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