A Multi-ethnic Society
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy. The king resides in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, but Putrajaya, a planned city south of the capital, is the federal administrative center where various government agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, are located. The Prime Minister, who is the head of the Cabinet, is elected by the parliament after a general election. The king’s position de facto rotates among the nine Rulers of the Malay Peninsula, and is elected for a full five-year term.
Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society is comprised of three main groups: Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Over half of the population is Malay, while Malaysia's Chinese and Indian population constitue around 24% and 7%, respectively. Malaysia's cultural diversity and complexity deepened as Chinese and Indians mingled with indigenous people. In most regions, at least two languages are used, namely Malay, the country’s official language, and either English, Chinese, or Indian. While Malaysia’s constitution grants people freedom of religion and makes the country a secular state, it establishes Islam as the religion of the Federation. Making Islam the dominant religion, the influence of Islamic law is stronger in Malaysia compared to other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia.
ICT, Islamic Finance Hub and Tourism
Due to Malaysia’s convenient geographic location, the country has developed into a Southeast Asian powerhouse for logistics and information and communication technology. Since the early 2000s, the country has also positioned itself as the “hub of Islamic finance”, attracting issuers from the Middle East. Its advantageous geographic position gives Malaysia direct access to the Straits of Malacca, one of the world’s most important shipping channels, giving the country’s open financial environment a completive edge over neighboring Singapore in terms of investment and costs. As a result, many multinational corporations and international associations have chosen Malaysia for their Asian headquarters.
Its culturally open environment, also referred to as the “melting pot of Asia,” is the pride of Malaysia. While Asians feel comfortable in the country due to the familiarity of Muslim-Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, Westerners perceive the country as attractive as it is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Thanks to its tropical tourism resources and cultural goods and products, Malaysia attracts more tourists than its own population. Among its many popular tourist destinations are the National Palace, the official residence of the country’s monarch, and the Petronas Twin Towers in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, where past and present coexist. Another tourist magnet is Malacca City, the capital of the state of Malacca. In 2008, the port city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for preserving the history of Malaysia. Other internationally famous tourist destinations include Penang, referred to as “Pearl of the Orient;” Langkawi, a center of marine sports; and Mount Kinabalu, the mountain in the Malay Archipelago. The country’s diverse food culture and the fact that English is widely spoken further increase Malaysia’s appeal as a tourist destination.
Written by Journalist Jong-hyun Park
(Segye Ilbo)
KOREA FOUNDATION
