Molly Gearan

SIE Malaysia/Singapore

March 9, 2016

Individual Paper

As expected, Malaysia and Singapore both have such diverse populations. The three main
ethnic groups of these countries are Chinese, Malay, and Indian- all so different, yet they blend
well together in these countries. I was lucky enough to experience and observe these three
different cultures for two weeks.
In Malaysia, the Chinese are the second largest ethnic group. The Min Chinese is the largest
group within the Chinese Malaysian population. Aside from the national language of Bahasa
Malaysia, Chinese Malaysians speak a range of languages including Cantonese, Foochow,
Mandarin, Hakka, Hokkien, and Hainan. The Chinese culture is prominent in Malaysia with
countless celebrations, dance rituals, commerce and cuisine.
While visiting the country in January, I did notice the covers of magazines highlighting the
upcoming Chinese New Year. This festival is a big deal and celebrated throughout Malaysia. The
Chap Goh Mei and Moon Cake festivals are also extremely prevalent in Malaysian society.
The Chinese Malaysians are known for dominating Malaysias commerce. This was apparent
on our trip when we walked down main streets and found an overwhelming variety of Chinese
shops. China Town made it particularly clear that Chinese culture is so prevalent in Malaysia.
The Chinese cuisine I tasted in Malaysia was top notch. I noticed a lot of curry dishes being
served and particularly enjoyed a pineapple chicken curry dish.
In 1965, Singapore broke off from freshly independent Malaysia as a direct result of bitter
disputes over the preservation of rights for ethnic Chinese and other minorities in the new
Malay-dominated nation. Today, Three-quarters of Singaporeans are ethnically Chinese.
Although there is clearly some tension between the Chinese of China and Chinese of Singapore,
the Chinese culture continues to be an important component of Singaporean society. They speak
mainly English, but also can be found speaking Malay, Mandarin, or sometimes even Hokkien,
Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, Hakka, Foochow, and Hinghua. Chinese culture is prominent
in Singapore society with the food as well as the practices of Confucianism, Buddhism, and
Daoism.
Although I did not taste any Chinese food in Singapore, I did see it quite often. Soups,
noodles, beef and vegetables seemed to be the most common parts to the Chinese meals. Also,
we did visit a few Buddhist temples and I did notice a lot of Buddhist religious mementos being
sold. I didnt here too much talk regarding Confucianism or Daoism as much as I heard about
Buddhism in Singapore.
In my opinion after visiting the two countries, Malaysian Malays and Singaporean Malays
seem very similar when it comes to language, religion, and overall culture. Both speak Malay
and English and are known to be mainly Shafii Sunni Islam. The only real difference I have
noticed is in population. The Malays are the largest ethnic group in Malaysia, while the Malays
are the second largest ethnic group in Singapore. It seems as if there is tension between the two
groups regarding descent. Malay Singaporeans want to be recognized as Singaporeans and not be
associated with Malaysia.
Malaysian Indians form the third largest ethnic group. They mainly speak Tamil, but also
might speak Malaysian English or Malay. They mainly practice Hinduism. It is common for
Malaysian Indians to be successful in the medical, legal, and education fields. The Indian
influence has had a great impact on Malaysia. The Indians are the reason for the popularity of
curry in Malaysia. My class had the opportunity to taste a traditional banana leaf meal which
consisted of white rice, vegetables, a variety of tasty sauces and spices, and our choice of
chicken or fish. The banana leaf acted as our plate and our hands were our utensils. We mixed
and consumed our food with our fingers. This was a great way to experience true Malaysian
Indian food.
Malaysian and Singaporean Indians seem to be very similar in language, religion, and food
influence. Like Malaysia, Singapores third largest ethnic group are the Indians. Singaporean
Indians primarily speak Tamil and Singapore English. Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are the
main religions. Indians in Singapore often are successful in politics, education, diplomacy, and
law. A large portion of food in Singapore is Indian. I had a chance to taste some traditional
chicken tikka masala and naan in Singapores Little India.
As mentioned, I was fortunate enough to experience these three rich cultures for two weeks
and I believe that exposure has changed me for the better. It has opened my eyes to a way of
living different from my own. It made me appreciate my own culture, as well as build a deeper
appreciation for diverse cultures.
This trip to Malaysia and Singapore has also made me more independent. I never thought I
would be able to navigate around in a foreign country without getting completely lost, but I was
able to direct my friends and myself around the two countries just fine. I now have the
confidence to travel more and be open to new and diverse experiences. I am truly grateful I was
able to go on this trip and I would recommend it to any student who is eager to step outside his
or her comfort zone and embrace a completely different environment.
Sources:

Aw, Tash. "Being Chinese in Singapore." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Feb.
2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.