BRIEF HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Ranging from the Malaysian Peninsula to the Island of Borneo, Malaysia is a

beautiful country with diverse ecosystems ranging from lush rainforests to tropical
beaches. Although it was not declared independent until 1957, people have been living in
Malaysia for over 50,000 years (Turnbull, 1981). When Europeans first arrived to
Malaysia, they encountered the first settlers of the Malaysian Peninsula, and coined the
term Negritos to refer to them. These indigenous people arrived to the area between
50,000 and 70,000 years ago, and lived in complete isolation until less than 20,000 years
ago (Bellwood, 2014). There have been studies that have tried to compare the Native
Southeast Asian people to other from the same time period, such as people from Africa
and the Middle East, in order to understand their origin, but none have prevailed. This
group of people is completely genetically unique to the region.
Once international trading took over, Malaysia became an important port for Asia,
particularly for the Chinese and Indians. India had such an influence on Malaysia that by
400 A.D. there is record of the language spoken in this area- Malay, being written in
Indian Sanskrit (Szczepanski, 2014). India also influenced the spread of religions in
Malaysia at the time, bringing Hinduism and Buddhism to the region.
Over the years, rulers of the Malaysian region became allies with different,
stronger governments to ensure safety from common enemies. In the mid 17th century, the
Dutch East India Company teamed up with Malaysians to regain a territory conquered by
Portugal 200 years earlier.
During the peak of the British Empire, there was a saying that the sun never sets
on the British Empire because the empire was so massive and spread out throughout the

world, that it was believed that somewhere in it was always daytime. Malaya (the
Malaysian region) was also a part of this great empire during the 1800s; and once the
empire started to fall, the Malaysian Peninsula and the Island of Borneo were given
directly to the British monarchy. The British ruled and took advantage of Malay for 200
years, until World War II. In 1942, the Japanese planned a surprise attack on Malay, in
order to cleanse the region of all Chinese people. After the war, the British returned to
their previous Malay territories, but the people no longer accepted them there, and
demanded independence. This was granted in stages, as the Federation of Malaya was
first established under British rule, and it was not until 1957 that Malaysia was
independent (Gibbon, 2015).
FOOD TRADITIONS AND PATTERNS
Due to all the conquerors and traders that have shaped Malaysias culture to be
what it is today, Malaysian cuisine is a melting pot of cuisines from many different
countries. Bordering Thailand, it is no mystery why some Malaysian dishes resemble
classic Thai foods; and perhaps one of the biggest culinary influences Malaysia has had is
India. Contact and migration between Malaysia and India began thousands of years ago,
and curries, rotis, and satays- traditional Indian dishes, are prevalent in classic Malaysian
cuisine (McWilliams, 2011).
Traditional Malaysian food is typically spicy, and is often prepared using a Wok,
indicating some influence from Chinese cooking. Cumin and coriander are the most
common spices used in Malaysian cooking, and its spiciness is often added by the use of
chili. When it is not used in the preparation, there is usually a chili dressing served with
the dish because of how central its flavor is to Malaysian cuisine.

Such as other countries in Asia, rice is served as part of almost every meal in
Malaysia. Thai rice is the most widely used; other types of rice such as Indian basmati,
are sometimes used as well. While it is not the most commonly prepared rice,
Malaysians national dish is also centered on rice. It is called Nasi Lemak, which
translates to fatty rice. This dish is composed of steamed coconut rice, cucumber, eggs,
dried shrimp, dried anchovies, peanuts, and a sauce. Similarly to other rice dishes in Asia,
it can be eaten as breakfast, lunch, or dinner (SBS, 2015).
Malaysian food also has a wide selection of desserts. One of the most popular is
called Air Batu Campur, otherwise known as ABC. It is a shaved ice dessert, with
toppings such as red beans, corn, fruit, and grass jelly. It is served with ice cream and
topped off with condensed milk and syrup. Another Malaysian dessert is Kuih Nyonya,
which was popularized by the Peranakans- descendants of the Chinese immigrants who
arrived in Malay between the 1400 and 1600s. Kuih Nyonya is not a specific dessert, but
rather a type of cake that can come in many different flavors. The staple ingredient that
Kuih Nyonyas have in common is coconut; is it usually eaten for breakfast or during teatime (Wan, 2014).
EATING HABITS AND DINING ETIQUETTE
Malaysians adopted the habit of teatime under the British rule, but other eating
practices were adopted by cultures that did not necessarily rule Malaysian territories.
One of these is the practice of Peranakans to use chopsticks. Other Malaysians typically
use a fork and a spoon simultaneously while eating, using the fork to scoop food into the
spoon, and eat from the spoon. It is common for dining to be a part of Malaysian business
meetings, and it is crucial to keep these personable and friendly. While eating out,

whether for business or leisure, tipping is not expected. This is due to service being
already a part of waiters pay.
If dining in the home, the host is the one in charge of seating arrangements, unless
there is a higher official in attendance. It is most appropriate when arranging seating, to
seat the senior guests right of the host. It should be that he/she is seated furthest away
from the door, as that is considered the best seat (2015).
PRIMARY RELIGION AND PRACTICES
Malaysians are a people that consist of a diverse background with many religions.
While there are Buddhists, Christians, and Hindus, and others currently living in
Malaysia, the most prominent religion is Islam, consisting of over 60% of the country.
There is controversy about freedom of religion in Malaysia, as it is the law that all
Malays must practice Islam. People who live in Malaysia but are not Malays are allowed
to practice other religions, but Atheism is not deemed acceptable.
One issue that has become more well-known throughout the rest of the world is
the practice of female circumcision, otherwise known as Female Genital Mutilation, in
Malaysia and some other Muslim-ruled countries. This was brought to mainstream
attention around 2012, when the United Nations condemned it, and unanimously asked
that it be banned from all countries. Just 3 years earlier, in 2009, it became Malaysian law
that all Muslim females have to undergo this surgery (Ainsley, 2009). As of today, 93% of
Muslim females in Malaysia have been through this procedure.
Although the terms are used interchangeably, Malaysian supporters of Female
Genital Mutilation believe that their practice of female circumcision is widely different.
They claim that while they condemn Female Genital Mutilation the way that is it done in

countries like Sudan, their practice removes only about a millimeter of skin on a patients
clitoris, and it is not a cruel practice. While many people support making Female Genital
Mutilation illegal in Malaysia, there is also the fear that the procedure which is now
usually done in sanitary conditions, will simply go underground and endanger women
further (Kasztelan, 2015).
THERAPUTIC PLANTS AS FOOD
Many Asian countries heavily rely on alternative medicine, and Malaysia is no
different. The focus of their medical ideology is therapeutic plants, and over 1,300
different therapeutic plant species have been identified as native to the regions of
Malaysia. While most of these plants are effective in treating stomach-related ailments,
they often have miraculous secondary benefits. Bayam Berduri for example, is powerful
enough to fight the negative side effects of pollution in the air. Jambu Batu is a plant that
can help prevent cancer and diabetes. Even the Malaysian native orchid has been used for
years to treat body aches (Sultana, 2014).
MALAYSIAN ETYMOLOGY
Long before it was called Malaysia, named by combining the term Malay
from the Malay Peninsula, and the word Asia, the region had other names. One of the
earliest known names is: Aurea Chersonesus. Ptolemy, a Greco-Egyptian writer, coined
this term. Claudius Ptolemy wrote the book Geographia in the year 150 A.D., and the
name he gave modern day Malaysia translates to Peninsula of Gold from Greek. This
name has proved to be ironic, due to Malaysia having so much more tin than gold, that it
is the second largest tin producer in the world (Munan, Yee, &Spilling, 2012).

MALAYSIA AS A TRAVEL DESTINATION

Malaysia is a popular tourist destination, and is inexpensive compared to some of
the other developed Asian countries. It is near the equator, so Malaysia is always hot,
ranging from about 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. The best season to visit is spring due to
less rain and fewer tourists. During high tourist season, which is winter, the east side of
Malaysia experiences Monsoon season and is exceptionally rainy, often leading to
flooding.
Fortunately to those traveling to Malaysia, there is much to do in every season.
Some of the most popular tourist destinations are the Perhentian Islands, which look like
paradise-perfect beaches with transparent teal water. These islands are an ideal
destination for diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. Conservation exhibitions to save sea
turtles are also a popular activity.
The Perhentian Islands are best avoided during Monsoon season, as they are very
strongly affected by its storms. More to the western area of Malaysia, there is an ancient
rainforest dating back to about 130 million years ago. The name of this rainforest is
Taman Negara, which in Malay literally translates to national park. At almost 1,700
square miles, the Taman Negara has trails and treetop bridges that assist trekkers in
exploring adventures that can last weeks.
There are animals in the Taman Negara that do not exist almost anywhere else in
the world, and are extremely endangered. These include the Indian Elephant, Crab-Eating
Macaque, and Malayan Tiger- of which there are only about 300 left in on Earth
(Salloum).

Not all tourist attractions in Malaysia involve being outdoors. The countrys
capital Kuala Lumpur, boasts some of the best shopping around. Its malls are so great and
extravagant that visiting them is on most lists of things to do for tourists. One of the malls
is over 1.3 million square feet, and most luxury brands and designers have opened stores
in it or in neighboring malls. There are also famous open markets such as Central Market
that sell local artisan goods.
Night markets are another tourist attraction in Malaysia, and are only open in the
evenings and at night. One of the most popular night markets is on Petaling Street, and is
open all night until very early morning. This market is the best place to get counterfeit
products, such as fake designer purses. Haggling is acceptable and expected in this
market. And since this is located in the Chinatown area of Kuala Lumpur, there are also
vendors in the market that sell Chinese food and other items (Wong).
CONCLUSION
Malaysia is a relatively new country with a very ancient history and culture. Its
rich cuisine that has become unique to Malaysia, but was heavily influenced by so many
other cultures, is a perfect analogy for Malaysia itself. The people of Malaysia are a
diverse group, from different origins and religions. This melting pot of cultures creates
balance, and can explain how the same country that is modernizing and expanding its
shopping malls and designer stores, is also using therapeutic plants as medicine. While
there are some negative aspects to being less developed, such as the prevalence of Female
Genital mutilation, others like the former can be very beneficial.
Unsurprisingly, Malaysia is a popular destination for tourists, placing one of the
top visited countries in Asia. There are tropical beaches to see, rainforests to hike

through, and cities to explore. Malaysia is delicious, gorgeous, and exciting; and due to it
not being completely developed, still quite affordable, which all adds up to a perfect
destination.