Welcome to Malaysia "Pristine beaches, the most luscious weather I have ever experienced and hospitality that is out of this world Malaysia is paradise on earth." Malaysia is a paradise of lush forests, pristine beaches and tropical islands. World renowned for its diversity of wildlife and people, this incredible country offers visitors a wealth of activities and fascinating things to see and do. The fantastic melting-pot culture has resulted in a relaxed, openminded way of life, and the Malaysian people are famous for their hospitality. If you can picture yourself trekking the dense rainforests, relaxing on golden sands, or sampling some of the fantastic Malay cuisine, then this beautiful country is the place for you. Know your History Pre-history Malaysia has a long history of immigration by many different peoples of the wider region. Initially, a group of Stone Age peoples arrived on the Malay Peninsula, but were soon displaced by a more advanced sea-faring and farming people. Soon after, a technologically advanced people from China, complimented by a mixture of people from India, Arabia and Siam, united with Indonesians to form the racial mixture present today on the Malay Peninsula. Indianisation By 100 B.C., the arrival of the Indians brought a thriving trade in spices, gold and aromatic wood. In addition Buddhism and Hinduism made its mark with construction of many temples and pagodas during a period of "Indianisation" which lasted around 1,500 years. Also by this time, the Malay Peninsula was famous as a centre for maritime trade, facilitated by its great strategic location between India and China. This period is considered the Golden Age of Malay self-rule, with much evolution of Malay traditional art, literature, music, dance, dress, and culture. The straights of Malacca were chosen as an ideal location due to the easily police-able natural features of the straight. Founded in 1400 A.D. by a Muslim Prince, it was the site of a major port which exerted great control over the entire region within 50 years. The influence and importance of the harbour helped spread Islam throughout the archipelago and was soon predominant in the religious spectrum and added further to the cultural melting-pot of the region. Today, the island of Bali, in neighbouring Indonesia is the last refuge of Hinduism in the whole region. Portuguese rule
By 1511 A.D., the Portuguese had successfully navigated their way around South Africa and the infamously dangerous Cape of Good Hope, arriving in Malaysia in search of the lucrative Chinese silk and spice markets. Since non-muslims were not allowed to pilot their ships into the Port of Malacca, the Portuguese decided instead to capture the port and build an immense fortress to protect their interests. This marked the end of Muslim power in the region, as the area was now to be fought over by European powers until modern times. The Portuguese discovered and founded the tin mines, which were to prove strategically tempting to other European powers. Dutch &English rule The fortress was captured by the Dutch in 1641, which put a quick end to Portuguese presence in the region. But when Napoleon marched on the Netherlands in 1795, the Dutch handed the port over to the British rather than let the French get their hands on it. The British had already extracted agreements from the Sultan of Kedah to build a fort in Penang to facilitate British trade with China. When Malacca was handed back to the Dutch in 1815, the British looked to found a new port, choosing a small village on the island of Singapore. When the Dutch left Malaysia in 1824, the British controlled all three ports, and the region became known as the Straits Settlements, ruled by the British Governor in Singapore. The ports accumulated much wealth with the abundance of tea, tin, spices, and opium which flowed through the region. Throughout the 1800s, British hegemony was solidified through various treaties and political influence. By the turn of the century, the British controlled all of the area which now composes modern-day Malaysia. The modern-day borders were demarcated by colonial reach rather than racial or linguistic boundaries. Although the country was technically the sovereign property of the Sultan, the territory was a British colony in everything but name. Independence British control over the area persisted until the growing imperialism of the Japanese overwhelmed the overstretched and unprepared British army in 1942. Although control by Britain was regained after the war, Malaysian desire for independence was too great. By 1963, the sun finally set on the British Empire in Malaysia and most of the region. Initial teething problems involved mass rioting against the unequal wealth distribution slanted towards the Chinese and Indians. More equitable economic policies proved to be the answer, maintaining a delicate ethno-political balance. Money Talks In the 1980s Malaysia successfully made the transition from an agricultural economy to a manufacture-based economy, transforming Malaysia into a so-called "Asian Tiger Economy". Malaysia has also greatly developed its tourism industry, boasting beautiful beaches and lush dense rainforests. Despite rumours of political repression and human-rights abuses, and the remaining serious problems of poverty, wealth inequality, corruption and environmental degradation, Malaysia has become an economic success story. The Malaysian currency is the ringgit (Malay for "jagged" originally used to describe the uneven edge of the Spanish silver dollar). Get Culture Savvy
Malaysia is a melting-pot of different ethnic backgrounds and religions, resulting in a vibrant and interesting culture full of diverse influences. All the world's major religions are represented in Malaysia, and are a direct reflection of the ethnic diversity within the country. Despite Islam being the state religion and most Malays being Muslim, the Chinese Malaysians embrace Taoism, Buddhism and ancestor worship, and many people in East Malaysia have converted to Christianity. Here, Malays, Indians, Chinese, and the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak live in cultural harmony, and having got used to such a wide range of people in the country, the Malaysians welcome visitors and are famous for their hospitality towards travellers. Arts &Craft Malaysians are proud of their cultural heritage, and many traditional arts and crafts are still alive today. Dance and music form a vital part of Malaysian life, and every community has a distinctive performance to offer at festivals and events. Malaysians love an excuse for a celebration, and visitors can experience the vibrant, colourful dances and songs at the many street parades and public festivals throughout the year. Traditional games are also important in Malaysian culture, especially in the Malay community, and have been preserved in their original forms over the centuries. Festivals One of the best festivals to get involved in is the "Colours of Malaysia", which brings together the many traditions of the country's 13 states into one grand procession, as well as dance performances and fantastic spreads of food. A more unusual event is that of the International Kite Festival held in Kelantan, which boasts a colourful display of giant kites that weave and dip in the breeze around late May. Food As a result of the many racial groups in Malaysia, cuisine has been influenced by all corners of the world and has become rich and diverse. It is said that you can try a different dish every day for the year and still not have tried everything! You can now find Indian, Chinese, European, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and of course Malay foods throughout Malaysia's main towns and cities. Of course, when visiting a new country, the traditional local food is always the best and it is always worth trying a few specialities. Natural, home-grown foods feature heavily in Malay food, and are similar to Thai ingredients. Coconut, chilli, lemongrass, lime, spices, and turmeric are staple ingredients, often cooked with fish, meat or vegetables, and served with a sambal, a hot chilli side dish. Malaysia is famous for its satay dishes; marinated beef or chicken barbecued over charcoal and served with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce, and accompanied with onions, cucumber, and ketupat (rice cubes boiled in a palm leaf). Fruit is widely available throughout Malaysia. It is fresh and tasty, and there are a few types that you may not have come across before and should definitely try! Starfruit, or carambola, is available all year round, and is very good, especially in juice form which is thought to lower blood pressure. Durians are fruit which have to be tasted to be believed. Their pungent smell is enough to put anyone off, but those of you who are brave enough to try the flesh are in for a real treat. The size of a football, this fruit is known by locals as the "king of fruits". Cempedaks are large and fleshy, and are often eaten deep fried in batter! Other interesting fruits are ciku which are like kiwi fruit, pomelo, and the largest citrus fruit in the world, furry rambutans, and mangosteen.
Learn the Lingo The official language of Malaysia is Malay, although both English and Chinese are also widely used. Knowing just a few basic phrases of a local language can vastly deepen your experience of a culture and understanding of local people, so here are just a few to get you started... ENGLISH MALAY ENGLISH MALAY Greetings Hi! Good morning! Good evening! Welcome How are you? I'm fine, thanks! Thank you (very much)! You're welcome! Good night! See you later! Goodbye! About Yourself What is your name? My name is... Where are you from? Asal dari mana? (informal) I'm from... Hi! Speaking the Language Do you speak (English / Malay)? Can you say it again? Please speak more slowly I don't understand! My Malay is bad Selamat pagi Selamat petang Selamat datang Apa khabar? Khabar baik, terima kasih Terima kasih (berbanyakbanyak) Sama-sama Selamat malam Jumpa lagi Selamat jalan Siapa nama anda? Nama saya... Dari mana asal saudara? (formal) Saya dari... Adakah anda fasih berbahasa (Inggeris/Melayu)? Bolehkah anda mengulangi apa yang telah anda sebutkan? Boleh cakap perlahan sedikit? Sila ulang Saya tidak faham! Penguasaan bahasa melayu saya lemah Useful Phrases Excuse me Maafkan saya Thank you In response to "thank you", reply I'm sorry? (if you don't hear something) Tumpang lalu (to pass by) Terima kasih Sama-sama Maafkan saya?
I need to practice my Malay Saya perlu memperbaiki bahasa Melayusaya Sorry Ma'af What's that called in Malay? Apakah nama benda ini? No problem! Tiada masalah! I don't know! Saya tidak tahu! Help &Directions I have no idea Saya tiada idea Can you help me? Bolehkah anda membantu saya? What is this? Apa ini? Where is the... (bathroom / pharmacy)? Di manakah (bilik mandi/ farmasi)? Don't worry Jangan (bimbang/ risau) Go straight then turn left / right! Jalan lurus/ kemudian pusing kiri/ kanan How much is this? Apakah harga barang ini? Lay of the Land There are two distinct parts to Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia to the west (south of Thailand, north of Singapore and east of Sumatra), and East Malaysia (situated on the island of Borneo, and borders Brunei and Indonesia). Peninsular Malaysia makes up 131,000 km2 (39.7%) of Malaysia's 329,847 km2 (it is the 66th largest country in the world in terms of area), while East Malaysia covers 198,847 km2 (60.3%). Most of the terrain in Peninsular Malaysia is classed as coastal plains, which rise towards the hills and mountains. Just 0.37% (around 1,200 km2) of Malaysia's total land area is water. Malaysia has the 29th longest coastline in the world 4,675 km and sits in the world's coral reef distribution. The main body of water around Malaysia is the South China Sea, and many of the islands dotted around Malaysia come under Malaysian rule including Banggi Island in Sabah and Penang Island in Penang. The largest island, Borneo, however, is shared with Indonesia. The Bera Lake in Pahang is one of the largest lakes in Malaysia, and one of the only 2 natural lakes in Malaysia (along with Tasik Chini). Malaysian-owned Kenyir Lake is the largest artificial lake in Southeast Asia. The highest mountain range in Malaysia is the Crocker Range in Sabah, housing Mount Kinabalu (the highest mountain in the country) and Mount Tambuyukon (the 3rd highest in the country). The Trus Madi Range is also in Sabah, boasting the 2nd highest peak in Malaysia, Mount Trus Madi. Bombalai Hill in Sabah is the only active volcano in Malaysia. The main mountain ranges in Peninsular Malaysia are the Titiwangsa Mountains (which includes Mount Korbu) and the Tahan Range (home to Mount Tahan). Malaysian forests are categorised as tropical rainforest, subdivided into dipterocarp, swamps, and mangrove forest. Approximately 58.2% of Malaysian land is covered by forest. Some areas are designated as forest reserves, state parks, or national parks and as of 2008, these areas include two World Heritage Sites Kinabalu National Park on the west coast of Sabah (East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo) and Gunung Mulu National Park near Miri, Sarawak (again in Malaysian Borneo), which is famous for its caves.
What's the Weather like? Malaysia's climate is considered equatorial hot and humid throughout the year. Average temperatures reach 27 C and annual rainfall usually exceeds 2,000 mm. Malaysia also faces two monsoon seasons the Southwest Monsoon from May to September and the Northeast Monsoon from November to March (which brings more rainfall than its south-western sister). Biodiversity Malaysia is one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world recognising its huge array of flora and fauna and unique habitats. Although the numbers of floral and faunal species are not the highest in East Asia, the density of species per square kilometre is. There are 15,000 known flowering plants, 1,500 terrestrial vertebrates (mammals, reptiles and birds inclusive) and 150,000 invertebrates that call Malaysia their home. Of which, 746 species of plant are endemic, as well as; 27 mammals, 11 varieties of birds, 69 types of reptiles and 69 species of amphibians. Even its status as a mega-diverse country can't protect it, and the number of threatened species (save birds) per km2 is the highest in the four countries that make East Asia. The growth of protected areas is slow, and deforestation is overtaking the methods in place for conservation. Good Books Guidebooks The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Charles de Ledesma, Mark Lewis &Pauline Savage. Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Simon Richmond.. Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 9781740597081 Wildlife A Divers Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife. Andrea Ferrari. Nautilus. ISBN 9789832731009 A Birdwatcher's Guide to Malaysia. John Bransbury. Waymark. ISBN 9780646145594 Teaching Guides Essential Grammar in Use with Answers: A Self-study Reference and Practice Book for Elementary Students of English 2nd Edition. Raymond Murphy. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 9780521529327 Essential Grammar in Use with Answers: A Self-study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English 3rd Edition. Raymond Murphy. Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 9780521532891 Lessons from Nothing: Activities for Language Teaching with Limited Time and Resources (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers). Bruce Marsland. Cambridge University Press, 1998. ISBN 9780521627658
Games for Children (Resource Books for Teachers). Gordon Lewis &Gunther Benson. Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN 9780194372244 Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching 2nd Edition. Diane Larsen-Freeman. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 9780194355742 CONTACT INFORMATION Call us on 020 7613 2422 (UK) / 1 949 336 8178 (US) Mail us on info@frontier.ac.uk Check out our social media here: