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Malaysia has a diverse ethnic population. Ethnicity is the primary determinent of religion and other cultural matters suh as clothing and fashion. Malaysia is over 50 percent ethnic Malay, almost all Muslim. The Malays are the primary indigenouds population. They are also the fastest growing populastion group. Malays dominate the Bumiputras which is a legal term describing the indigenous people. Malaysia is over 50 percent ethnic Malay, almost all Muslim. The Malays are the primary indigenouds population in a legal sence. They are also the fastest growing population group. Malays dominate the Bumiputras which is a legal term describing the indigenous people. Malaysian law theoretically allows a Muslim of any race who practices Malay customs and culture to gain Malay stastus and eligible for Bumiputra rights as stipulated in the country's constitution. While legally Bamiputras, many Malay families are relatively recent arrivals. Other Bamiputras constitute over 10 percent of the population. While a relastively small part of the populatrion, these other Bamiputras are tribal people and thev were the actual indeginenous people of Malaysia, bothe Peninsular and Insulasr areas. They are collectively known as the "Orang Asal". They are about 20 percent of the Bamiputras and 5 percent of the overall population. The Chinese began emigrating before the British colonial era, primarily involved in commerce. They are mostly Christian or Taoist. The separation of Singapore substantially reduced the Chinese population in Malaysia. The ethnic Chinese (mostly Christian or Taoist) come from many different areas of China. They constitute about 25 percent of the population. The Indians (South Asians) arrived during the British colonial period as indentured labor. Thery are mostly Hindu Tamils. They are about 7 percent of the population. There are small populations of other ethnic groups. The populations of the various groups are relatively small.
Bumiputra (وميڤوترا) variously splled such as Bumiputera is a Malaysian describing Malays and other indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia, including Malays and indigenous tribes. It is a term alo used in Indonesia. The term was an Indian (Sanskrit) which was adopted by the Malays. It means 'son of the land' or 'son of the soil'. Malaysia is over 50 percent ethnic Malay, almost all Muslim. The Malays are the primary indigenouds population in a legal sence. They are also the fastest growing population group. Malays dominate the Bumiputras which is a legal term describing the indigenous people. Malaysian law theoretically allows a Muslim of any race who practices Malay customs and culture to gain Malay stastus and eligible for Bumiputra rights as stipulated in the country's constitution. While legally Bamiputras, many Malay families are relatively recent arrivals. Many trace therir ancestries Javanese, Bugis, and Minang sailors from what is now Indonesia, migrating beginning in the 17th century. Many came as recently as the early-20th century. In both Singapore and Malaysia, Islam regards it as immodest for people above puberty to show their thighs. Malay boys at secondary schools never wear short pants. However, some young urban trendy Malay teens in Kuala Lampur are now occasionally seen wearing shorts as a fashion item, but since the current fashion has them coming down to their knees anyway, they are not really transgressing Islamic rules. The long trousers or jeans they do wear are extremely lightweight, for comfort in the tropical heat. Ordinary western jeans are completely intolerable after about 3 minutes. Longs also have the advantage of protecting legs from mosquitoes.
The Chinese are the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia. The Chinese began emigrating before the British colonial era. They are not Bamiputras even though many Chinese families have lived in what is now Malaysia longer than many Malays. From the beginning, the Chinese were commonly involved in commerce and today play a major role in the Malaysian economy, both trade and business. Chinese who immigrated during the 19th centurty British colonian period came as laborers, much as they came to California. Many worked in tin mining and railway construction. Subsequent generations often moved into commerce. The Chinese are mostly Taoist or in some instances Christian. While the Chinese commonly remained separate from the Malays, the first Chinese to settle in what is now Malysia were more prone to intermarry with the Malays. This was especilly the case around Malacca. A new culture with mixed Malay-Chinese elements emerged. They became known as the babas (male) and nyonyas (female). The separation of Singapore substantially reduced the Chinese population in Malaysia. The ethnic Chinese (mostly Christian or Taoist) come from many different areas of China. They constitute about 25 percent of the population. The population has declined in recent years because of the higher Malay birth rate. The Chinese are primarily an urban population. Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur are Chinese-majority cities. Penang is the only Chinese-majority state.
Many Chinese boys wear short pants for casual, though never for formal, wear. Likewise for school uniforms, a few Chinese Malaysian secondary boys wear uniform shorts.
The Indians (South Asians) arrived during the British colonial period, mostly as indentured labor. Thery are mostly Hindu Tamils. Indians are more accurately South Asians are about 7 percent of the population. The great majority are of Indian origins), but there are Palistanis as well. Of course at the time that many of the Indians arrived in the 19th century, modern Pakistan and India were all part of the Britiah Raj. In addition to the southern Indian Tamils, the next largest group are Hindi speaking Punjabis. Indians began moving east into southeast Asia before the arival of Europeans. Relatively few appear to have settled in what is now Malaysia. Substantial numbers, however, began to migrate as Britain expanded its control over the Malay Peninsula (19th century). Motives varied. Some came as traders, especially in the former Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang where British influence was strongest. Other Indians came as teachers or skilled workers. An even larger number and most of the Tamils were imported as indentured laborers to work on sugar cane and coffee plantations and subsequently the important rubber plantations that were founded. Over time many Indians bgan competing with the Chinese as merchants in Malaysian towns and cities. After indeoendence many Indians returned to India.. This was especially true of Hindu Indians. Many sold their shops to the Chinese.
Other Bumiputras constitute a little over 10 percent of the population. While a relatively small part of the populatrion, these other Bumiputras are tribal people and thev were the actual indeginenous people of Malaysia, both Peninsular and Insulasr areas (Borneo). They are collectively known as the 'Orang Asal'. They are about 20 percent of the Bumiputras and 5 percent of the overall population. They are disproprtionately found in Insular Malaysia--Boirneo (Sabah and Sarawak).
There are small populations of other ethnic groups. The populations of the various groups are relatively small.
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