Questions on Malaysia and Malaysians, answered by Malaysians.

[north_malaysian]

Anybody with questions about Malaysia and Malaysians, kindly ask your questions here...

[Woodrow]

Along time back there was a form of English spoken throughout Malaysia, Malayan Pidgin English. It was introduced by the old sea traders. What was unusual about it is it was readily understood by anybody that knew just a few words of English. Very fast language to learn. Is it still ever used?

[north_malaysian]

Along time back there was a form of English spoken throughout Malaysia, Malayan Pidgin English. It was introduced by the old sea traders. What was unusual about it is it was readily understood by anybody that knew just a few words of English. Very fast language to learn. Is it still ever used?

Wow... this is a question that all of us new generation Malaysians dont really know....

The old generation people living in the straits settlements (ie. Penang, Malacca and Singapore) do have the ability of understanding English language even they dont really speaking English... But seriously I never heard of "Malayan Pidgin English".

My parents generation (post-independence) which have their schoolyears in the 60s, are the best English speaker generation ever in Malaysia as most of the schools still using English as medium of instructions. They learnt everything in English excluding Malay Language and Islamic Studies. (During their time, Islamic Studies is just an elective subject, which all Malaysian students can choose either to lear about Islam or taking Art classes, sadly most Muslims preferred Art not Islamic Studies)

In 1980s, Malayanization of the school education system started that we have to learn everything in Malay, with exception to English classes.

Thus, now the new generation of Malaysians are not really as good as previous generation when it comes to speaking English.

But thanks to the TV, radio stations, newspaper, magazines and the internet MAJORITY of the younger Malaysians are AT LEAST exposed to English language.

But many Malaysians claim that we have our own English slang called "Manglish" or "Malaysian English" which English language with lots of Malay, Chinese and Tamil words in it.

That's all I know... but thanks for asking...

[Chechnya]

In your experience do Malaysians generally practise Islam or not?

You never hear much about Malaysia. Are their any Islamic movements there?

[north_malaysian]

In your experience do Malaysians generally practise Islam or not?

You never hear much about Malaysia. Are their any Islamic movements there?

Only 60% of the population are Muslims, majority (like 99% fast in the Ramadhan, but performing the daily five prayers it could be 70%, and 90% of muslima wears hijab)

Zillions of Islamic movements ... in fact Malaysia is the regional centre of Islamic missionary in Asia-Pacific region.

[Chechnya]

What about the government? Is it Islamic?

Are the laws and institutions based on Islam?

[Muslim Knight]

Malaysians consist of three major races and minor ethnicities. The three major races are Malay, Chinese, Indian. The Malays were majorly Muslims but the other two are free to practise their respective religions.

Parti Se-Islam Malaysia (PAS) or The Islamic Party of Malaysia fights in the political arena for the establishment of an Islamic State. There are a number of Muslim NGOs as well for example Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) or known internationally as the Muslim Youth Movement Malaysia for which I am a member, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), Darul Fitrah and others.

The Federal Constitution of Malaysia names a Malay as someone who;

1. Speaks Malay
2. Muslim
3. Conforms to the customs & traditions of the Malays

[north_malaysian]

What about the government? Is it Islamic?

First of all, ISlam is the Official religion of the Country.

The ruling party, UMNO claims Malaysia is an Islamic nation.

But the ISlamist opposition, PAS claims Malaysia is a secular county.

Are the laws and institutions based on Islam?

We have Shariah Court which deals on personal matters and some criminal cases involving Muslims like sex offence, liquor drinking, gambling, apostacy..

But basically Malaysian laws derived from British common law.

[Goku]

How religious are Malaysians in general?

E.g in Pakistan, the general population see Islam as an integral and very important part of their lives.

[Goku]

And also do the Majority Malay Muslims prefer secular or Shariah Law?

Jazak Allah Khair.

[north_malaysian]

And also do the Majority Malay Muslims prefer secular or Shariah Law?

Jazak Allah Khair.

Only one state is ruled by Islamists, obviously the Muslims prefer nationalists than Islamists..

[Goku]

Only one state is ruled by Islamists, obviously the Muslims prefer nationalists than Islamists..

I see.

What about your personal view, Shariah or nationalist/secular?

[Keltoi]

Are there elephants in Malaysia?

[north_malaysian]

I see.

What about your personal view, Shariah or nationalist/secular?

1) Nationalists - I really hate them so much

2) Islamists - It's hard for them to establish an Islamic state because our parliament allocation seats is about 50% Muslims, 50% Non Muslims.

Plus, my parliament and state assembly constituencies are Non Muslim majority seats....

So.... I just dont know.... maybe I should support the Reformists (they have good relationship with ISlamists and Socialists)

[north_malaysian]

Are there elephants in Malaysia?

yes.



Kuala Gandah Elephants Sanctuary in Pahang, Malaysia

[Woodrow]

I looked up Manglish, because that sounded very much like a Malayan Pidgin English word. I found this in wiki:

Pure Manglish however can be likened to pidgin English, and it is usually barely understandable to most speakers of English, except Singaporeans who also speak a similar patois known as Singlish.

It appears that the old Pidgin English has become the modern Manglish. They used to teach Malayan Pidgin to US sailors that might end up in Malaysia as back in the 1940s nearly everybody in Malaysia (wasn't called Malaysia then, but in the USA the people were refered to as Malaysians) understood it. It is quite a language that the Malaysians developed to do commerce with English speaking people. It consisted of only about 500 words that could be put together to form ideas. I still remember a little bit. I remember to distinguish between people they only used 3 words. boy, girl and man so you ended up with boy (male child) girl(female child) man(all people) boy-man (adult male) girl-man(adult female). That is roughly how the language formed. The ingenuity of the Malaysians always amazed, at the ability to form very complex thoughts, easily understandable and requiring only learning a very minimal amount of foreign words.

Is it my imagination, but has Malaysia really bolted foreward in a recent jump at industrialization and how is this affecting the people?

[Skillganon]

I see.

What about your personal view, Shariah or nationalist/secular?

Brother, I do not doubt brother NorthMalaysian desire's anything other than Islam.
Inshallah, the guidance in the country will increase, aswell as in pakistan and bangladesh.

I am in the mind to believe malaysia has a very good Islamic presence and practiced very well, and better than other country for example Bangladesh.

[Goku]

1) Nationalists - I really hate them so much

2) Islamists - It's hard for them to establish an Islamic state because our parliament allocation seats is about 50% Muslims, 50% Non Muslims.

Plus, my parliament and state assembly constituencies are Non Muslim majority seats....

So.... I just dont know.... maybe I should support the Reformists (they have good relationship with ISlamists and Socialists)

Salam, thats interesting to know. I had heard Malaysa is a country where religious freedom thrives, but to allocate half the parliament seats to a minority and have minority as controlling parliament in your area (for the time being) it shows how Malaysians are tolerant. Still its better to have Muslim majority in parliament in my view.

Jazak Allah Khair.

[Goku]

Brother, I do not doubt brother NorthMalaysian desire's anything other than Islam.
Inshallah, the guidance in the country will increase, aswell as in pakistan and bangladesh.

I am in the mind to believe malaysia has a very good Islamic presence and practiced very well, and better than other country for example Bangladesh.

Insha'Allah and Ameen.

[Muslim Knight]

And also do the Majority Malay Muslims prefer secular or Shariah Law?

Jazak Allah Khair.

While the Federal Constitution enshrines Islam as the official religion, Malaysia really inherited secular common laws from its British former colonial masters after having achieved independence in 1957. However, sharia laws only govern majorly the inheritance & matrimonial rights for Malay Muslims. Non-Muslims are still subject to civil laws.