Malaysia

Malaysia is in Asia and has thirteen states. Land borders are tied with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunie. The capital is Kuala Lumpur and has a population of just over 28 million people. 50.4% are Malay, 23.7% are Chinese, 11% are Indigenous, 7.1% are Indian and 7.8% are other. The government is a federal constitutional monarchy, the Kind is Abdul Halin, Prime Minister is Najib Tun Razak, and the Deputy Prime Minister is Muhyidden Yassin. Since independence, Malaysia has one of the best economies is Asia and has expanded in tourism, science, commerce, and medical tourism. Interesting fact, they drive on the left side of the road instead of the right like we do here. Malaysia is the 67th largest country by total land area, and is separated into two parts. Malaysia citizenship is not automatically granted to those who are born in Malaysia, but it is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents born outside of Malaysia. Every citizen is issues a biometric smart chip identity card that is issued to them when they turn 12 and they have to have it with them at all times. The education system consists of non-compulsory kindergarten and six more years of compulsory primary education, next is five years of optimal secondary education. Students sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education Examination and students who completed the 12 month program in matriculation colleges can enroll in universities. The Malaysian constitution guaruntees freedom of religion, making Islam the state religion. About 61% of the population practices Islam, about 20% Buddhism, 9% Christianity, and 6% Hinduism. The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian, and English is the second language. Malaysia has a very multi-ethnic, multi-culture society. Influences come from Chinese and Indian culture, back from when the foreign trade began. Indonesia and Malaysia have some disputes about Indonesia protecting their national heritage since Malaysia and Indonesia share so many traditions, heritage, and culture. The national drink of the country is Teh Tarik and the national dish is Nasi Lemak. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka which is Independence day on August 31st. Malaysia day on September 16th commemorates federation in 1963. Traditional Malaysian art consists of crafts, art, and weaving, ranging from hand- woven baskets to silverworks. Malaysians are know for their wooden masks, and their arts have really expanded recently. Each ethnic group has a specific performing arts that is unique to them, some overlap though. Malay art shows some North Indian influence, called mak yong, incorporating dance and drama. Different tribes from West and East Malaysia have different dances, depending on what other cultures brought influence to them, such as the Chinese bringing lion dances and dragon dances with them. Like arts, music is influenced by India, China, Indonesia, and Thailand, and consists of percussion instruments, the most important is the gendang (drum). Music is traditionally used for storytelling, celebrations of life, and annual events such as harvest. Oral literature such as folktales is a huge tradition. Each family will have their own unique story, depending on their family experiences. Malay poetry is huge and used in many different forms. The first Malay literature was in Arabic script.