Culture of Malaysia

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Life in Malaysia

Culture

Cuisine

Chinese

Demographics

Economy

Education

Ethnic groups

Film
Health
Holidays

Human rights

Indian

Languages

Literature

Music

Politics

Religion

Religious freedom

Society
Sport

Transport

Tourism

Women

V
T
E

The culture of Malaysia draws on the varied cultures of the different people
of Malaysia.[1] The first people to live in the area were indigenous tribes that still
remain; they were followed by the Malays, who moved there from mainland Asia
in ancient times. Chinese and Indian cultural influences made their mark when
trade began with those countries, and increased with immigration to Malaysia.
Other cultures that heavily influenced that of Malaysia include Persian, Arabic,
and British. The many different ethnicities that currently exist in Malaysia have
their own unique and distinctive cultural identities, with some crossover.
Arts and music have a long tradition in Malaysia, with Malay art dating back to the
Malay sultanates. Traditional art was centred on fields such as carving,
silversmithing, and weaving. Islamic taboos restricted artwork depicting humans
until the mid-20th century. Performing arts and shadow puppet shows are popular,
and often show Indian influences. Various influences can be seen in architecture,
from individual cultures in Malaysia and from other countries. Large modern
structures have been built, including the tallest twin buildings in the world,
the Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysian music has a variety of origins, and is largely
based around percussion instruments. Much early Malaysian literature was based
on Indian epics, which remained unchanged even as Malays converted to Islam;
this has expanded in recent decades. English literature remained restricted to the
higher class until the arrival of the printing press. Locally created Chinese and
Indian literature appeared in the 19th century.
Cuisine is often divided along ethnic lines, but some dishes exist which have mixed
foods from different ethnicities. Each major religious group has its major holy days
declared as official holidays. Official holidays differ by state; the most widespread
one is Hari Merdeka, which celebrates the independence of Malaya. Although
festivals often stem from a specific ethnic background, they are celebrated by all
people in Malaysia. Traditional sports are popular in Malaysia, while it has become

a powerhouse in international sports such as badminton. Malaysia hosted

the Commonwealth Games in 1998, the first Commonwealth Games where the
torch passed through more countries than England and the host.
The Malaysian government has taken the step of defining Malaysian Culture
through the "1971 National Culture Policy", which defined what was considered
official culture, basing it around Malay culture and integrating Islamic influences.
This especially affected language; only Malay texts are considered official cultural
texts. Government control over the media is strong, and most media outlets are
related to the government in some way.

Contents
1 Background
o 1.1 Ethnic groups
o 1.2 Policies and controversies
2 Arts
3 Music
4 Literature
5 Cuisine
6 Holidays
7 Sports
8 Media
o 8.1 Cinema
9 See also
10 References
11 External links

Background[edit]

Peninsular Malaysia (left) is 40% of Malaysia's territory, and is

predominately Islamic. The two states of East Malaysia are mostly Christian. The
capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia consists of two distinct geographical regions: Peninsular
Malaysia and East Malaysia. Malaysia was formed when the Federation of
Malaya merged with North Borneo (today the province of Sabah),Sarawak,
and Singapore (seceded 1965) in 1963,[2] and cultural differences between
Peninsular and East Malaysia remain. During the formation of Malaysia, executive
power was vested in the Perikatan(later the Barisan Nasional) coalition of three
racially-based political parties, namely the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and Malaysian
Indian Congress (MIC).[3] UMNO has dominated the coalition from its inception.
[4]
Although Islam is the official state religion, the Constitution of
Malaysia guarantees freedom of religion.[5]
Ethnic groups[edit]
See also: Demographics of Malaysia
Malaysia is a multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society, and the many
ethnic groups in Malaysia maintain separate cultural identities. [6] The society of
Malaysia has been described as "Asia in miniature". [7] The original culture of the
area stemmed from its indigenous tribes, along with the Malays who moved there
in ancient times. Substantial influence exists from the Chinese and Indian cultures,
dating back to when trade with those countries began in the area. Other cultures
that heavily influenced that of Malaysia include Persian, Arabic, and British. The
structure of the government, along with the racial balance of power caused by the
idea of a social contract, has resulted in little incentive for the cultural
assimilation of ethnic minorities in Malaya and Malaysia.[8] The government has
historically made little distinction between "Malay culture" and "Malaysian
culture".[9]

Heads from old headhuntingpractices in a Kadazan house in Sabah

The Malays, who account for over half the Malaysian population, [2] play a dominant
role politically and are included in a grouping identified as bumiputra. Their native
language, Bahasa Malaysia, is the national language of the country.[10] By definition
of the Malaysian constitution, all Malays are Muslims. The Orang Asal, the earliest
inhabitants of Malaya, formed only 0.5 percent of the total population in Malaysia
in 2000,[11] but represented a majority in East Malaysia. In Sarawak, most of the
non-Muslim indigenous groups are classified as Dayaks, and they constitute about
40 percent of the population in the state.[12] Many tribes have converted to
Christianity.[13] The 140,000 Orang Asli, or aboriginal peoples, comprise a number
of different ethnic communities living in peninsular Malaysia. [14]
The Chinese have been settling in Malaysia for many centuries, and form the
second-largest ethnic group.[2] The first Chinese to settle in the Straits Settlements,
primarily in and around Malacca, gradually adopted elements of Malaysian culture
and intermarried with the Malaysian community and with this, a new ethnic group
called emerged, the Peranakan ("Straits Chinese"). These Chinese have adopted
Malay traditions while maintaining elements of Chinese culture such as their
largely Buddhist and Taoist religion.[8] The more common dialects of Chinese
spoken in Peninsular Malaysia
are Cantonese,Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, and Foochow.[2]
The Indian community in Malaysia is the smallest of the three main ethnic groups,
accounting for about 10 percent of the country's population. They speak a variety of
South Asian languages.[2] Tamils,Malayalees, and Telugu people make up over
85 percent of the people of Indian origin in the country. Indian immigrants to
Malaysia brought with them the Hindu and Sikh cultures. This included temples
andGurdwaras, cuisine, and clothing. Hindu tradition remains strong in the Indian
community of Malaysia. A community of Indians who have adopted Malay cultural
practices also exists in Malacca. Though they remain Hindu, the Chitties speak
Bahasa Malaysia and dress and act as Malays. [8]
Some Eurasians of mixed European and Malay descent live in Malaysia. A small
community in Malacca are descendants of former Portuguese colonists who
married Malay women. While they have adopted Malay culture, they speak their
own language and are Catholics.[8]

Each ethnic group has its own underlying culture that separates it from the others,
and they have achieved different levels of integration. The Chinese have integrated
with Malay culture in a number of areas, including parts of Terengganu, and they
form Malayanised groups such as the Baba Chinese in Malacca and the SinoKadazan of Sabah. Their years under combined British rule brought some joint
sense of identity to all the ethnic groups, with English ideas and ideals providing
some unifying features. A joint Malaysian culture can be seen in the symbiosis of
the cultures of the people within it.[15]
Policies and controversies[edit]
The Malaysian government defined Malaysian culture through the issuance of the
"1971 National Culture Policy".[16] It defines three principles as guidelines for
Malaysian culture: that it is based on the cultures of indigenous people; that if
elements from other cultures are judged suitable and reasonable they may be
considered Malaysian culture; and that Islam will be an important part of national
culture.[16]
Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia. The
two countries share a similar cultural heritage, sharing many traditions and items.
However, disputes have arisen over things ranging from culinary dishes to
Malaysia's national anthem. Strong feelings exist in Indonesia about protecting that
nation's national heritage.[17] The rivalry between the two countries began
duringKonfrontasi just after Malaysian independence, when Indonesia and
Malaysia were almost at war. Building resentment since then coupled with the
economic success of Malaysia mean these feelings are still strong in Indonesia
today.[18] The Malaysian government and the Indonesian government have met to
defuse some of the tensions resulting from the overlaps in culture. [19] Feelings are
not as strong in Malaysia, where most recognise that many cultural values are
shared.[17]
One dispute, known as the Pendet controversy, began when Indonesians claimed
the Pendet Dance was used in an official Malaysian tourism ad campaign, causing
official protests.[20] This dance, from Baliin Indonesia, was used only in a Discovery
Channel ad, not an ad sponsored by the Malaysian government. [21] Songs, such as
the Rasa Sayange song, have caused similar controversies. [20] The Malaysian
national anthem, Negaraku, was claimed to be based on a similar Indonesian song
written a year earlier. Both tunes are derived from a 19th century French song,
which caused the similarity.[22]

Arts[edit]

Joget Melayu, a Malay dance

Traditional Malaysian art is mainly centred on the crafts of carving, weaving, and
silversmithing.[23] Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from rural areas to
the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included
ornamental kris and beetle nut sets. Luxurious textiles known as Songket are made,
as well as traditional patterned batik fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known
for their wooden masks. Malaysian art has expanded only recently, as before the
1950s Islamic taboos about drawing people and animals were strong. [24] Textiles
such as the batik, songket, pua kumbu, and tekat are used for decorations, often
embroidered with a painting or pattern. Traditional Jewelry was made from gold
and silver adorned with gems, and in the east leather of beads were used to the
same effect.[25]
Earthenware has been developed in many areas. The Labu Sayong is a gourdshaped clay jar that holds water. Perak is famous for these. Also used to store water
is the angular Terenang. The belanga is a clay bowl used to cook, with a wide base
that allows heat to spread easily.[25] Carved wood is used as ornamentation for many
items, such as doors and window panels.[24] Woodcarving was never an industry, but
an art. Traditional woodcarvers spent years simply preparing the wood, due to a
belief that woodcarvers need to be a perfect match with their wood. The wood also
had to match the buyer, so woodcarving was a very ritualised task. [26]
Each ethnic group has distinct performing arts, with little overlap between them.
Malay art shows some North Indian influence. [27] A form of art called mak yong,
incorporating dance and drama, remains strong in the Kelantan state.[28] However,
older Malayan-Thai performing arts such as mak yong have declined in popularity
throughout the country due to their Hindu-Buddhist origin. Since the Islamisation
period, the arts and tourism ministry have focused on newer dances of Portuguese,
Middle Eastern, or Mughal origin. Malay traditional dances include joget melayu
and zapin. In recent years, dikir barat has grown in popularity, and it is actively
promoted by state governments as a cultural icon. [29] Silat is another popular Malay
martial art and dance form, believed to increase a person's spiritual strength.
[25]
Wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre) has been popular in Malaysia for centuries.
[27]
The puppets are usually made with cow and buffalo skin, and are carved and

painted by hand.[25] Plays done with shadow puppets are often based on traditional
stories,[30] especially tales from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Traditionally,
theatrical music is performed only by men. [27] Javanese immigrants brought Kuda
Kepang to Johor, and is a form of dance where dancers sit on mock horses and tells
the tales of Islamic wars. The Chinese communities brought traditional lion
dances and dragon dances with them, while Indians brought art forms such
as Bharata Natyam and Bhangra. Colonialism also brought other art forms, such as
the Portuguese Farapeira and Branyo. There are a variety of traditional dances,
which often have very strong spiritual significance. Different tribes from west and
east Malaysia have different dances.[25]

Music[edit]
Main article: Music of Malaysia
Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in
the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand, and
Indonesia. The music is based around percussion instruments, [27] the most important
of which is the gendang (drum). There are at least 14 types of traditional drums.
[31]
Drums and other traditional percussion instruments are often made from natural
materials such as shells.[31] Other instruments include the rebab (a bowed string
instrument), the serunai (a double-reed oboe-like instrument), the seruling (flute),
and trumpets. Music is traditionally used for storytelling, celebrating life-cycle
events, and at annual events such as the harvest. [27] Music was once used as a form
of long-distance communication.[31] Traditional orchestra can be divided between
two forms, the gamelan which plays melodies using gongs and string instruments,
and the nobat which uses wind instruments to create more solemn music. [25]
In East Malaysia, ensembles based around gongs such as agung and kulintang are
commonly used in ceremonies such as funerals and weddings. [32] These ensembles
are also common in the southernPhilippines, Kalimantan in Indonesia, and
in Brunei.[32] Chinese and Indian Malaysians have their own forms of music, and the
indigenous tribes of Peninsula and East Malaysia have unique traditional
instruments.[24]
Within Malaysia, the largest performing arts venue is the Petronas Philharmonic
Hall. The resident orchestra is the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.[33] Malay
popular music is a combination of styles from all ethnicities in the country.[24] The
Malaysian government has taken steps to control what music is available in
Malaysia; rap music has been criticised, [34] heavy metal has been limited,[35] and
foreign bands must submit a recording of a recent concert before playing in
Malaysia.[36] It is believed that this music is a bad influence on youth. [35]

Literature[edit]

Main article: Malaysian literature

The strong oral tradition that has existed since before the arrival of writing to what
is now Malaysia continues today. These early works were heavily influenced by
Indian epics.[37] Oral literature such as folktales flourished even after printed works
appeared.[24] The Arabic Jawi script arrived with the coming of Islam to the
peninsula in the late 15th century.[37] At this point, stories which previously had
given lessons in Hinduism and Buddhism were taken to have more universal
meanings, with their main story lines remaining intact. [30] Each of the Malay
Sultanates created their own literary tradition influenced by preexisting oral stories
and by the stories that came with Islam. [37] The arrival of the printing press in
Malaysia was key in allowing literature to be accessed by more than those rich
enough to afford handwritten manuscripts.[30] There was a division between the
royal Malays, who knew English, and the lower classes, who only read Malay.[24] In
the early years of the 20th century, literature began to change to reflect the
changing norms of Malaysians.[30] In 1971 the government took the step of defining
the literature of different languages. Literature written in Malay was called "The
National Literature of Malaysia"; literature in other bumiputra languages was called
"regional literature"; literature in other languages was called "sectional literature".
[38]

Malay poetry is highly developed, and uses many forms. [37] A Hikayat is a
traditional narrative, and stories written in that fashion are named using Hikayat
followed by the name(s) of the protagonist(s). Thepantun is a form of poetry used
in many aspects of Malay culture. The Syair is another form of narrative, once very
popular.[30] The Hikayat form remains popular, and the pantun has spread from
Malay to other languages.[37] Until the 19th century, literature produced in Malaysia
focused mainly on tales of royalty,[30] as it was produced just for royalty.[24] It was
after this point that it expanded to other areas. [30]The race riots of 1969 strongly
influenced literature; the improvements of the economy in the 1980s brought about
social changes and new forms of literature.[24]
The first Malay literature was in Arabic script. The earliest known Malay writing is
on the Terengganu Inscription Stone, made in 1303.[24] One of the more famous
Malay works is the Sulalatus al-Salatin, also known as the Sejarah
Melayu (meaning "The Malay Annals"). It was originally recorded in the
15th century, although it has since been edited; [37] the known version is from the
16th century. The Hikaya Rajit Pasai, written in the 15th century, is another
significant literary work.[24] The Hikayat Hang Tuah, or story of Hang Tuah, tells
the story of Hang Tuah and his devotion to his Sultan. [24] This is the most famous
Hikayat;[30] it drew from the Sejarah Melayu. Both have been nominated as world
heritage items under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) 'Memory of the World' programme. [37] Folktales such as
the Hikayat Sang Kancil, about a clever mouse deer, are popular, as are adventures
such as Ramayana, adapted from Indian epics. Munshi Abdullah (Abdullah bin

Abdul Kadir), who lived from 17971854, is regarded as the father of Malay
literature. Hikayat Abdullah, his autobiography, is about everyday life at the time
when British influence was spreading. Female Malay writers began becoming
popular in the 1950s.[24]
Different ethnic and linguistic groups have produced works in their own languages.
[24]
Chinese and Indian literature became common as the numbers of speakers
increased in Malaysia, and locally produced works based in languages from those
areas began to be produced in the 19th century.[37] Beginning in the 1950s, Chinese
literature expanded; homemade literature in Indian languages has failed to emerge.
English has become a common literary language. [24]

Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Malaysian cuisine

Nasi Lemak, the national dish of Malaysia

Clockwise from bottom left: beef soup, ketupat (compressed rice cubes),
beef rendang and sayur lodeh
Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multiethnic makeup of its population, [39] and is
defined by its diversity.[40] Many cultures from Malaysia and the surrounding areas
have greatly influenced Malaysian cuisine, with strong influence from Malay,
Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, and Sumatran cuisines. [24] Much of this is due to
Malaysia being a part of the ancient spice route.[40] The cuisine is very similar to
that of Singapore and Brunei,[41] and also bears resemblance to Filipino cuisine.
[24]
The different states of Malaysia have varied dishes, [41] and often the food in
Malaysia is different from the original dishes. [42]

Sometimes food not found in its original culture is assimilated into another; for
example, Chinese restaurants in Malaysia often serve Malaysian dishes. [43] Food
from one culture is sometimes cooked using styles taken from another.[41] This
means that although many Malaysian dishes originate from another culture, they
have their own identities.[40] Often the food in Malaysia is different from the original
dishes;[44] for example, Chinese food is often sweeter in Malaysian versions than the
original.[24] The Peranakans, Chinese who moved to Malaysia centuries ago, have
their own unique cuisine that Chinese cooking techniques with Malay ingredients.
[40]

During a dinner food is not served in courses, but all at once. [24] Rice is popular in
many Malaysian dishes. Chilli is commonly found in Malaysian dishes, although
this does not make them spicy.[39] Noodles are common. Pork is rarely used in
Malaysia, because of the large Muslim population. Some celebrations have food
associated with them, and mooncakes are often eaten during Mooncake Festival.[24]

Holidays[edit]
Main article: Public holidays in Malaysia

Malay children dressed for Hari raya

Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year, on
both the federal and state level. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or
religion groups, but are not public holidays. The main holy days of each major
religion are public holidays. The most widespread holiday is the "Hari Merdeka"
(Independence Day), otherwise known as "Merdeka" (Freedom), on 31 August. It
commemorates the independence of the Federation of Malaya. This, as well
as Labour Day (1 May), the King's birthday (first Saturday of June), and some
other festivals are major national public holidays. Federal Territory day is
celebrated in the three Federal territories. [24] Malaysia Day, held on 16 September,

commemorates the formation of Malaysia through the union

of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, andSarawak, although it is celebrated mainly in East
Malaysia.[45]
New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, and the start of the Islamic calendar are all
public holidays.[24] Muslim holidays are highly prominent in Malaysia. The most
important of these is Hari Raya Puasa (also called Hari Raya Aidilfitri),[46] which is
the Malay translation of Eid al-Fitr. It is a festival honoured by Muslims worldwide
marking the end of Ramadan, the fasting month. They also celebrate Hari Raya
Haji (also called Hari Raya Aidiladha, the translation of Eid ul-Adha), Awal
Muharram (Islamic New Year) and Maulidur Rasul (Birthday of the Prophet).[24]
Malaysian Chinese typically hold the same festivals observed by Chinese around
the world. Chinese New Year is the most prominent, lasting for 15 days. Hindus in
Malaysia celebrate Deepavali, the festival of light,[24] while Thaipusam is a
celebration in which pilgrims from all over the country meet at the Batu Caves.
[47]
Wesak (Malay for Vesak), the day of Buddha's birth, is a public holiday.
Malaysia's Christian community observes most of the holidays observed by
Christians elsewhere, most notably Christmas [24] and Easter. Good Friday, however,
is only a public holiday in the two Bornean states. The harvest festivals of Gawai in
Sarawak and Kaamatan in Sabah are also important for East Malaysians. [48]
Despite most of the festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious
group, festivities are often participated in by all Malaysians. One example of this is
the celebration of Kongsi Raya, which is celebrated when Hari Raya Puasa and
Chinese New Year coincide. The term Kongsi Raya (which means "sharing the
celebration" in Malay) was coined because of the similarity between the
word kongsi and the Chinese New Year greeting of Gong xi fa cai. Similarly, the
portmanteau Deepa Raya was coined when Hari Raya Puasa and Deepavali
coincided.[49]
A practice known as "open house" (rumah terbuka) is common during the
festivities, especially during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Chinese New Year,
and Christmas. Open house means that all well-wishers are received and that
everyone, regardless of background, is invited to attend. [13] Open houses are
normally held at the home of the host and foods are prepared by the host. There are
also open houses held at larger public venues, especially when hosted by
government agencies or corporations. Most Malaysians take the time off work or
school to return to their hometowns to celebrate the festivities with their extended
relatives. This practice is commonly known as balik kampung and usually causes
traffic jams on most highways in the country.[50]

Sports[edit]
Main article: Sport in Malaysia

A wau workshop
Popular sports in Malaysia include badminton, bowling, football, squash, and field
hockey.[51] Malaysia has small-scale traditional sports. Wau is a traditional form of
kite-flying involving kites created with intricate designs. These kites can reach
heights of nearly 500 metres (1,640 ft), and due to bamboo attachments create a
humming sound when flown.[52] Sepak takraw is a game in which a rattan ball is
kept in the air without using hands.[53] A traditional game played during the rice
harvest season was throwing gasing, which are large tops weighing around 5
kilograms (11 lb), which are thrown by unfurling a rope and scooped off the ground
while spinning. They are known to be able to spin for over an hour.[25] Other sports
are dragon dancing and dragon-boat racing. Malaysia's coastline is popular
for scuba diving,sailing, and other water sports and activities.[53] Whitewater
rafting and trekking are also often done.[54]
Many international sports are highly popular in Malaysia. Badminton matches in
Malaysia attract thousands of spectators, and Malaysia, along with Indonesia and
China, has consistently held the Thomas Cup since 1949.[55] The Malaysian Lawn
Bowls Federation (PLBM) was registered in 1997,[56] and already fields a strong
international team[57] and has made progress on the international stage. [58] Squashwas
brought to Malaysia by members of the British army, with the first competition
being held in 1939. The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) was
created on 25 June 1972, and has had great success in Asian squash competitions.
[59]
Football is popular in Malaysia,[53] and Malaysia has proposed a Southeast
Asian football league.[60] Hockey is popular in Malaysia, with the Malaysian
team ranked 14th in the world as of 2010.[61] Malaysia hosted the third Hockey
World Cup at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, before also hosting the
10th cup.[62] Malaysia has its own Formula One track, theSepang International
Circuit. It runs for 310.408 kilometres (193 mi), and held its first Grand Prix in
2000.[63] Golf is growing in popularity, with many courses being built around the
country.[51]
The Federation of Malaya Olympic Council was formed in 1953, and received
recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 1954. It first participated in
the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. The council was renamed the Olympic
Council of Malaysia in 1964, and has participated in all but one Olympic games
since the council was formed. The largest number of athletes sent to the Olympics

was 57, to the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.[64] Malaysian athletes have won a total
of four Olympic medals, all of which are in badminton. [65] Malaysia has competed at
the Commonwealth Games since 1950 as Malaya, and 1966 as Malaysia. It has
been dominant in badminton, and hosted the games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
[66]
The 1998 Commonwealth Games were the first time the torch relay went
through more nations than just England and the host country.[67]

Media[edit]
Main article: Media of Malaysia
Much of the Malaysian media is tied to the ruling UMNO party,[68] with the county's
main newspaper owned by the government and political parties in the ruling
coalition.[69] Major opposition parties also have their own newspapers. [70] Besides
Malay newspapers, there is large circulation of English, Chinese, and Tamil dailies.
[71]
The media has been blamed for increasing tension between Indonesia and
Malaysia, and giving Malaysians a bad image of Indonesians. [72] There is a divide
between the media in the two halves of Malaysia. Peninsular-based media gives
low priority to news from East Malaysia, and often treats it as a colony of the
Peninsular.[71] Internet access is rare outside the main urban centres, [68] and those of
the lower classes have less access to non-government news sources. [69]
The regulated freedom of the press has been criticised, and it has been claimed that
the government threatens journalists with reduced employment opportunities and
denial of family admittance to universities. [73] The Malaysian government has
previously tried to crack down on opposition papers before elections when the
ruling party was unsure of its political situation. [70] In 2007, a government agency
issued a directive to all private television and radio stations to refrain from
broadcasting speeches made by opposition leaders, [74] a move condemned by
politicians from the opposition Democratic Action Party.[75] Sabah, where only one
tabloid is not independent of government control, has the freest press in Malaysia.
[71]
Legislation such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act has been cited as
curtailing freedom of expression.[73] The Malaysian government has large control
over the media due to this Act, which stipulates that a media organisation must
have the government's permission to operate. However, the "Bill of Guarantee of
No Internet Censorship" passed in the 1990s means that internet news is
uncensored.[68]
Cinema[edit]
Main article: Cinema of Malaysia
Malaysian filming has gone through five stages. The first stage occurred when
narrative filmmaking began in 1933, with the production of Laila Majnun by a
company operating out of Singapore. For the first couple of decades

following World War II, most films were directed by directors from India and
the Philippines, which produced a second stage of movies. The first locally directed
film, Permata di-Perlembahan, was produced in 1952. It however failed in the
cinemas. A third stage appeared as Singapore-based studios began to produce films
in the 1950s, but the industry was subsequently damaged due to independence of
Singapore and the loss of studios there. Indonesian films gained popularity at this
time, although a small group of filmmakers continued to produce in Malaysia,
forming the fourth stage. In the 1980s the local industry began to recover, bringing
about the fifth and most eloquent stage, which covered more themes than any
previous stage. This was also the first time non-Malay films began to have a
significant presence.[76]
The government began to sponsor films in 1975, creating the National Film
Development Corporation in 1981.[76] Through this the government offers loans to
filmmaker's who want to develop films, however the criteria for obtaining funds
has been criticised as promoting only commercial films. Due to this lack of
government funding for smaller projects, a strong independent film movement has
developed. There has been a large increase in short films, which in the past two
decades have begun to gain status in international film festivals. Independent
documentaries often cover areas which would normally be censored by the
government, such as sex and sexuality, as well as racial inequality and tension.
Although the government has criticised some films for not showing
multiculturalism, its actions have been inconsistent in that respect, and often favour
the Malay culture over others.[77]

See also[edit]
Malaysia portal

Malaysian cultural outfits

Television in Malaysia
List of museums in Malaysia

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External links[edit]
Malaysia Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
For an informal and highly subjective overview of contemporary Malaysian
culture and performing arts, see BOLEHLAND: A CULTURAL
OVERVIEW by arts reviewer Antares

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