Take The Path Less Ordinary

How the myriad of races identify themselves

As early as 500 years ago, multiculturism has made inroads into olden Malayan. Being the epicentre of shipping routes between the west and east, the peninsular reeled in visitors from all over the world and some eventually stayed back. This phenomenon has bestowed Malaysia with a wonderous variety of culture, architecture, fashion sense and not forgetting food.

While Malaysia is a melting pot of Asians, not many would choose to be identified by their ethnicity when introduced to foreigners. Unlike in the United States of America where citizens usually label themselves as Afro-American or Hispanic-American, Malaysians aren’t too fixated on ethnic origins. Instead, we always address ourselves as Malaysians first and followed by our genetic make-up. So, you’d hear races being addressed as Malaysian-Chinese, Malaysian-Indian or Malaysian-Sikh. The word “Malaysian” always takes the front seat.

The Malays

According to famed anthropology and sociology professor Dr Syed Husin Ali of University Malaya, during the Mesolithic-era and Neolithic-era, the Malays are people who migrated from Hoabhinh region (modern day Indochina or South China itself) in waves to the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and the Phillipines. Today, the Malays, who are Moslem, forms the majority in Malaysia.

Contrary to popular belief, the term Malay or local term “Melayu” doesn’t refer to a single race of the same origin. For example, west coast peninsula Malays have family ties tracing back to Sumatran’s ethnic stocks such as the Talu, Rawanese, Mandailing, Acehnese, Banjarese, Amboynese, and Minangkabau while southern Johor Malays are of Bugis, Riau and Java descend. Malays in Sabah and Sarawak have their origins tracing back to Kalimantan, Palawan and the Sulu islands. Kelantanese Malays are descendant of Siam’s Pattani and the Champa Malays are from Cambodia. Locals with bloodline of Indian or Arab origins too will regard themselves as Malay.

Today, the word Melayu or Malay is a collective term used to describe a wide range of sub-origins who are Moslems living in Malaysia.

In 1876, adventurer John Thompson wrote wistfully of Malaysian women - “pretty and attractive looking … daughters of that sunny clime; but let him not say long … unless he can defy the witchery of soft dark eyes, of raven tresses, and of sylph-like form”.

Many believe the the word “Melayu” was first used to call the Orang Laut people living by the riverbanks of Sungai Melayu located between Jambi and Palembang, southeast Sumatra, Indonesia. However, some argued that such a small and isolated village could not have fanned influence over the use of “Melayu” as a collective term because there were larger and more powerful ethnic groups that ruled the region in the olden days. Moreover, from past till present, Javanese, Sudanese, Bugis, Minangkabau and other ethnic groups living in the vast region of the SE Asian archipelago do not refer themselves as “Melayu” at all.

Simply put, how the word came about is still debatable. That said, all ethnic groups in Indonesia and Malay Malaysians acknowledge they are “serumpun” (of the same stock) and would usually use the word “Nusantara” to describe their linkage.

Apart from mainstream Moslem Malays who migrated from mentioned places, there is a class of people known as Proto-Malay who are considered native Malays and still practice animism. They include Temuan, Semelai, Jakun, Orang Kanaq, Orang Kuala and Orang Seletar. They however makes up less than 1% of the country’s population and preferred to be grouped under the aborigine Orang Asli category.

The Chinese

The Chinese form the next largest race. Some believed Chinese has set foot much earlier based on 6th century Chinese maps that named Kelantan state as “Hor Lan Ten”. In 15th century at the helm of Malaccan Sultanate, seafaring Chinese convoys from southern provinces lead by Admiral Zheng He made Malacca their home.

Cross marriages with the locals have given rise to a sub-culture fondly known as “Peranakan Cina” or “Nyonya Baba”. These early settlers adopted local culture, style of dressing and spoke a twang of Malay that is laced with Hokkien. At the end of 19th century, they were nicknamed the “Straits Chinese” by the British or “Peranakan Cina” by locals. Most were entrepreneurs who spoke impeccable English. Today, their descendants are found in Penang, Kedah, northern Perak and Malacca.

Subsequent wave of Chinese came in mid 19th century to work in tin mines and run spin off businesses. Major sub-groups comprise of Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew, Hainanese and Foochow. Do not be too surprised to find Chinese speaking in different tongues in major towns. KL and Ipoh’s Chinese prefer Cantonese, Penang’s speak Hokkien while Kota Kinabalu’s speak Hakka.

The Indians

Ancient Hindu artefacts found in Kedah’s Lembah Bujang and Ramayana-based script depicted by “wayang kulit” (shadow play) in Kelantan show Indians have made their presence felt 2,000 years ago but only settle en masse in 19th century.

Most Indians are of Southern India origin and are divided into two groups - Moslems and Hindus. A small percentage is Christian Anglo-Indians. Common dialects spoken are Tamil, Urdu, Telugu and Malayalam. There are also small communities of Pathans, Parsees, Gujaratis and Ceylonese calling Malaysia their homeland.

Another minority race that originates from India and worth mentioning are the Punjabis. In 1873, 110 Punjabis were brought in by Captain Tristram Speedy to help keep law and order amid rivalry between Chinese groups in Perak for tin-rich lands. The First Battalion Perak Sikhs was later formed in 1884 and Sikhs from India’s Punjab trickled in to join the force and their families. Today, their descendants are found throughout the country.

Indigenous Natives - Sabah and Sarawak

Sabah and Sarawak’s tribal natives although presents only 5% of the total population, they are the oldest inhabitants of Borneo and form the majority in these two East Malaysia states. Sarawak’s dominant tribes are the Iban and Bidayuh while in Sabah the Kadazan. Other 50 minority tribes include Bajau, Melanau, Penan, Murut, Dusun and Orang Ulu. Each tribe speaks a unique language but share a strong spiritual bond with Borneo’s rainforest.

Indigenous Natives - Peninsular

Over 20 tribal groups, collectively known as Orang Asli (translates as “original people” in Malay), are found in the Peninsular they include the Semai, Batek, Mahmeri, Jahai, Semelai, Batek and Temiar. They are the first who inhabits peninsula Malaysia. (Editor: We have a special interest in aborigine Orang Asli and you can read about them in this dedicated Orang Asli post.)

Eurasians

Officially classified by the British in 1920s to facilitate racial census, the Eurasians are people of mixed Asian and European ancestry. Cross marriages arose during colonial occupation of Malaysia by the English, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch in 16-17th century. Today, the Eurasian population is roughly 12,000 and most of them live in ex-colonial Penang and Malacca.

Expat Retirees

Last but not least, occasionally you may bump into foreigners calling Malaysia their second home. Thanks to the Silver Hair Programme mooted by the Home Ministry, those who are over 50 and have RM150,000.00 to spare as collateral can apply for a permanent resident status. Recently, this program was taken over by the Ministry of Tourism and renamed as Malaysia My Second Home program. Conditions apply; see Malaysia My 2nd Home program official website.