people of malaysia

Muzium Negara Gallery D

Malaysia has a population of about 27 million people living in Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The historical journey has given birth to a multi-racial society that inspires a rich cultural heritage.

As Malaysians respect each other's beliefs and faiths, cultural and religious festivals such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas, Gawai Day and other auspicious occasions are given due importance.

One of the unique features of Malaysia is the multi-racial population who practices various religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity. Each ethnic group has its own beliefs. Under the Federal Constitution, Islam is the official religion of Malaysia but there is freedom of worship.

Our tourism tag line is 'Malaysia Truly Asia' and true to its slogan, Malaysia is home to a unique potpourri of Asian Cultures - Malay, Chinese, Indian, along with the many indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak.

Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times

by Barry Wain

Mahathir Mohamad turned Malaysia into one of the developing worlds most successful economies. He adopted pragmatic economic policies alongside repressive political measures and showed that Islam was compatible with representative government and modernization.

He emerged as a Third World champion and Islamic spokesman by standing up to the West.

About the Author

BARRY WAIN, a former editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal, is Writer-in-Residence at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. An Australian journalist who has lived in Asia for 37 years, he is author of The Refused, an account of the refugee outflow from Indochina after the Vietnam War.

Get the Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times here

people of malaysia