emerge are a fusion of the real and surreal. And each weave is distinctive of its maker's hand.

Tekat
The art of embroidering golden thread onto a base material, generally velvet, was traditionally used to decorate traditional    Malay weddings regalia.

Enticing hand-crafted accessories abound in Malaysia. Choose from leather-crafted goods, beadwork necklaces from Borneo or finely made gold and silver jewellery adorned with gems.

Kerongsang
A three-piece brooch set traditionally used to pin the lapels of the baju kebaya together. Kerongsang usually comes in sets of three. The typical three-piece set comprises of a kerongsang ibu (mother piece) which is larger and heavier. The other two are called the kerongsang anak (child pieces) and are worn below the kerongsang ibu.

Cucuk Sanggul
A traditional hairpin used to secure hair in a bun at the back of women's heads. Typically made of gold or silver, these     hairpins are normally worn in graduated sets of three, five or seven by brides and traditional dancers.

Pending
A large, intricately ornamented belt buckle worn around the sampin, a skirt-like cloth worn by men, to complement their      baju melayu, the traditional attire for men. Traditionally, the pending is a sign of wealth and status for men.

Country
The Federation of Malaysia comprises of Peninsular Malaysia, and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Geographic Location 
Situated between 2º and 7º to the North of the Equator line, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. In the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia lies Thailand, and in the south, neighbouring Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are bounded by Indonesia while Sarawak also shares borders with Brunei.

People
Malays comprise 57% of the population, while the Chinese, Indian and Bumiputeras and other races make up the rest of the country's population.

Language
(Bahasa Melayu)Malay is the national language in use, but English is widely spoken. The ethnic groups also converse in the various languages and dialects.

Religion
Islam is the official religion of the country, but other religions are widely practised.

Government
Malaysia follows the bicameral legislative system, adopting a democratic parliamentary. The head of the country is the King or the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, a position which is changed every five years among the Malay Sultanates. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

Weather
The country experiences tropical weather year-round. Temperatures are from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Higher elevations are much colder with temperatures between 15°C (59° F) to 25°C (77°F). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm.

Economic Profile
Manufacturing constitutes the largest single component of Malaysia's economy. Tourism and primary commodities such as petroleum, palm oil, natural rubber and timber are major contributors to the economy.

Currency
The monetary unit of the country is Ringgit Malaysia and is written as RM. The exchange rate is valued at  USD1 = RM3.50.  Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and money changers.

Banking Hours
Most states: Monday- Friday: 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Saturday & Sunday: Closed (Some banks and its branches are opened   Saturdays). Kelantan & Terengganu: Sunday - Wednesday :9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Thursday :9.30 am to 4.00 pm.                 Friday/Saturday*/Public holiday: Closed

Post Office
Opening hours from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm daily, except for the first Saturdays of the month, Sundays, and public holidays.      In Kelantan and Terengganu the post office operates at the same time, but is closed on Fridays and public holidays.

Time
Eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S Standard Time.

Electricity
Voltage is 220 - 240 Volt AC at 50 cycles per second. Standard 3- pin square plugs and socket.

Measurement and Weight  
Malaysia follows the metric system for weight and measurement.

Telephone

Local calls can be made from public phones using shillings or prepaid cards. International calls can also be made using card phones or at any Telekom office.

Accommodation
Malaysia has a wide range of accommodation at competitive rates. International standard hotels, medium and budget hotels, youth hostels are just some of the types of accommodation available.

Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia ( 2008 )

Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia

with Rithz Holidays ( 2008 )

Australia

427,076

Singapore

550

Brunei

1,085,115

Indonesia

121

Cambodia

35,464

Thailand

74

Canada

77,664

Brunei

54

China

949,864

China

47

France

86,030

India

27

Germany

111,525

Japan

21

India

550,738

Australia

21

Indonesia

2,428,605

Philippines

19

Italy

38,945

United Kingdom

18

Japan

433,462

South Korea

13

Middle East

264,338

Middle East

13

Netherlands

90,802

USA

11

New Zealand

56,117

Taiwan

9

Philippines

397,884

Vietnam

6

Poland

11,745

Scandinavia

5

Russia

26,308

Germany

5

Scandinavia

117,094

Netherlands

4

Singapore

11,003,492

France

4

South Africa

25,437

Canada

3

South Korea

267,461

New Zealand

2

Swithzerland

26,489

Other

56

Taiwan

190,979

1,083

Thailand

1,493,789

Turkey

8,152

PAYMENT TRANSACTED

United Kingdom

370,591

to Rithz Holidays ( 2008 )

USA

223,249

BANK ACCOUNT

541

Vietnam

122,933

AT KLIA

181

Other

1,131,140

TRAVEL AGENT

361

22,052,488

1,083

DIRECT FLIGHT TO KUL

DIRECT FLIGHT TO KUL

ARGENTINA - BUENOS AIRES

NETHERLANDS - AMSTERDAM

AUSTRALIA - ADELAIDE / BRISBANE /

NEW ZEALANDS - AUCKLAND

                MELBOURNE / PERTH / SYDNEY

PAKISTAN - KARACHI

BANGLADESH - DHAKA

PHILIPINE - MANILA / CEBU

BRUNEI - BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

SAUDI ARABIA - JEDDAH

CAMBODIA - PHNOM PENH / SIEM REAP

SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE

CHINA - BEIJING / KUMMING / SHANGHAI

SOUTH AFRICA - CAPE TOWN /

           XIAMEN / GUANGZHAU

                     JOHANNESBURG

FRANCE  - PARIS

SOUTH KOREA - SEOUL

GERMANY - FRANKFURT

SRI LANKA - COLOMBO

HONG KONG - HONG KONG

SWEDEN - STOCKHOLM

INDIA - BANGOLORE / CHENNAI / DELHI /

TAIWAN - KAO SHIUNG / TAIPEI

           MUMBAI / HYDRABAD

THAILAND - BANGKOK / PHUKET

ITALY - ROME

TURKEY - ISTANBUL

JAPAN - TOKYO / OSAKA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DUBAI

LEBENON - BEIRUT

UNITED KINGDOM - LONDON

MACAU - MACAU

US - LOS ANGELES / NEW YORK CITY

MALDIVES - MALE

VITENAM   - HANOI / HO CHI MINH CITY