CUSTOMS &

BELIEFS OF
DIFFERENT
ETHNICS IN
MALAYSIA.
 ETHNICITIES IN MALAYSIA
EXAMPLES OF ETHNICS IN
MALAYSIA
Relating to a population subgroup
(within a larger or dominant national or Malay
cultural group) with a common Chinese
national or cultural tradition.
India
Iban
Kadazan

PERANAKAN IN MALAYSIA
EXAMPLES OF PERANAKAN IN
The Peranakans are an ethnic group MALAYSIA
defined by their genealogical
Baba Nyonya
descent from the first waves of
Southern Chinese settlers to the Chitty
ports in the Malay Peninsula and Kristang
Indonesian Archipelago
 BABA NYONYA
• Language
The language of the Peranakans, Baba Malay (Bahasa Melayu
Baba), is a creole dialect of the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu),
which contains many Hokkien words. It is a dying language, and
its contemporary use is mainly limited to members of the older
generation. English has now replaced this as the main language
spoken amongst the younger generation
• Religion
Baba Nyonya subscribed to Chinese beliefs: Taoism,
Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism, celebrated the Lunar New
Year and the Lantern Festival, while adopting the customs of the
land they settled in, as well as those of their colonial rulers. There
are traces of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Malay and Indonesian
influences in Baba culture. A certain number of Baba Nonya
families were and still are, Catholic. However in this modern
society, lots of young Peranakan community have been embracing
Christianity.
• Art and Architecture
The Baba & Nyonya house illustrates the way of living of the Peranakans at
the end of the 19th century, a unique blend of the east and the west. The
design of this heritage building is influenced by the various European
architecture such as the Victorian era chandeliers and floor tiles, with the
building mainly framed by heavy Roman columns. The front area of the
interior of the Baba & Nyonya house leads into an open courtyard where
sunshine streams into the house on sunny days and raindrops patter during
the rainy season. The interior of the house is complemented with a number of
priceless antique furniture made in Italy, Britain and Dutch. made of finely
carved hardwood. There are also finely carved furniture featuring wonderful
classic Chinese work of art.
MALAYS’
CULTURE
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• The children of a Malay household are strictly bound by custom to look upon their parents with respect and total obedience. Following
Islamic practices, Malays would attend Friday (Jumaat) prayers at a nearby mosque around noon.
• The traditional Malay dressing is quite conservative as per the laws of Islam. The Malay formal dress for men is the Baju Melayu, a loose,
long-sleeved shirt which is worn over a pair of trousers. A white cap known as Kopiah is worn while going to the mosque for prayers. A
velvet cap called as Songkok is also worn along with the formal dress in leather shoes.
• A Malay woman does not leave the house for forty days after the birth of her child. At the end of this period, a ceremony called Berchukor
is conducted where the child’s head is shaved.
• Traditionally Malay houses in the villages (kampung) are constructed of wood (timber) and palm-leaves (attap). It is built on a platform
that is raised on stilts. This is done not only to protect the household from floods and the incursion of any wild animals or reptiles but also
to keep the house cool during the hot tropical days.
• During the festive celebration of Hari Raya, the Muslims undertake a month-long fasting known as Ramadan. The fasting begins with the
sighting of the new moon and ends on the last night of the same moon. During that month the Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
• Malays always use the right hand while eating even when they use forks and spoons. In fact, all good things are done with the right hand
including holding the holy book of Quran.
• Malay weddings are a grand affair, the most important part of Malay wedding is the Bersanding where the couple is seated next to each
other on a sofa called the Pelamin. This is a mark of approval and blessing. Loved ones and guests sprinkle the couple with scented water
and yellow rice. The guests are given a Bunga Telur, an ornamented egg festooned with a flower, as a sign of fertility.
 CHINESE CULTURE
• Religion
The Chinese in the region are predominantly Buddhist, but more often than not cross over into Confucianism and Taoism.
Buddhism takes care of the afterlife, Confucianism looks after the political and moral aspects of life, and Taoism teaches
people to maintain harmony with the universe.
• Clothing
The Malaysian Chinese traditional dress for the men in Malaysia is a short sleeved shirt worn outside the trousers, light-weight
trousers and informally, sandals for comfort. Cheongsam is a one-piece dress usually comprising of silk cloth and having a
high collar, diagonally closed with small clips or toggles (fabric clasps). This Malaysian traditional dress is extremely popular
among the Malaysian Chinese community not only as a day to day wear but also as a formal attire also. The old aged women
also use a garment known as samfoo, which looks like pajamas with a separate loose fitting top fastened by toggles and ankle
length, or above the ankle, pants.
• Festivals
 The main festival for Chinese Malayians is the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated throughout Malaysia. The Chap Goh
Mei festival happens on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year and marks the end of the festivities. Other Chinese celebrations
include a mid-autumn festival known as the Moon Cake Festival. This is a centuries-old celebration that honors a mythical
moon princess with lantern parades.
• Language
The ancient written standard was Classical Chinese.Calligraphy later became commercialized, and works by famous artists
became prized possessions. Chinese literature has a long past; the earliest classic work in Chinese, the I Ching or "Book of
Changes“.
• Taboo
Certain gifts are also seen as inauspicious. For example, never give a clock, watch, or pocket watch as a gift because "to send
a clock" ( 送鐘 , sòng zhōng) sounds like "the funeral ritual" ( 送終 , sòng zhōng). According to Chinese taboo, clocks
symbolize that time is running out. If you give an unlucky gift by accident, the receiver can make it right by giving you a coin
which changes the gift to an item they have symbolically purchased.
 INDIAN
CUSTOMS &
TABOOS
• Festivals
The Indian community celebrates two main
festivals that accounts for one of the major
Malaysian festivals – Deepavali, the festival of
lights and Thaipusam, an annual fair of the
Hindu deity Murugan, held at Batu Caves • Traditional Indian clothing
along with many other smaller religious events Sari is a female garment in the Indian
every year. subcontinent.A sari is a strip of unstitched
cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in
• Indian taboos length, that is draped over the body in
there are several similarities with the Chinese various styles.Dhotis are one of the most
such as not to drink water on the first few days common male dresses
of confinement. Besides that, mothers are not
allowed to eat ‘windy’ and ‘cold’ foods such as
cabbage, grape and eggplant. Mothers must
not eat seafood before each breastfeeding
session as it may cause vomiting and rashes
in the baby besides affecting your milk
 • Religion
In general the Kristang practice Roman
Catholicism. Christmas (Natal) is the
most festive occasion of the year, when
many Kristang families get together to
celebrate by eating seasonal dishes,
singing carols and branyok, and
revelling in saudadi.
KRISTANG CULTURE
The Kristang people are a creole ethnic group of
people of mixed Portuguese and Malaccan (Malay)
descent based in Malaysia and Singapore. People of
this ethnicity have strong Dutch heritage, some British
as well as Chinese and Indian heritage due to
intermarriage, which was common among the
Kristang.
• Music and dance
Kristang traditional music and dance, such as the
Branyo and the Farrapeira are descendants of
Portuguese folk dances. The Branyo, descends from
the southern Portuguese folk dance Corridinho, and
can be easily mistaken for the Malay Joget dance,
which is believed to have developed from the
Branyo. The adoption of western music instruments
and musical scales by traditional Malay and Indian
orchestras suggests a strong Portuguese influence.
The most popular branyo tune, Jingkli Nona, is
regarded as the unofficial "anthem" for Portuguese
Eurasians.
Cultural diversity refers to the presence of diverse cultures in a society where
people from different community irrespective of caste, creed, language, religion and
race live together. The phrase ‘Cultural Diversity’ refers to having different cultures
respect each other’s differences. Respecting cultural diversity is to appreciate and HOW DO YOU SHOW
value the diverse culture in a society. We should have a proper knowledge and
understanding of the cultures which is not ours because it is necessary in order to RESPECT FOR CULTURAL
bring about peace, harmony and love in the society.
Culture is the lens with which we evaluate everything around us. So, if we immerse DIVERSITY?
ourselves in diverse culture, we get opportunities to interact and mingle with people
from different background and learn from one another. We can build trust, love,
respect and understanding across cultures thereby wiping out all the negative
stereotypes and personal biases about different groups.
• Practice self-awareness. One of the most important ways to learn to become
respectful of other cultures is to spend some time reflecting on your own beliefs
and biases. Each of us has what is known as a "filter". The filter impacts how we
see other cultures.
• Read a book. In order to respect other cultures, it is important to understand
something about them. You can expand your knowledge by doing some
research. Start by reading about the culture you are interested in
• Study religion. Religion is an important part of many cultures. Learning more
about a different religion can help you understand cultures other than your own.
Take some steps to learn more about religion
• Correct misunderstandings. You might have some prior assumptions about
other cultures. For example, if you are traveling in India, you might start to think
that people are not honest. It can be really difficult to get a thorough answer to a
direct question
• Keep an open mind. Try to not let any preconceived notions color your feelings
towards people from other cultures. Show respect by making every effort to
keep an open mind. For example, go into a new experience ready to learn
something new
THANKYOU