The Negotiation of Ethnicity in Malaysia
Leanna Wolfe, Ph.D. California Community College Anthropology Teachers ConferenceJanuary 17, 2015
MALAYSIA
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS Current Population: 30, 267,367
41st most populated country in the world
80% Peninsular Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
20% East Malaysia (Borneo) Sarawak and Sabah
Population Growth-2.4% per annum
ECONOMY 450 Billion GDP Third Largest Economy in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) 29th Largest Economy in the World Chinese Businesses
70% Market Capitalization Bamboo Network
Share cultural and family ties
ETHNICITY IN MALAYSIA Malays (Bumiputra) 67.4%
Muslims Tribal Peoples
Animistic Practices Converted Christians
Chinese – 24.6% Three migrations from mainland China
Largely Tao Buddhists with strong ties to their homeland Indians – 7.3%
Tamils (Hindus) Punjabis (Sikhs)
DISTRIBUTION OF BUMIPUTRA VS. CHINESE
ETHNOCENTRIC CHATTER Chinese blatantly discuss how the
Malays are lazy and misguided Failing Businesses Misguided political decisions
Malays openly discuss how the Chinese are cut throat in business Swindle deals in their favor Their lives lack a spiritual context Acquisition of money is their sole pursuit
Islamic Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Brunei
Central Mosque
Water Village Mosque
Mulu
Kuching
BRITISH AND MALAY HOSTS
WITH MY MULU HOSTS
ROBERT, DINA AND DAUGHTERS IN MULU
DINA’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
DINA CELEBRATES WITH HER KIDS
DINA DANCES
BIRTHDAY DINNER BUFFET
Chinese Borneo
Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
Visiting with Steven, my Chinese Couch Surfing Host and his Friends
Shopping Center Display for Chinese New Years
Chinatown, Kuching
New Years Celebrations in Kuching
Celebratory Offerings
MALAYSIA’S INDIANS
Batu CavesKuala Lumpur
Ascending Stairs
TRIBAL PEOPLES 140 different languages/dialects Acculturation into the Modern World
Headhunting abandoned three generations ago
Berawan Secondary Burial last practiced in the 1960s
Only the Penan remain as purely nomadic Kelabit Highlanders maintain a mixed
hunting, gathering and farming economy
BARIO ARTIST STEPHEN PALA
INSIDE STEPHEN’S HOME
STEPHEN’S ARTWORK
STEPHEN’S ARTWORK
DAVID AND CENNI, MY KELABIT HOSTS
WITH MY KELABIT HOSTS
TRADITIONAL KELABIT EAR STRETCHING
Explained as purely decorative Symbolically appears to express openness
THE EAR STRETCHING PRACTICE DECLINED IN THE 1960S
MIXED KELABIT ECONOMY Wild Boar Hunting
Hunting dogs Gathering of Jungle Vegetables Rice Farming Water Buffalo
Used as a tractor and for hauling goods Chicken Farming Purchasing Manufactured Foods
WILD BOAR
WILD BOAR FROM THE BACK
WILD BOAR BARBECUE
WILD BOAR BARBECUE WITH BEGGING DOGS
HUNTING DOGS RESTING
HIGHLAND DOGS
HIGHLAND KITTY
WOMEN WITH BASKET KNAPSACKS
RICE FARMERS
RICE FARMING IN BARIO
BARIO RICE (EXCELLENT TASTE AND TEXTURE)
HIGHLAND ROOSTER
HIGHLAND HEN WITH CHICKS
CHICKEN CURRY
WATER BUFFALO
WATER BUFFALO
WATER BUFFALO ARE RELATIVELY TAME
CHILIES FORAGED IN THE JUNGLE
JUNGLE GREENS WITH GINGER FLOWER
HIGHLAND FOOD STORAGE SYSTEM
PURCHASED FOODSMilo (chocolate drink ) is big all over Malaysia
Coffee pre-mixed with sugar and powdered milk is also popular (Starbucks is only found is the big cities and very pricey)
Tea can also be pre-mixed with sugar and powdered milk
BREAKFAST WITH MY KELABIT HOSTS
Malaysia’s Courtship with the Primitive
“TRIBAL PEOPLES” AT THE CULTURAL VILLAGE
Being tribal as a
“Day Job”
20 Years as a “Native”
Stone Carver
MALAYSIA AIRLINES 1947 Established as Malayan Airways Malaysian Government owns 52% 1980s Economic Boom Spurred Growth
Flights to 47 international destinations Periods of Unprofitability
1997 Asian Financial Crisis 2005 due to fuel prices and overall
management 2011 largest losses
MH370 Left Kuala Lumpur March 8 en route to Beijing, China Boeing 777 239 people aboard
152 Chinese passengers 38 Malaysian passengers 12 Malaysian crew members
ACCUSATIONS AND DISCOVERIES Reflect uneasy relations between Malays and
Chinese Chinese kin offered $5,000 condolence Malay kin offered $2,000 condolence
China accused of false leads that have detracted from the search effort Chinese satellites first to record black box pings Chinese ships first to hear sound signals
Malaysian Government Accused of Withholding Information Often suggesting prayer rather than strategic action
CONCLUSIONS Malaysia’s Bumiputra Majority Controls the National Government
Readily Admit that the Chinese are Ruthlessly Skilled in Business Chinese Minority Control the Nation’s Business
Negative judgment of Bumiputra’s political and economic decision-making
Ethnic/Spiritual Collisions (Despite Proclamations of Harmony) Chinese critical of Malay People’s Islamic Devotion Indian minority live culturally segregated lives Traditional Animistic Practices celebrated as Cultural Curiosities Christianized Tribal Peoples Disconnected from Native Traditions/Identity
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