What was malaysia called

Malaya was the first to get industrialization of the ISI type under way. The Pioneer Industries Ordinance offered inducements such as five-year tax holidays, guarantees to foreign investors of freedom to repatriate profits and capital etc. A modest degree of tariff protection was granted. The main types of goods produced were consumer items such as batteries, paints, tires, and pharmaceuticals. Just over half the capital invested came from abroad, with neighboring Singapore in the lead.

Primary production, however, was still the major economic activity and here the problem was rejuvenation of the leading industries, rubber in particular. New capital investment in rubber had slowed since the s, and the bulk of the existing trees were nearing the end of their economic life. However, the new trees required seven years to mature.

Corporately owned estates could replant progressively, but smallholders could not face such a prolonged loss of income without support. To encourage replanting, the government offered grants to owners, financed by a special duty on rubber exports. The process was a lengthy one and it was the s before replanting was substantially complete.

Moreover, many estates elected to switch over to a new crop, oil palms a product used primarily in foodstuffs , which offered quicker returns. Progress was swift and by the s Malaysia was supplying 20 percent of world demand for this commodity. Another priority at this time consisted of programs to improve the standard of living of the indigenous peoples, most of whom lived in the rural areas. Financial assistance repayable was provided to cover housing and living costs until the holdings became productive.

Rubber and oil palms were the main commercial crops planted. Steps were also taken to increase the domestic production of rice to lessen the historical dependence on imports.

The markets were mainly in East Asia and Australasia. Here the largely untapped resources of Sabah and Sarawak came to the fore, but the rapid rate of exploitation led by the late twentieth century to damaging effects on both the environment extensive deforestation, soil-loss, silting, changed weather patterns , and the traditional hunter-gatherer way of life of forest-dwellers decrease in wild-life, fish, etc.

Other development projects such as the building of dams for hydroelectric power also had adverse consequences in all these respects Amarjit Kaur, ; Drabble, ; Hong, A further major addition to primary exports came from the discovery of large deposits of oil and natural gas in East Malaysia, and off the east coast of the Peninsula from the s.

Gas was exported in liquified form LNG , and was also used domestically as a substitute for oil. At peak values in , petroleum and LNG provided around 29 percent of Malaysian export earnings but had declined to 18 percent by The program of industrialization aimed primarily at the domestic market ISI lost impetus in the late s as foreign investors, particularly from Britain switched attention elsewhere.

An important factor here was the outbreak of civil disturbances in May , following a federal election in which political parties in the Peninsula largely non- bumiputera in membership opposed to the Alliance did unexpectedly well.

This brought to a head tensions, which had been rising during the s over issues such as the use of the national language, Malay Bahasa Malaysia as the main instructional medium in education.

There was also discontent among Peninsular Malays that the economic fruits since independence had gone mostly to non-Malays, notably the Chinese. The outcome was severe inter-ethnic rioting centered in the federal capital, Kuala Lumpur, which led to the suspension of parliamentary government for two years and the implementation of the New Economic Policy NEP.

The main aim of the NEP was a restructuring of the Malaysian economy over two decades, with the following aims:. The principle underlying these aims was that the redistribution would not result in any one group losing in absolute terms.

Rather it would be achieved through the process of economic growth, i. While the primary sector would continue to receive developmental aid under the successive Five Year Plans, the main emphasis was a switch to export-oriented industrialization EOI with Malaysia seeking a share in global markets for manufactured goods.

Free Trade Zones FTZs were set up in places such as Penang where production was carried on with the undertaking that the output would be exported. As with ISI, much of the capital and technology was foreign, for example the Japanese firm Mitsubishi was a partner in a venture to set up a plant to assemble a Malaysian national car, the Proton, from mostly imported components Drabble, Source: Drabble, , Table Bumiputera ownership appears to have stopped well short of the 30 percent mark.

Section b indicates that while bumiputera employment share in primary production increased slightly due mainly to the land schemes , as a proportion of that ethnic group it declined sharply, while rising markedly in both the secondary and tertiary sectors.

In middle class employment the share rose to 27 percent. All ethnic groups registered big falls, but on average the non- bumiputera still enjoyed the lowest incidence of poverty. By the overall level had fallen to only 4 percent.

Over these three decades Malaysia accomplished a transition from a primary product-dependent economy to one in which manufacturing industry had emerged as the leading growth sector. Rubber and tin, which accounted for The post-independence state played a leading role in the transformation.

The transition from British rule was smooth. Apart from the disturbances in government maintained a firm control over the administrative machinery.

Foreign capital was accorded a central role, though subject to the requirements of the NEP. At the same time these requirements discouraged domestic investors, the Chinese especially, to some extent Jesudason, Development was helped by major improvements in education and health.

Enrolments at the primary school level reached approximately 90 percent by the s, and at the secondary level 59 percent of potential by In the tertiary sector the number of universities increased from one to seven between and and numerous technical and vocational colleges opened.

Bumiputera enrolments soared as a result of the NEP policy of redistribution which included ethnic quotas and government scholarships. However, tertiary enrolments totaled only 7 percent of the age group by Better living conditions more homes with piped water and more rural clinics, for example led to substantial falls in infant mortality, improved public health and longer life-expectancy, especially in Peninsular Malaysia Drabble, , , The quality of national leadership was a crucial factor.

This was particularly so during the NEP. While supporting the NEP aim through positive discrimination to give bumiputera an economic stake in the country commensurate with their indigenous status and share in the population, he nevertheless emphasized that this should ultimately lead them to a more modern outlook and ability to compete with the other races in the country, the Chinese especially see Khoo Boo Teik, There were, however, some paradoxes here.

In common with many other countries Malaysia embarked on a policy of privatization of public assets, notably in transportation e. Malaysian Airlines , utilities e. In turn the NDP was part of a longer-term program known as Vision The aim here is to turn Malaysia into a fully industrialized country and to quadruple per capita income by the year The Malaysian economy continued to boom at historically unprecedented rates of percent a year for much of the s see next section.

There was heavy expenditure on infrastructure, for example extensive building in Kuala Lumpur such as the Twin Towers currently the highest buildings in the world. The volume of manufactured exports, notably electronic goods and electronic components increased rapidly. The Asian financial crisis originated in heavy international currency speculation leading to major slumps in exchange rates beginning with the Thai baht in May , spreading rapidly throughout East and Southeast Asia and severely affecting the banking and finance sectors.

The Malaysian ringgit exchange rate fell from RM 2. There was a heavy outflow of foreign capital. To counter the crisis the International Monetary Fund IMF recommended austerity changes to fiscal and monetary policies.

Some countries Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia reluctantly adopted these. The Malaysian government refused and implemented independent measures; the ringgitbecame non-convertible externally and was pegged at RM 3. Despite international criticism these actions stabilized the domestic situation quite effectively, restoring net growth see next section especially compared to neighboring Indonesia. Source : Drabble, , Table The data show that Japan, the dominant Asian economy for much of this period, progressively slowed by the s see below.

The exception was Japan which encountered major problems with structural change and an over-extended banking system. Post-crisis the countries of the region have started recovery but at differing rates. The Malaysian economy contracted by nearly 7 percent in , recovered to 8 percent growth in , slipped again to under 1 percent in and has since stabilized at between 4 and 5 percent growth in Malaysia owes its successful historical economic record to a number of factors.

Geographically it lies close to major world trade routes bringing early exposure to the international economy. The sparse indigenous population and labor force has been supplemented by immigrants, mainly from neighboring Asian countries with many becoming permanently domiciled. The economy has always been exceptionally open to external influences such as globalization.

Foreign capital has played a major role throughout. Governments, colonial and national, have aimed at managing the structure of the economy while maintaining inter-ethnic stability. Since about the economy has benefited from extensive restructuring with sustained growth of exports from both the primary and secondary sectors, thus gaining a double impetus.

However, on a less positive assessment, the country has so far exchanged dependence on a limited range of primary products e. These industries are facing increasing competition from lower-wage countries, especially India and China. Within Malaysia the distribution of secondary industry is unbalanced, currently heavily favoring the Peninsula. Sabah and Sarawak are still heavily dependent on primary products timber, oil, LNG.

There is an urgent need to continue the search for new industries in which Malaysia can enjoy a comparative advantage in world markets, not least because inter-ethnic harmony depends heavily on the continuance of economic prosperity. Amarjit Kaur. London: Macmillan, Andaya, L. A History of Malaysia, second edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave, Drabble, J. An Economic History of Malaysia, c.

Tourism has been limited in biodiverse areas such as Sipadan island. Animal trafficking is a large issue, and the Malaysian government is holding talks with the governments of Brunei and Indonesia to standardise anti-trafficking laws. Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market economy. The state plays a significant but declining role in guiding economic activity through macroeconomic plans. Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.

In the s, the predominantly mining and agricultural-based economy began a transition towards a more multi-sector economy. Since the s the industrial sector has led Malaysia's growth.

High levels of investment played a significant role in this. Inequalities exist between different ethnic groups. The Chinese make up about one-third of the population but accounts for 70 per cent of the country's market capitalisation. International trade, facilitated by the adjacent Strait of Malacca shipping route, and manufacturing are key sectors of the country's economy.

Malaysia is an exporter of natural and agricultural resources, the most valuable exported resource being petroleum. At one time, it was the largest producer of tin,rubber and palm oil in the world. Malaysia remains one of the world's largest producers of palm oil.

In an effort to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on exported goods, the government has pushed to increase tourism to Malaysia. The country has developed into a centre of Islamic banking, and is the country with the highest numbers of female workers in that industry. Knowledge-based services are also expanding. The country is one of the world's largest exporters of semiconductor devices, electrical goods, and information and communication technology products.

In an effort to create a self-reliant defensive ability and support national development, Malaysia privatised some of its military facilities in the s. This has created a defence industry, which in was brought under the Malaysia Defence Industry Council. The government continues to promote this sector and its competitiveness, actively marketing the defence industry.

As of the census, the population of Malaysia was 28,,, making it the 43rd most populated country. The population of Malaysia consists of many ethnic groups. Malays make up According to constitutional definition, Malays are Muslims who practice Malay customs and culture.

They play a dominant role politically. Bumiputra status is also accorded to certain non-Malay indigenous peoples, including ethnic Thais, Khmers, Chams and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Non-Malay bumiputra make up more than half of Sarawak's population and over two thirds of Sabah's population. There also exist aboriginal groups in much smaller numbers on the peninsula, where they are collectively known as the Orang Asli.

Laws over who gets bumiputra status vary between states. Other minorities who lack bumiputra status make up a large amount of the population. The Chinese have historically been dominant in the business and commerce community, and form a plurality of the population of Penang. Indians began migrating to Malaysia in the early 19th century. The majority of the Indian community are Tamils. Malaysian citizenship is not automatically granted to those born in Malaysia, but is granted to a child born of two Malaysian parents outside Malaysia.

Dual citizenship is not permitted. Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card known as MyKad at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times. The education system features a non-compulsory kindergarten education followed by six years of compulsory primary education, and five years of optional secondary education.

Schools in the primary education system are divided into two categories: national primary schools, which teach in Malay, and vernacular schools, which teach in Chinese or Tamil. Secondary education is conducted for five years. In the final year of secondary education, students sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education examination.

Since the introduction of the matriculation programme in , students who completed the month programme in matriculation colleges can enroll in local universities.

However, in the matriculation system, only 10 per cent of places are open to non-bumiputra students. The infant mortality rate in was 6 deaths per births, and life expectancy at birth in was 75 years. With the aim of developing Malaysia into a medical tourism destination, 5 per cent of the government social sector development budget is spent on health care. The population in concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia where 20 million of approximately 28 million Malaysians live.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the largest city in Malaysia, as well as its main commercial and financial centre. Putrajaya, a purpose-built city constructed from , is the seat of government, as many executive and judicial branches of the federal government were moved there to ease growing congestion within Kuala Lumpur.

Due to the rise in labour intensive industries, the country is estimated to have over 3 million migrant workers; about 10 per cent of the population. Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of the 3 million that make up the population of Sabah, 2 million are illegal immigrants.

Malaysia hosts a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately , Of this population, approximately 79, are from Burma, 72, from the Philippines, and 17, from Indonesia. Malaysian officials are reported to have turned deportees directly over to human smugglers in , and Malaysia employs RELA, a volunteer militia with a history of controversies, to enforce its immigration law. The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion while making Islam the state religion.

According to the Population and Housing Census figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs correlate highly. Approximately All ethnic Malays are considered Muslim by law of the Constitution.

Statistics from the Census indicate that The majority of the Indian population follow Hinduism Christianity is the predominant religion of the non-Malay bumiputra community Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of Syariah courts in matters concerning their religion.

The jurisdiction of Shariah courts is limited to Muslims in matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious conversion, and custody among others.

No other criminal or civil offences are under the jurisdiction of the Shariah courts, which have a similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts. Despite being the supreme courts of the land, the Civil Courts do not hear matters related to Islamic practices.

The official language of Malaysia is Bahasa Malaysia, a standardised form of the Malay language. Historically English was the de facto administrative language, with Malay becoming predominant after the race riots. English remains an active second language, and serves as the medium of instruction for maths and sciences in all public schools. Malaysian English is widely used in business, along with Manglish, which is a colloquial form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences.

The government discourages the misuse of Malay and has instituted fines for public signs that mix Malay and English. Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of living languages. Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of 41 of these languages. The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay. Iban is the main tribal language in Sarawak while Dusunic languages are spoken by the natives in Sabah. Chinese Malaysians predominately speak Chinese dialects from the southern provinces of China.

Tamil is used predominantly by Tamils, who form a majority of Malaysian Indians. Other south Asian languages are also widely spoken in Malaysia, as well as Thai A small number of Malaysians have Caucasian ancestry and speak creole languages, such as the Portuguese based Malaccan Creoles, and the Spanish based Chavacano language.

Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began.

Other cultural influences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures. Due to the structure of the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has been minimal cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.

In , the government created a "National Cultural Policy", defining Malaysian culture. It stated that Malaysian culture must be based on the culture of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia, that it may incorporate suitable elements from other cultures, and that Islam must play a part in it. It also promoted the Malay language above others. This government intervention into culture has caused resentment among non-Malays who feel their cultural freedom was lessened. Both Chinese and Indian associations have submitted memorandums to the government, accusing it of formulating an undemocratic culture policy.

Some cultural disputes exist between Malaysia and neighbouring countries, notably Indonesia. The two countries have a similar cultural heritage, sharing many traditions and items. However, disputes have arisen over things ranging from culinary dishes to Malaysia's national anthem. Strong feelings exist in Indonesia about protecting their national heritage. The Malaysian government and the Indonesian government have met to defuse some of the tensions resulting from the overlaps in culture.

Feelings are not as strong in Malaysia, where most recognise that many cultural values are shared. Traditional Malaysian art was mainly centred around the areas of carving, weaving, and silversmithing. Traditional art ranges from handwoven baskets from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay courts. Common artworks included ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics. Indigenous East Malaysians are known for their wooden masks.

Each ethnic group have distinct performing arts, with little overlap between them. However, Malay art does show some North Indian influence due to the historical influence of India. Traditional Malay music and performing arts appear to have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with influences from India, China, Thailand and Indonesia.

The music is based around percussion instruments, the most important of which is the gendang drum. There are at least 14 types of traditional drums. Drums and other traditional percussion instruments and are often made from natural materials.

Music is traditionally used for storytelling, celebrating life-cycle events, and occasions such as a harvest. It was once used as a form of long-distance communication. In East Malaysia, gong-based musical ensembles such as agung and kulintang are commonly used in ceremonies such as funerals and weddings. These ensembles are also common in neighbouring regions such as in the southern Philippines, Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Brunei. Malaysia has a strong oral tradition that has existed since before the arrival of writing, and continues today.

Each of the Malay Sultanates created their own literary tradition, influenced by pre-existing oral stories and by the stories that came with Islam. The first Malay literature was in the Arabic script. The earliest known Malay writing is on the Terengganu stone, made in Chinese and Indian literature became common as the numbers of speakers increased in Malaysia, and locally produced works based in languages from those areas began to be produced in the 19th century.

English has also become a common literary language. In , the government took the step of defining the literature of different languages. Literature written in Malay was called "the national literature of Malaysia", literature in other bumiputra languages was called "regional literature", while literature in other languages was called "sectional literature".

Malay poetry is highly developed, and uses many forms. The Hikayat form is popular, and the pantun has spread from Malay to other languages. Malaysia's cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of its population. Many cultures from within the country and from surrounding regions have greatly influenced the cuisine. Much of the influence comes from the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, and Sumatran cultures, largely due to the country being part of the ancient spice route.

The cuisine is very similar to that of Singapore and Brunei, and also bears resemblance to Filipino cuisine. The different states have varied dishes, and often the food in Malaysia is different from the original dishes. Sometimes food not found in its original culture is assimilated into another; for example, Chinese restaurants in Malaysia often serve Malay dishes. Food from one culture is sometimes also cooked using styles taken from another culture, This means that although much of Malaysian food can be traced back to a certain culture, they have their own identity.

Rice is popular in many dishes. Chili is commonly found in local cuisine, although this does not necessarily make them spicy. Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year.

Some are federally gazetted public holidays and some are observed by individual states. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or religion groups, and the main holiday of each major group has been declared a public holiday. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka Independence Day on 31 August, commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya in Malaysia Day on 16 September commemorates federation in Malaysian Chinese celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year and others relating to traditional Chinese beliefs.

Hindus in Malaysia celebrate Deepavali , the festival of lights, while Thaipusam is a religious rite which sees pilgrims from all over the country converge at the Batu Caves. Malaysia's Christian community celebrates most of the holidays observed by Christians elsewhere, most notably Christmas and Easter.

East Malaysians also celebrate a harvest festival known as Gawai. Despite most festivals being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group, celebrations are universal.

In a custom known as "open house" Malaysians participate in the celebrations of others, often visiting the houses of those who identify with the festival. Explaining the arrests, the Internal Security Council ISC , which had sanctioned the operation, stated that it had evidence pointing to communist infiltration and control of Barisan Sosialis and its affiliated labour unions.

Sukarno agreed that Indonesia would not object if the people of North Borneo supported the Federation. Indonesia also carried out raids in Singapore and the Malaysian Peninsula.

Singapore was hit by a wave of bomb explosions that culminated in the bombing of MacDonald House , which killed two people and injured 33 others. The Tunku saw the contest as a political challenge and an attempt by the PAP to intervene in federal politics.

Lee was of the view that the PAP could provide new direction to better integrate the races. In response, the Tunku reiterated that the PAP should limit its purview to Singapore and devote its energy to turning the island into the New York of Malaysia. In exchange, the Tunku assured Lee that his Alliance party would not interfere in the affairs of Singapore.

They launched a smear campaign against the PAP, accusing Lee and his government of mistreating the Malays in Singapore, and depriving them of the special rights enjoyed by their counterparts in Malaysia. The extremists used inflammatory language and appeals in Malay newspapers and rallies to stir up anti-PAP sentiment within the Malay community in Singapore. The accusations escalated until they erupted into racial violence in Singapore on 21 July and 2 September Tunku Abdul Rahman, who had become the Malaysian prime minister, was pressed to intervene to avoid a repeat of the communal clashes that had taken place in He communicated this to his deputy, Tun Abdul Razak, who was instructed to lay down the groundwork for separation.

Negotiations over the separation were conducted in complete secrecy. Barker at the end of July, along with other legal documents such as the Proclamation of Independence.

Rajaratnam signed the document on 7 August. During the press conference, Lee explained the inevitability of separation despite his long-standing belief in the merger, and called on the people to remain resolute and calm. From NewspaperSG 2. Call no. RSING