Newsletter Articles: History & Culture

Friday, 31st of August 2012 marks Malaysia’s 55th year of independence from the grips of British colonization. The theme this year, ’55 Years of Merdeka, Pledges Fulfilled’ will see about 200,000 Malaysians packing Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil for the Janji Ditepati rally for a day of celebrations. As with Australia, Malaysia was under the British colonial rule and it was only in 1957 that Malaysia reached its independence. Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) became the national day of commemorating this freedom … Continue reading →

Did you know that … The largest flower in the world (Rafflesia) can be found in the Malaysian rainforest? They have a maximum diameter of one metre. Did you know that … Malaysia is home to the tallest tropical tree in the world, the Tualang? They can reach up to 30 stories in height. Did you know that … about 2/3 of Malaysia is estimated to be covered in forest? If all the answers to the above three questions are … Continue reading →

So, we’ve talked about our food, our traditional dressing, told our bit of history as well as taught you how to talk ala Malaysian style. Now we’ve got a list of five things ( in no particular order) that we Malaysians love doing in our free time. Here goes! 1. Food Just as how Australia is known for its coffee culture, Malaysia is known for being a gastronomic paradise. With amazing food ranging from hawker/streetfood style to dainty Nyonya kuihs, … Continue reading →

Malaysian music and art is an important aspect of Malaysian culture.  In modern times, Malaysia has preserved its traditional art forms well, such as carving, weaving and silversmithing. A fact which not many people know about – Malay art shows North Indian influences due to historical reasons.  One of the more famous is Malaysian batik, a form of textile art which is derived from the ever popular style of motifs comprised of leaves and flowers, as well as the equally … Continue reading →

As the holiday end rapidly approaches and we get back into our daily grinds I am reminded of the various holidays Malaysians enjoy throughout the year – due to our unique cultural mix it seems like we get to miss extra days of classes! Public holidays in Malaysia are divided into national ones and ones that are only observed by individual states. The most observed, universal holiday is Hari Merdeka, or Independence Day on 31 August. Other festivals are usually … Continue reading →

As Sydney enters its cold winter months, what tropical destinations are you dreaming of? I am dreaming about Malaysia. Not just because there are white sandy beaches (you can more easily locate them in Queensland) but also the amazing array of tropical fruits and local delicacies and shopping destinations. In my opinion, most tourists don’t spend enough time in Malaysia to get to know the country well enough. 2 weeks would be an ideal time period, and if I had … Continue reading →

Malaysia comprises three major cultures namely Chinese, Malay and Indian. For this reason, traditional dress in Malaysia takes on many different forms, each having their own cultural influences. Malay Traditional Malay dress is referred to as the ‘baju melayu’. Baju means ‘clothing’ in the Malay language. It usually consists of a loose tunic worn over trousers with a sarong wrapped around a man’s hips. For females, the ‘baju kurung’ is worn which is a knee length blouse worn over a … Continue reading →

The 11 of July is the Queen’s Birthday and as always, this constitutes the happy long weekend for all of us living in Australia. For all of us here at Malaysia Fest, we get an extra day to plan an awesome day out for you this year! But did you know that Malaysia actually has ten ‘sultans’? Nine of these rulers are sultans of states and one named “Yang Di-Pertuan Agong” or “Supreme Ruler” is the king of Malaysia. (And … Continue reading →