Malaysia

When starting my research on Malaysia, I realized my only reference point has been the recent disappearance of Malaysia flight 370. Because of the recent news surrounding the plane, and it’s supposed whereabouts, I had an idea of where Malaysia is located on a map (Southeast Asia), but that was the extent of my knowledge.

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy. The king is the head of state, an elected monarch chosen every five years from a hereditary line of rulers. The king’s role is largely ceremonial. The head of government is the prime minister. Malaysia protects freedom of religion, although Islam is its official state religion. I was interested to find out that race plays a significant role in politics, as many political parties are ethnically based. 

Malaysia’s ancient Malay culture has a strong influence on the country’s culture today. The Malay are the largest ethnic group in Malaysia, and are predominantly Muslim. Chinese and Indian cultures have also had lasting effects on the society. For example, a Malay wedding ceremony will incorporate elements of Hindu ceremonies from India. These three cultures (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) are the largest ethnic groups in the country, but are accompanied by numerous indigenous cultures as well. There is an open-door policy during religious festivals: although Malaysia has many different religions and cultural traditions, during religious festivals they are all quite open to members of other cultures attending. Each race is encouraged to keep ethnic names and languages and to practice their own religions, as well as to respect the beliefs and practices of others. Diversity seems to be a something that’s encouraged and celebrated here. 

I looked at a few tourism sites to get a feel for cultural customs a Westerner might have to get accustomed to when visiting Malaysia. Since the majority of the population is Muslim, a visitor will see women wearing head scarves. When visiting religious places of worship, it’s important to dress conservatively and be prepared to take off your shoes. Dressing conservatively is recommended for areas outside the big cities, and taking off shoes is customary before entering people’s homes as well. The food in this country is quite varied, and offers up a mix of different cuisines to satisfy a variety of palates, from traditional cuisine to pizza and burgers. I also found out that the possession of legal drugs has a mandatory death penalty.

I was pleased to find that Malay women are among the most emancipated in the Islamic world, and they often hold prominent roles in academia and business. As a woman, I was interested to find out how other women felt while traveling solo in this country, and in most cases I found that solo female travelers felt quite comfortable in this society, while stressing that it’s important to follow custom and dress conservatively. Through my research, I’ve started thinking Malaysia might be a place I’d like to visit in my travels one day. Not only do females feel comfortable traveling here, but the country is rich in cultural/religious sites and beautiful jungle scenery.