WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2012 MALAYSIA

THEME: LET JUSTICE PREVAIL

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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INTRODUCTION

Malaysia is a nation of diverse cultures, races[1] and religions. There are modern cities, among which Kuala Lumpur is ever growing outwards and upwards. These are striking contrast to idyllic resorts, historic cities such as Melaka and Penang, colonial hill resorts, longhouses of Sabah & Sarawak, and an expanse of rainforest which covers around 70% of the land area. Parts of this dense jungle are still unexplored because of their inaccessibility. Malaysia is also a land of rice paddy fields, rubber and oil palm estates, human settlements on river banks and sea shores, and high rise condominiums.

Malaysia, located in South East Asia, lies north of the equator. It consists of two parts – Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) and East Malaysia comprising of Sabah and Sarawak (in North Borneo). Peninsular Malaysia is joined to the mainland Asia by a narrow isthmus – Isthmus of Kra. Thailand lies to the north of Peninsular Malaysia while the island of Singapore lies at its southern tip. The South China Sea (600km – 370 miles) separates Peninsular Malaysia from East Malaysia. The two parts of Malaysia covers a total land area of 127,284sq miles (329,750km). Malaysia’s name derives from its former name Malaya which comes from the name of its dominant race the Malays, and earlier still from the seventh century Kingdom of Melayu in Sumatera.

Malaysia[2]is comprised of 13 states and 3 Federal Territories covering almost 132,000sq km. West Malaysia is comprised of 11 states – Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka (formerly known as Malacca), Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur & Putra Jaya. Sarawak and Sabah in East Malaysia are the two largest states occupying a total land area of about 200,000 sq.km. Labuan is the other FederalTerritory.

CLIMATE

Situated between 1º and 7º north of the equator, both parts of Malaysia lie in the equatorial rainfall zone. The climate is tropical and humid all the year round. Temperature varies between 22ºC (70ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Humidity is usually high- around 80%. Rain falls almost daily during the monsoon season (October – April), but even during the drier parts of the year there are a couple of showers a week. The rain is not gentle watering but often a deluge, stormy with lightning and thunder. The North East and South West monsoons bring the rain. Annual rainfall ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 millimeters.

GEOGRAPHY

Malaysia’s vegetation is tropical rainforest. It is the world’s oldest, most treasured, and most endangered ecosystem. The rain forest covers about 21 million hectares and has 2,500 different types of trees and over 5,500 species of other plants. Types of plants include vines, creepers, epiphytes, ferns, orchids and giant trees such as dipterocarp. In PeninsulaMalaysia, the Banjaran Titiwangsa, known as the MainRange, runs down the centre, separating it topographically into two regions – West coast and East coast. The highest peak, MountTahan (2,191 metres) is along this range. In Sabah and Sarawak, the CrockerRange is prominent and MountKinabalu (4,101 metres), the highest peak in South East Asia, monopolizes the Sabah sky line from every conceivable angle. Mangroves, salineswamp forests, are found along the West Coast of PeninsularMalaysia and most of the coast of Sabah and Sarawak.

The dense rain forest is home to an astounding collection of animals as well: a variety of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, moths, numerous insects. Wild fruit trees are also found in the jungles. Large scale clearing for plantations and logging (which is now restricted) have disturbed animal habitats and opened the country to poachers seeking valuable animal parts such as rhino horn.

ECONOMY

The mineral resources and agricultural products have contributed to the economy of Malaysia. In the 19th century, the tin boom lured miners from China and brought in good revenue. Perak was the home for the richest and largest tin lodes. Malaysia together with Bolivia dominated the world’s tin industry during this period. Pewter-ware made from tin is very popular and in demand as gifts and souvenirs till today. Huge residential developments have arisen on disused tin mines.

Rubber which became synonymous with Malaysia was first planted in Malaysia by H.N. Ridley in 1888 and immediately thrived. By 1913 rubbersurpassed tin as the chief export and it stayed at the top until 1980, when it was overtaken by oil palm. A new rubber clone called 1 Malaysia which is more productive is ready for commercialization.

The multi-billion ringgit oil palm industry isMalaysia’s great success story. Around 1.5million hectares are under oil palm cultivation. Palm oil is one of the most popular cooking oils and it is an important export. Malaysia is not only the world’s biggest producer of palm oil but also the second largest supplier of palm oil. Over 53% of the world’s palm oil originates in Malaysia and together with timber, cocoa, pepper, pineapples, tea and tobacco brings in foreign revenue.

The Government’s emphasis now is on resource-based industries. Petroleum, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism are the most important contributors. The biggest employers inMalaysia are the civil service and the manufacturing sector. Today, the manufacturing sector dominates. It includes petroleum and natural gas refineries, production of national car and car assembly parts, and processing of domestic raw materials, timber and oil. Leading exports include semiconductors, rubber gloves, air-conditioning units, furniture and electrical goods. The tropical islands such as Pangkor, Langkawi, and Tioman, the rich history of Melaka, and the sandy beaches of Penang attract tourists.

From 1990, national companies Telecoms, Tenaga Nasional (electricity) and major automobile manufacturers have been privatized to encourage the growth of the private sector and to secure foreign investments. Efforts are made to minimize unemployment and to eradicate poverty especially in the densely populated rural areas. Foreign workers are employed in the construction and agriculture sectors.

In Sabah, timber, palm oil, rubber, cocoa, sago, seafood, and vegetables are exported.

GOVERNMENT

Malaysia’s form of Government is described as a Constitutional Monarchy under an overall ruler of the country known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agung, or King, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces. The highest ruler of each state is either the Sultan, the Raja, the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri, or the State Governor.[3]

The King is selected every five years at a Conference of Rulers which is comprised of the hereditary rulers or sultans of the nine states of Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. This allows the sultan of each state the opportunity of being the King. The King reigns for 5 years.

The States of Melaka, Penang, Sabah & Sarawak are headed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or governor.

The Prime Minister is the head of the cabinet and makes all the main national decisions. Parliament is the legislative arm of the Government.

Law – Under the Internal Security Act, Malaysians may be detained without being charged in court if they are suspected of being a threat to public order or to the security of the country. The death penalty is mandatory for persons convicted of drug trafficking. Judicial authority is vested in the High Courts of Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak and in appropriate lower courts. Courts decide civil and criminal cases or settle legality of any law or act of government that is questioned. Judiciary is structured to be independent of politics[4]or any other interference.

THE PEOPLE

In Peninsular Malaysia, with a population of 25.9 million people, the Malays are the dominant group, those of Chinese ancestry number one third, Indians around 10% and the rest include various Orang Asli groups and other small minorities like the Eurasians, Portuguese, Straits Chinese, Sri Lankans. Sarawak’s indigenous groups include Ibans, the Bidayuh, Kayan-Kenyah, Kelabit, and nomadic Penans. In Sabah the major ethnic groups arethe Kadazan, Dusun and Murut.

The early Chinese ancestors who arrived in Melaka married Indonesian women- Bugis, Batak, Javanese or slave girls from Sumatera. These intermarriages produced a Malay-Chinese speaking community whospeak Malay, follow Malay customs but follow Chinese religion. They are known as Peranakan (locally born) Straits Chinese. In Melaka and Penang, men are called Babas and women are Nyonyas. The Nynonas developed the decorative embroidery and bead work tradition of the Malays. Their jewelry and colorful porcelains are collectors’ items.

The Eurasian Portuguese minority that resulted through mixed marriages with locals has its roots in historic Melaka. Its cross-cultural influence on Malay language, songs and dances is significant.

The Orang Asli (original people) are the indigenous aboriginals. They are called Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and Penan in Sarawak. Orang Asli consist of about 20 tribes- Batek, Orang Ulu or Jakun (experts in collecting forest products like camphor, rattan and raisins), Mah Meri Jahut tribes (creative and excellent wood carvers) etc. Malaysia’s earliest people were Semang, who lived a nomadiclife in the deep jungles previously. Senoi (formerly called ‘Sakai’)are known for their blowpipe skills (2 metres).

The aboriginals lived a life of fishing, trapping, hunting, gathering rainforest products, and staying in rough shelters for a few weeks before moving on (shifting cultivation). Nowadays, they live a more settled life as farmers cultivating fruit crops, cocoa, rearing poultry and goats having fish ponds etc and also have entered into the mainstream of Malaysian life.

CULTURE

Historically and Geographically, Malaysia is a truly multi-racial[5] country with a rich cultural heritage of friendly, hospitable and warm-hearted people. It is a nation of diversity in unity where Malays, Chinese, Indians, the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, and minority communities live and work in harmony as one people yet preserving the traditions and cultures unique to each race[6]. This is guided by the Rukunegara, the Malaysian Declaration of National Philosophy with its 5 tenets – Believe in God, Loyalty to King and Country, Upholding the Constitution, Rule of Law, and Good Behaviour and Morality. The colorful multifaceted culture is seen in almost everything – the festivals, dances, costumes, arts and crafts, games, musical instruments and the exotic cuisine, pastimes and the lifestyles.

Some of the popular pastimes are top spinning, kite flying, wayang kulit, sepak takraw, bird singing competition. The Wayang Kulit is shadow puppet play, the puppets being crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It is performed behinda white cloth and an oil lamp creates the flickering shadows on the screen.The dances reflect harvest, weddings and other themes.

There are myriads of festivals but six key festivals are chosen for national level celebration. They are Hari Raya Aidifitri, Tadan Kaamatan, Gawai, Deepavali, Chinese New Year and Christmas. It is common for ministers and others to have open house celebration whereby all other races are welcome to feast on the Malaysian Cuisine and at the same time it provides an opportunity for all races present to appreciate each other’s culture and traditions and foster good relationship in the spirit of Muhibbah.

Malaysian fruits, native to the country is seen in abundance everywhere – wayside stalls, markets. The Durian, ‘King of Fruits’ has a thorny skin with an overpowering smell. Mangosteen, rambutan, (egg shaped, red or yellow in colour, hairy), langsat, duku, ciku are some of the native ones. Others are star fruit, papaya, dragon fruit, pineapples etc.

WOMEN

As of 2009, women have made tangible contributions towards social & economic development of the nation. Women have achieved higher levels of education, increased participation in the labour force and are involved in various business activities. Women have excelled as doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects and business entrepreneurs and politicians. To date, there is rapid absorption of women into the manufacturing and the services sector. Various skills and entrepreneurship, training programmes and financial assistance schemes by Government and NGO’s have helped to reduce poverty among women, single mothers and female headed households. AIM ( Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia) empower the rural and urban poor with microcredit loan schemes. This scheme is based on the Grameen Bank Loan which started in Bangladesh.

Despite the progress made in the women’s movement in Malaysia, women of all races and classes face difficulties of discrimination and violence at all levels of society.In the working age group, 15 to 64 years, only 40 percent of women are employed. Women’s participation in decision making positions is low. Globally, one third of the leaders in Government position should be women, but this has not been achieved because policy has not been endorsed by the government. We have a Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to look into women’s affairs.

Some forms of violence are – infanticide, abortion, incest ( 332 cases in 2006) sexual harassment, rape ( 243 in 2006), domestic violence, negative portrayal of women in the media and workplace. As an example, Malaysian Indian women are descendants of the workforce brought to Malaysia by the British to work in the rubber estates. Although wealth of the country depended on their labour, they did not benefit from education and modern progress. When they left the estates, they were unskilled for other jobs and so had to resort to low paid manual labour in the cities. Malaysian women suffer violence quietly without protest. Culturally, a girl child is seen as less value then the male child.

Organizations in Malaysia like NCWO (National Council of Women’s Organization) AWAM, WAO, Women’s Crisis Centre, YSS, Tenaganita educate about the value of women and about laws against sexual harassment, rape and all forms of violence against women through programmes that they conduct.

Malaysia is the largest destination country for Asia for migrant workers. In the country trafficking in persons has grown and has become highly sophisticated and organized. TENAGANITA, A Women and Migrant’s organization works closely with NGO’s, embassies and the police to protect the rights of all women and migrant workers. They run a shelter to house the survivors of trafficking women and children since 1983.

Single mothers, HIV and AIDS, drug addiction, stateless children in Sabah, abuse and violation of rights of domestic workers are some of the pressing social issues facing women.

The Anti-trafficking in Persons Act was enforced in 2008 after 14 years of lobbying and advocacy. The Act covers sex and labour trafficking.

Women’s role and status in Sarawak have undergone changes and transformation and many have access to education, rich and poor, urban and rural. In 2009, the Sarawak Women and Family Council (MWKS) have conducted a study on the development, achievements and the contributions of Sarawak women during the 45 years of independence. This study is to be the platform to strengthen and empower the status and involvement of Sarawak women in national development.

We pray for women all over the world as they struggle to keep their families together. We appreciate their contribution to the Family, Church and Society.

RELIGION

Malaysia is a land of diverse faiths. The country’s oldest indigenous religion is animism. The Orang Asli and some tribal groups in Sabah and Sarawak are animists or were so until quite recently. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam reached Malaysia from India and China through the traders and travelers who stopped over in Peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon season. Islam is the official religion. Many Malaysians Chinese[7] follow their traditional religions such as Buddhism, Taoism & Confucianism.

The first Christian Church in Malaysia was built by the Portuguese in Melaka after 1511. More Christian missionaries arrived in the late 19th century. When the Dutch took control over Melaka in 1641,they converted the Portuguese Cathedral and renamed it St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Dutch built The Dutch Reformed Church in 1753 – a blood red building constructed in the Northern Renaissance style. The Anglicans took possession of this church, and they consecrated it as ChristChurch in 1858. Churches were later built in Penang, Singapore, and these served the foreign trading Community. In the early 19th century, considerable missionary activity in Sarawak and Sabah and the missionaries concentrated on the animist tribes. Today, Sabah and Sarawak have a significant Christian Community.

CHURCH

About 7 % of Malaysians are Christians. The main Christian denominations are Roman Catholics (largest group), Anglicans, Methodist, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Marthoma and Syrian Orthodox and the Pentecostal groups. When Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, the first Christians, the Roman Catholics came in. In Sarawak, the Borneo Church Mission was founded in 1857. And in Sabah the Basil Mission Society arrived in 1900.