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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
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