acrosstheSTRAITS
acrosstheSTRAITS
Multicultural Malaysia
Patronas Towers
A country of thirteen states and three federal
territories, Malaysia has emerged from its humble beginnings to achieve its dynamic world
economic status that it is today. Its strategic location for trade and commerce gave rise to its
prominence in Southeast Asia during the end of
the 16th century. Its richness in history from the
archaic times of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic civilisations to the days of colonial imperialism and
independence has contributed significantly to
the cultural splendour of places of worship, precolonial shophouses and Moorish architectural
wonders of heritage buildings. Around 3000BC,
Malaysia’s humid climate and abundance of
natural resources had lured in indigenous tribes,
better known as Orang Asli who are known to
originate from Tibet and China in the South.
Despite their influx, it was the Malay Sultanate
Kingdom in Melaka during the 15th century that
transformed the country into a business hub
that attracted many from all over the world. Simultaneously, it was a period when Islamic influence was rampant that the Sultans and the
Malays started to embrace Islam as their religion.
During the period of colonial imperialism, Melaka’s reputation as a booming trading and economic hub had propagated far and wide and
had enticed many Europeans and especially the
Portuguese, to enter the region. They acquired
Melaka in 1511 but the Dutch eventually gained
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sovereignty over the land in 1641. The disposed
Malay rulers sought refuge in the South where
they established a new Sultanate. Malaysia endured a series of trials and tribulations soon after
en route to gaining independence on 31 August
1957 where Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed as the nation’s first Prime Minister. Despite the
social and economic turmoil that Malaysia had
faced, it managed to blossom into the diversified
economy it is today under the outstanding leadership of then Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad for a duration of 22 years. He was able
to tap on its vast fertile land, plenitude of natural resources and its rich biodiversity to achieve
a self-sustainable economy. With two thirds of
the country blanketed in herbage, the territory is
home to a macrocosm of flora and fauna – a feature which has made significant contribution to
Malaysia’s tourism industry. The inter-marriag Hق