INTRODUCTION TO MALAYSIAN SOCIETY

1.1 THE EARLY HISTORY OF MALAYSIA

  1. History has proven that Malaysia had been a living area in several areas of the country since the Stone Age.
  2. Evidence found in archeological method such as tools used by humans and etc. After that, trade zones existed followed by famous kingdoms.

1.1.1Ancient History

  1. Based on the archaeological evidence, it can be conclude that there are four important age of Malaya.

Period / Year / Main Characteristics of inhabitants / Area
Palaeolithic
(Early Stone Age) / 35,000 years ago /
  • Lived in caves
  • Main activity was collecting products and hunting
  • Started using stone tools
  • Tools were simple and crude
/
  1. Tampan Estuary, Badak Cave, Perak
  2. Niah Cave, Sarawak
  3. Tingkayu, Sabah

Mesolithic
(Middle Stone Age) / 11,000 years ago /
  • Lived in caves, along rivers and lakes
  • Started farming
  • Used more refined stone tools
  • Able to make earthenware
/
  1. Cha Cave, Kelantan
  2. Kecil Cave, Pahang
  3. Kepah Cave, Kedah
  4. Jenderam Hilir, Selangor
  5. Madai Cave, Sabah
  6. Gamantang Cave, Sabah
  7. Niah Cave, Sarawak

Neolithic
(New Stone Age) / 5,000 years ago /
  • Used more sophisticated stone tools
  • Started rearing livestock
  • Started communicating with communities in other places
  • Started creating objects and using accessories
/
  1. Cha Cave, Kelantan
  2. Kecil Cave, Pahang
  3. Kepah Cave, Kedah
  4. Jenderam Hilir, Selangor
  5. Madai Cave, Sabah
  6. Gamantang Cave, Sabah
  7. Tengkorak Cave, Sarawak
  8. Niah Cave, Sarawak.

Metal Age / 2,500 years ago /
  • Population grew
  • Developed residential areas in wide open land near rivers
  • More orderly and sedentary lifestyle
  • Practiced social customs
/
  1. Lang River, Selangor
  2. Langar River, Selangor
  3. Muar River, Johor
  4. Tembeling River, Pahang
  5. Terengganu River, Terengganu

Table 1.0: Ancient Periods and Early Inhabited Areas

Pictures during Early Inhabitants

Figure 1.0: Tools to slash and whittled

Figure 1.1: Perak Man


Figure 1.2: Tool used to hack tree and cut the meat. Figure 1.3: Hand Axe

Figure 1.4: Human Funeral during Neolithic Age (Cha Cave, Kelantan)

Figure 1.5: Pottery Artifact founded in Harimau Cave. Figure 1.6: Earrings

Figure 1.7: Ring Figure 1.8: Axe found in Tembeling River, Pahang

Figure 1.9: Ape bone found in Raub, Pahang Figure 1.10: Knife found in Klang, Selangor

Figure 1.1: Scythe found in Bernam Valley, Figure 1.12:Spearhead found in Tembeling

Selangor River, Pahang

1.1.2Protohistory Age

  1. This age started with the arising of early kingdoms in the Malay Archipelago.
  2. It proves by the founding of archaeological evidenceand some record from Yunnan, Arab, Persians, China and India.

Sources / Record
Chien Han Shu (141-87 S.M) /
  • East-Asian People from Cham and Indonesian proto-Malay.
  • Named Kun-Lun people.

Liang Shu ( 502-557 M) /
  • There were some kingdoms in Malay Archipelago such as Tun-Sun, Lang-ya-hsui (Langkasuka), Pan-pan and Tan-tan.

Sui Shu (581-618 M) /
  • Srivijaya was a peacefully kingdom.
  • Relationship betweenChina and Langkasuka .

Chao Ju-Kua (1225 M) /
  • Exist fo-lo-an kingdom in Kuala Berang and teng-ya-nung (Terengganu).
  • Chi-la-tan (Kelantan) and Peng-feng (Pahang)

Table 1.1: Record from China

Sources / Record
Natural History by Pliny /
  • Merchants from south-east Asia sailed at Hindi sea to east-Africa.

Ptolemy (geographies) /
  • There exist various ports form merchants.
  • Called Malay Archipelagos as Golden Chersonese.

Table 1.2: Record from Yunnan

Sources / Record
Jataka Book /
  • Called Malay Archipelagos as Suvarnabumi.
  • Indian merchants from Bharakeccha sailed to Suvarnabumi as the reward to the visit from south-east Asia merchants.

Kathasaritsagara Book /
  • There exists one kingdom in Malay Archipelagos named Kataha.
  • Kataha was the name of Kedah in Sanskrit.

Table 1.3: Record from India

Kingdom / Year / Note
Funan / 1st century /
  • Located in present Kampuchea.
  • Influenced by the Old Kedah Hindu religion
  • Kampung Sungai Emas (5th to 10th century)
  • Pengkalan Bujang (10th to 14th century)

Old Kedah / 5th century /
  • Monarchy system
  • Strategic location
  • Important entreport
  • Influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism

Gangga Negara / 5th century /
  • Port and trade centre

Langkasuka, Patani / 2nd century /
  • Important trade centre
  • Influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism
  • Merong Maha Wangsa History

Chih-Tu, Kelantan / 6th century /
  • Influenced by Buddhism
  • Strong relationship with China
  • Ruling system influenced by Hindu culture

Tan-Tan, Terengganu / 6th century /
  • Ruling system influenced by Indian ruling system
  • Strong relationship with China

Tun-Sun, Segenting Kra / 3rd century /
  • Important trade centre located between China and India
  • Influenced by Hinduism and Indian ruling system

Srivijaya, Sumatera / 7th century /
  • Well-known trade centre
  • Strong relationship with India and China
  • Centre of Buddhism and Sanskrit language
  • Owned several vassal States

Mataram, Jawa / 8th century /
  • Centre of government
  • Influenced by Hinduism

Majapahit, Jawa / 13th century /
  • Owned several vassal States
  • Trade centre
  • Strong relationship with China, India and the Middle East.
  • The Golden era for Majapahit end after the existence of The Malay Kingdom of Malacca.

Table 1.4: Early Kingdoms in the Malay Archipelago

1.2 THE MALAY KINGDOM OF MALACCA

The Malay kingdom of Malacca was founded by Parameswara in 1403 A.D.

Figure 1.13: Brief flows of Malacca

1.2.1The Golden Age of Malacca

  1. In the years followed, Malacca grew into a great Empire in the Malay Archipelago.
  2. The Empire of Malacca was well-known as a centre for maritime trade and the spread of Islam, with a vast territory and strong trade relations with powerful countries such as China and India.
  3. The Malay Kingdom of Malacca was also an empire with an advanced civilization.

Figure 1.14: The system of government

  1. In the system of government, the ruler was the head of state, the Islamic religion and the army. Important officials such as the Finance Minister, the admiral, the Chief of Defense, Chief Bursar and the Harbour-Master, assisted the King.
  2. The organized system of government was based on two main laws: the Malacca law and the Malacca Law of the Sea.

Bendahara / Year
Bendahara Seri Wak Raja
Bendahara Seri Nara Diraja Tun Ali
Bendahara Paduka Raja Tun Perak
Bendahara Tun Puteh
Bendahara Seri Maharaja Tun Mutahir
Bendahara Tepok Paduka Tuan / 1445
1445-1456
1456-1498
1498-1500
1500-1510
1510-1511

Table 1.5: List of Bendahara in the Malay Kingdom of Malacca.

  1. The prosperity of the Malacca Empire was evident in many ways;

Figure 1.15: Named of Sultan of the Malay Kingdom of Malacca since 1400 until 1511 before it fall to the Portuguese.

1.2.2Fall of the Malacca Empire

  1. The golden age of the Malay Kingdom of Malacca ended in 1511 after the Portuguese attack.
  2. History showed that Malacca reached its supremacy under the rule of Sultan Mansur Syah (1459-1477) but declined thereafter.
  3. There were several factors, internal and external, that contributed to the decline of the Malacca Empire.

1.3 MULTIRACIAL SOCIETY

1.3.1Ethnic Composition of the Malaysian Population

Ethnic Composition of Malay’s Population (1848-1957)

  1. Chinese and Indian immigrants came to Malaya after the development of the tin ore industry in 1848.
  2. Chinese comprised merchants who settled in Malacca, Kuala Terengganu and the estuary of the Johor and Pahang rivers, while Indians were labourers in sugar cane and coffee plantations in Penang Island and Province Wellesley.
  3. According to 1870 statistics, the total population in Malaya was less than half a million.
  4. In 1921, the figure increase to 3.3 million.
  5. In 1931, the total population of non-Malays exceeded the total population of Malays; Malays was 44.7%, non-Malays were 53.2% where 39.0% was Chinese.
  6. By the time independence, Malays was 49.8%, Chinese was 37.2%, and Indians was 11.3% and others, 1.8%.

1.3.2Main inhabitants of Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia / Sabah / Sarawak
Malay / Chinese / Indian / Indigenous
  • Banjar
  • Boyan
  • Bugis
  • Jawa
  • Kampar
  • Kerinci
  • Mendaling
  • Minangkabau
  • Rawa
  • Johor-Riau
/ Hokkien
  • Chuan-Chew
  • Chin-Chew
  • Eng-Hua
  • Eng-Choon
  • Hok-Chew
Kwantung
  • Kanton
  • Teochew
  • Hakka
  • Hailam
/
  • Malayali
  • Punjabi
  • Ceylonese
  • Tamil
  • Telegu
/
  • Negrito
  • Senoi
  • Melayu Asli (each of the stocks consists of a tribal community)
/
  • Bajau
  • Dusun
  • Murut
  • Bisaya
  • Kadayun
  • Orang Sungai
  • Orang Laut
  • Brunei
/
  • Bidayuh
  • Bisaya
  • Iban
  • Kayan
  • Kedayan
  • Kelabit
  • Kenyah
  • Melanau
  • Malays
  • Murut
  • Penan
  • Punan

Table 1.6: Composition of the Malaysian Communities and Tribal Communities

Population / 1991 / 1995 / 2000
Total Population / 18.55 / 20.69 / 23.26
Citizens
Bumiputeras
Chinese
Indian
Others / 17.75
10.73
5.02
1.041
0.51 / 19.38
11.95
5.29
1.50
0.64 / 21.52
13.61
5.60
1.61
0.70
Non-Citizens / 0.80 / 1.31 / 1.74
Age Structure
0-14
16-64
65 and above / 6.90
10.97
0.68 / 7.33
12.60
0.76 / 7.74
14.62
0.90

Table 1.7: Population Size, Age Structure, and Ethnicity

State / Years
1980 / 1991 / 1995 / 2000
Johore
Kedah
Kelantan
Malacca
Negeri Sembilan
Pahang
Perak
Perlis
Penang
Sabah and W.P Labuan
Sarawak
Selangor
Terengganu
W.P Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia / 1,644.9
1,120.6
879.8
466.6
575.9
802.2
1,812.3
148.8
958.2
1,055.1
1,351.1
1,521.6
543.1
981.0
13,879.2 / 2,188.1
1,371.3
1,227.0
540.2
726.2
1,079.6
1,995.3
190.7
1,133.6
1,867.4
1,723.8
2,431.2
810.7
1,262.1
18,547.2 / 2,443.8
1,482.1
1,376.1
571.0
785.6
1,189.6
2,072.0
209.1
1,197.8
2,389.0
1,885.2
2,822.4
922.1
1,343.5
20,689.3 / 2,731.5
1,605.2
1,561.5
598.9
849.8
1,319.1
2,130.0
230.7
1,259.4
3,136.8
2,064.9
3,287.8
1,064.1
1,423.9
23,263.6

Table 1.8: Population Distribution According to States

Occupation / Year 1990 / Year 1995
Bumiputera / Chinese / Indian / Others / Bumiputera / Chinese / Indian / Others
Accountant
Architect
Doctor
Dentist
Veterinarian
Engineer
Surveyor
Lawyer
Total / 627
231
1,951
406
242
7,018
573
705
11,753 / 4,524
728
2,430
847
160
11,741
636
1,575
22,641 / 346
12
2,410
396
250
1,065
48
836
5,363 / 77
8
216
21
23
342
26
37
750 / 1,422
368
3,1212
577
310
10,415
1,309
1,731
19,344 / 6,655
943
3,086
854
183
15,091
1,235
2,589
30,636 / 692
20
3,069
409
259
1,416
86
1,591
7,542 / 75
3
241
29
20
42
79
65
939

Table 1.9: Registered Professional Members According to Ethnic Group, 1990 and 1995

Ethnic Group / Current Price (RM) / Average Annual Growth Rate (%)
1990-1995
1990 / 1995
Malaysian
Bumiputera
Chinese
Indian
Others
Non-Malaysian
Malaysia / 1,169
940
1,631
1,209
955
1,105
1,167 / 2,020
1,600
2,895
2,153
1,274
1,715
2,007 / 9.5
9.3
10.0
10.1
4.9
7.6
9.5

Table 1.10: Income Distribution According to ethnic group

1.3.3 The Malays

History of the Malays in Malaya

  1. Most of the Malay people in Peninsular Malaya today were the descendants of people who originated from the Indonesian Archipelago.

Figure 1.16: The factors of the Indonesian migration to Malaya.

  1. After the 1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty, the area was divided into Indonesia and Malaysia.

Community / Background
Javanese /
  • The great migration resulting from the Dutch transmigration policy, that is, the moving of people from the Island of Jawa.
  • The majority of them consisted of coffee and rubber plantation workers and labourers in newly opened land. It was estimated that i1930, there were 170,000 Jawa people in Singapore.
  • In Malaya, most of the Jawa people were concentrated in Johor (Muar, Batu Pahat and Pontian), Selangor (Kelang, Kuala Selangor, Kuala Langat) and Perak (Hilir Perak, Krian, Parit Buntar)

Banjar /
  • The Banjar people originated from the district of Banjarmasin, Kalimantan
  • Most of them were involved in paddy planting
  • In 1931, the Banjar population in Malaya totalled 45,382 people
  • Most Banjar people lived along the coast and in river valleys such as Kerian, Parit Buntar (Perak), Sabak Bernam (Selangor) and Batu Pahat (Johor)

Bugis /
  • The Bugis people originated from the Sulawesi Islands
  • They were the business groups and in Malaya, many of them lived in Perak, Selangor, Pahang, and Johor
  • In Johor, the Bugis people were mostly found in the Benut, Kukup and Rengit (Batu Pahat district) areas, while in Selangor, they were mostly found in the Langat Valley, In Perak, the Bugis people were mainly merchants.

Boyanese /
  • The Boyan people originated from Boyan Island
  • The majority of them migrated to Singapore, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang Island.
  • They concentrated in cities because they were experts in horse-rearing.

Minangkabau /
  • The Minangkabau people originated from Sumatra
  • In Malaya, they were found mainly in Negeri Sembilan and Malacca, where they were known as followers of Adat Perpatih.
  • They were mostly involved in business and agriculture.

Table 1.1: Background of Malayan Population of Indonesian Origin

Economy

  1. Malays were the poorest compared to Chinese and Indians.
  2. Many of the Malays were involved in the agricultural and traditional industries sectors that were said to have low productivity.
  3. Most Malays live in the rural areas where the standard of living is low.
  4. Malays are not exposed to similar opportunities as other communities living in urban areas.
  5. The British policies had ultimately left the Malays in the rural areas and involved in traditional economic activities.
  6. The British denied the Malays an involvement in modern economic activities largely participated by the non-Malays.

Politics

  1. Malays were strong in the political sense but weak economically.
  2. Malay and pro-Malay parties always have the most elected representation in Parliament.
  3. Malay organization – the United Malay National Organization (UMNO).

Sosiocultural

  1. Majority of Malays live in villages which the community has strong ties and strict social control.
  2. The Malays like and have a high regard for consensus and family is the important institution fro social security.
  3. All Malays are Muslims, but not all Muslims are Malays.

1.3.4 The Chinese

  1. The majority of the Chinese in the country today are descendants of the Chinese immigrants who came in the nineteenth century.
  2. Most of the Chinese in Malaya originated from Fukien, Kwangtung and Kwangsi in South China.

Figure 1.17: The factors that led the Chinese to migrate to Malaya.

Cluster / Population number in 1921 / Occupation Characteristics
Hokkien / 380,656 /
  • Consist of businessmen and shopkeepers

Cantonese / 332,307 /
  • Consist of miners and craftsmen (carpenter, cobbler and iron smith)

Hakka / 218,139 /
  • Consist of miners

Teochew / 130,231 /
  • Consist of shopkeepers and farmers who started sugar cane plantations in Wellesley Province and Penang Islands, and Gambier plantation and black pepper in Johor

Hailam / 68,393 /
  • Consist of restaurant owners and suppliers of household needs

Table 1.12: Background of Malayan Chinese Population

Economy

  1. Many of them were involved in business as merchants, businessmen, and craftsmen.
  2. They are based on sub-ethnic groups; the Hokkiens controlled the rubber estates, while the Hainanese concentrated more on the coffee shop business.

Politics

  1. MCA-the Malayan Chinese Association to protect their interests and also for self-government.
  2. The poor Chinese began to voice their feelings through Labour Party, the People Progressive Party and the People’s Action Party.

Sociocultural

  1. In Malaysia, most of the Chinese are Buddhists.
  2. They celebrate festivals based on their roots in the history and culture of society in China such as The New Year is celebrated based on the rotation of days related to planting activities.

1.3.5 The Indians

  1. There was an Indian settlement in Malacca known as Kampung Kling. The Indians were also recognized as propagators of Islam.
  2. The Indian population in Malaya consisted of those originating from South India (Tamil Nadu).
  3. They Indian labourers migrated to Malaya to work in rubber and sugar cane plantations, constructing building and roads, and as a domestic helper.

Figure 1.18: The factors that encouraged the migration of Indians to Malaya.

Composition / Background
Tamil /
  • Originated from Tamil Nadu
  • The largest ethnic group in Malaya (80% of the whole Indian population in Malaya)
  • Mostly worked in the rubber and oil palm plantations. Others worked in government offices.

Malayali /
  • Originated from the Malabar Coast. Also known as Malabari.
  • Formed 7% of the total Indian population in Malaya consisting of the working and middle class.
  • The working class is mostly found in the plantations and the middle class, in clerical and professional employment, they are also famous for their restaurants.

Telegu /
  • Originated from Andhra Pradesh
  • Formed 4% of the total Indian population in Malaya
  • Mostly worked as labourers in plantations

Sikh /
  • Originated from Punjab
  • Mostly worked as police and railway station officers, security guards. Also involved in the rearing of cows. It was said that the Sikh’s bullock cart service was an important form of transport in the tin mines.
  • Starting from the 1920s, there were many Sikhs involved in business and the professionals fields.

Table 1.13: Malayan Indian Population Composition and Background

Economy

  1. The Chettiar groups came to Malaysia as loan providers and were not involved in other businesses. However, many of them started businesses like restaurants, hairdressing and cloth stores.
  2. The majority of the Indians in Malaysia had low income, and was involved in low-skilled or unskilled occupations.

Politics

  1. The main Indian political party in Malaysia is the MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress).
  2. The opposition by the citizens of India against the British colonialists greatly influenced the political activities of the Indians in Malaya before World War One.

Sociocultural

  1. Majority of the Indians in Malaysia from South Indian descent speak Tamil.
  2. Every group has its own dialect, societies and religion. Most of the temples in Malaysia are Saivite temples.
  3. The religious festivals celebrated are Thaipusam in Penang and Kuala Lumpur and Sithraparuvam in Teluk Intan and punggal or New Year festival.

1.4 INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF SABAH AND SARAWAK

The communities are differentiated according to the area they live in, economy, society and culture.

Community / Background
Kadazan /
  • The largest community, also known as the Dusun people.
  • Originally from Kalimantan and most of them live in the hinterland.
  • Concentrated in the areas of the Ranau and Tambunan Valley.

Bajau /
  • This community was originally from Mindanao and Sulu Island and was known as the sea people and Samal people.
  • Concentrated in Semporna, Kota Belud and Timbang Island in Sandakan Bay.

Murut /
  • Live mostly in the interior such as Tenom, Rundu, and Pensiangan
  • A small number among them still live in long houses and are nomads

Sulu /
  • Originally from the Sulu Archipelago and now concentrated in Sungai Sugut
  • Muslims

Brunei /
  • Originally from Brunei and now settled in Sabah, in Beaufort, Kimanis and Papar
  • Muslims

Table 1.14: Background of the population of Sabah

Community / Background
Malay /
  • Originally from Sumatra, they have been there since the 15th century
  • Live mostly along the coastal area
  • Muslims

Melanau /
  • Live mostly along the Igan, Oya and Mukah rivers.
  • Muslims
  • Assimilated with the Malays and practice the Malay culture.

Iban /
  • Originally from Kalimantan (River Kapuas)
  • Also known as the Sea Dayaks
  • The largest community and live in inland areas such as along the Sungai Sekrang, Sungai Batang Lupar and Sungai Rejang

Penan /
  • Most of them live as nomads in the woods.

Kelabit /
  • Settled mainly in the area of the rivers Baram and Rejang
  • The most famous of their villages is Bario
  • Some of them still live in long houses

Table 1.15: Background of the Population of Sarawak