Visitor Guide To Malaysia: Malaysia Hotels, Malaysian, Travel

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The growing Malaysian population currently stands at around 26 million. Multicultural, multiracial and multi religious describes the totality of Malaysian society. There is a strong interlink between the country's multi-racial and multicultural make-up and its history. Besides the local Malays and the native groups, immigrants from China, India, Indonesia and other parts of the world have all contributed to the multiracial composition of its population. Its interesting cultural diversity can be largely attributed to the country's long and on-going interaction with the outside world and past colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Consequently the evolution of the country into a cultural melting pot is evident in the unique blend of religions, socio-cultural activities and traditions, dressing, languages and food.

There are 3 predominant ethnic groups in Malaysia which comprise the Malay and other indigenous groups, the Chinese and the Indians. This is supplemented by a wide array of other groups both ‘pure’ and ‘blends’ that include those of European, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indian, Cambodian, Vietnamese descent. In Peninsula Malaysia the Malays are dominant while non-malay indigenous groups are small in number and called ‘Orang Asli’. In Sabah and Sarawak it is in reverse as non-malay indigenous groups make up more than half of the population in the two states. In Sarawak the largest indigenous tribe is the Iban followed by the Bidayuh while in Sabah it is the Kadazan-Dusun. The Kadazan-Dusun actually consists of two tribes i.e. the Kadazan and the Dusun. They are grouped together because they both share the same language and culture although they are regionally segregated with the Kadazan being mainly inhabitants of flat valley deltas, and the Dusuns traditionally living in the hilly and mountainous regions.