The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah has called on the Malays to safeguard their culture and tradition as these are crucial to their survival as a race.

He said that the Malays already had a unique identity, one "which is tied by customs, knotted by language and coated by religion."

He also called on them not to take for granted the Malay privileges as provided for in the Federal Constitution, namely in clauses pertaining to Islam, Rulers' Institution, Malay customs, Malay language and special privileges.

Raja Nazrin said the survival of the Malays as a race hinged on the very factors which had given them identity, namely religion, language, culture and traditions, and the Rulers' Institution.

It would be unfortunate, therefore, when attempts were made to undermine the traditions and institution, he said.

"It would be to the great detriment of the survival of the Malay race if traditions and institutions are no longer respected and seen instead as antithesis to rational thinking, modernity and science.

"How unfortunate would it be for a generation to view traditions as 'an ignorant practice, inconsequential and dogmatic'," he said at the launching of a book, The Malays, at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here.

The book is written by Prof Anthony Milner, an Asian history professor at the Australian National University.

Also present were the Raja Puan Besar of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, UKM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sharifah Habsah Syed Hasan Shahabuddin and Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Annuar Zaini.

Raja Nazrin said that in wading the tide of globalisation and in facing political dynamics currently taking place in the country, the Malays could be caught in crossroads and faced with two possibilities.

The first, he said, was that they would continue to survive and thrive, and emerge as a supreme race in a globalised world.

"The second possibility, God forbids, is that they would be swept away by the tide of globalisation and become weak, devoid of any cultural root.

"In the end, the Malays would remain only as a name in folktales," he said.

It was therefore important that the Malays avoid committing the folly of Pak Kadok, a character in the old Malay fable who lost his village because of his foolishness.

He also cautioned the Malays to be wary of what he said as "radical attempts" to undermine their strength.

Raja Nazrin also expressed appreciation to Prof Milner's recognition of the Rulers' Institution as an important heritage of the Malay race.

He said that the interest shown by non-Malays in carrying out studies on the Malays showed that the race continued to attract interest among intellectuals abroad.

He called on the Malays to appreciate Prof Milner's efforts.

The least they could do, he said, was to make the book a compulsory reference for students taking Malay studies.

Sabah Culture and Heritage

State Mosque

In Kota Kinabalu, this gold-domed state mosque is centrally positioned and overlooks most of the town. It reflects contemporary Islamic architecture and can accommodate 5,000 worshippers. There is a special balcony with room for 500 women to pray. For a panoramic view of the city and its waterfront, go up to Signal Hill nearby.

Sabah State Museum

Located on Bukit Istana Lama, a hill behind the State Mosque, this museum was built in the longhouse style of the Rungus and Murut tribes. The museum has a wealth of historical and tribal treasures, and handicrafts made by the indigenous peoples. The major highlights are the exhibits of life-size traditional houses belonging to six ethnic groups.

There is a good section on Sabah's fascinating flora and fauna, an art gallery and a Science Centre. The latter has a large exhibition on the oil and petroleum industry. Within the complex are a restaurant, coffee-house and an ethno-botanical garden with an artificial lake and a souvenir shop.

Fronting the Sabah State Musuem is an Ethnobotanic Garden that is open daily from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, whose huge range of tropical plants is best experienced on one of the free guided tours that is operated daily at 9:00 am & 2:00 pm except for Fridays. Bordering the garden are full-sized models of houses from Sabah's ethnic groups.

Sabah Foundation Building

The 31-storey Sabah Foundation Building at Likas Bay, 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, is a magnificent, futuristic glass-shrouded tower with 72 sides! It is a striking landmark which can be seen for miles around.

Atkinson Clock tower

Located at the city centre of Kota Kinabalu, the Atkinson Clock Tower was built in memory of the first District officer of Jesselton, Francis George Atkinson. He died of 'Borneo fever' in 1902 at the age of 28.The clock was originally lit up at night and acted as a beacon for shipping vessels. It was one of three buildings that survived the destruction during the Second World War. Over the years it has undergone renovations and repairs but has managed to retain most of its original characteristics.

Signal Hill Observatory

For a view of Kota Kinabalu city and harbour, head for the observation point on Signal Hill (Bukit Bendera). If you decide to walk (which will take approximately
15 - 20 minutes from downtown) rather than taking a taxi, there's a shortcut up the hill beside the old Clock Tower, just beyond the Police Station.

Water Villages

Visit a settlement of the local "Bajau", descendants of pirates who set foot on the land in the early 19th Century. Presently, these people are fishermen who reside in a village built on water. The spectacular sights are the houses which stand on stilts in the water and are connected by narrow wooden planks.

Kampong Monsopiad (Monsopiad Cultural Village)

The Monsopiad Cultural Village was founded in memory of the great Kadazan Warrior and head-hunter Monsopiad. The traditional village is a historical site and the only cultural village in Sabah. It was built on the very land where Monsopiad lived and roamed some three centuries ago. The Village is run by the direct descendants of Monsopiad. More than being a museum, the Monsopiad Cultural Village aims at documenting, reviving and keeping alive the culture and traditions of the Kadazan people. You can also watch cultural dances and try using a blowpipe. Kampong Monsopiad is approximately 10km south of Kota Kinabalu.

St. Michael's Catholic Church

Located in Kampung Dabak 10 km south of Kota Kinabalu, this church was built in 1879, and is Sabah's oldest church.

Central Market

There is a water village along the seafront known as Kampung Ayer where the jetties are lined with fishing and commercial craft.

The bustling Central Market sits mid-way along the waterfront. The fish market here teems with many varieties of fresh seafood. An early morning excursion will allow visitors to watch the fishermen unloading their catch directly onto market tables. All around them Kadazan women display fresh fruit and vegetables brought down from the farms in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu.

The Orang Asal of Malaysia

Flittering like a hummingbird amid a patch of flowers, a little mobile stall shifts locations in Kuala Lumpur packed with the cultural works of sixteen different Orang Asal ethnic groups. Despite the urban setting, these handicrafts have roots throughout the rural landscape of Malaysia and are usually purchased directly from the artisan.

Welcome to the Gerai OA

'Orang Asal/Asli' is a Malay term for Original People. Orang Asal represents the indigenous peoples of Peninsular and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), while Orang Asli refers specifically to the indigenous minorities of Peninsular Malaysia whom are distinct from the mainstream population in Peninsular Malaysia.

"They have their own religion, language, customs and worldviews which they are determined to transmit to future generations. More importantly, the Orang Asal have a special relationship to their traditional land," explains Dr.Colin Nicholas, co-founder and coordinator of the Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC).

There are currently, according to the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) 149,512 Orang Asli, whereas the Orang Asal number to 2.1 million.

Rare and Unique Orang Asal Craft

The founder of the Gerai OA, Reita Rahim, goes from kampung (villages) to kampung across Malaysia, sourcing rare and unique craft from gifted Orang Asal craftsmen and women. The Gerai OA is non-profit and is run by a group of volunteers with the purpose of sharing with others the arts of the Orang Asal and at the same time encouraging the survival of the tradition of craft making.

An example of craft for sale would be the traditional Orang Asli puzzles. One particular puzzle, known as the Jah Re Noi, usually gets many hands tugging wildly at. This Semai (Orang Asli subgroup) puzzle is a piece of entwined rattan with a thin looped rope stuck in the middle of it.

The objective of the puzzle is to remove the rope from it. Legend has it that if someone is lost in the jungle due to mischievous spirits confusing them, all that person needs to do is make and leave behind one Jah Re Noi puzzle and the spirit will get so engrossed in solving the puzzle that it will leave its victim alone.

Cultural survival

One of the main threats faced by the Orang Asli is the "non-recognition of their rights to traditional land" as their land has been being progressively taken for development, according to Dr. Nicholas. This is because they are not "recognized as indigenous people of this land." "The Orang Asli are not anti-development or not against the virtues of modernization. In fact, Orang Asli cultures/identities have the potential to be viable but they are vulnerable to the many challenges that threaten their culture and their identity as a unique people."

The Mah Meri subgroup of the Orang Asli is one of the many groups who has lost much of their rights to their traditional land at Pulau Carey, and are struggling to maintain their unique culture and identity as represented by their wooden cravings that were awarded 6 UNESCO seals of excellence last year. Deforestation to make way for oil-palm plantations in Pulau Carey has led to the loss of Pulai (Alstonia sp.), a tree which was used to make the wooden masks that is traditionally believed to represent their moyang (ancestors). Now that it is extinct on the island, they have resorted to use Pokok Nyireh Batu (Xylocarpus sp.), a mangrove forest tree which use to be used only for the cravings rather than the masks. This mangrove tree is however becoming increasingly harder to find. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently sponsoring replanting schemes for these plants.

While the woodcarving is done solely by the Mah Meri men, the women have recently displayed their own skills with weaving. Intricately weaved curl work pouches known as bujam lipo' are made from pandanus strips and are one of the hot items at the Gerai OA. Traditionally used as a 'hold all' for small items such as money, areca nuts or tobacco, the contemporary uses of these pouches are as hand phone holders or as purses.

Some of the other popular items are also the accessories by the Rungus people of Sabah. Their reputation for using beads and turning them into beautiful and unique accessories can be seen littered in a mosaic of colors across the table at the Gerai OA.

"The new designs are to better suit the Kuala Lumpur market. If you go to Sabah, you may not find what you can find here at the Gerai OA," Reita explains.

The very source of the new beaded designs is actually from a group of Rungus women from Kampung Tinanggol in Sabah. This group of 20 Rungus women consists of selected elderly and single mothers who work together to help better their economic standing.

"The profit from the sales are used to pay for their children's schooling fees or used as investment, such as to open ladang (fields)," explained Reita.

The group, headed by Malina Soning, works together to come up with new designs and color combinations to compliment the current trends. Handmade bracelets, necklaces, rings, key chains and even hairclips, using traditional technique, now come in many attractive colors and patterns.

Malina explained that the need for these new innovations is to compete for the tough market where mass produced items can be bought at much lower prices. Others have also begun to make imitations of their traditional craft. At the moment their focus is on the beads as they are easy to acquire and transport, and the demand is there.

"The Gerai OA is not just about selling, but about educating people about Orang Asal and Orang Asli," explains Reita. This is why the gerai (stall) also carries books, video documentaries and music CDs about Orang Asal/Asli. People are also encouraged to stop by and test out the many traditional musical instruments laid out for sale and display. Support for the Gerai OA would go a long way to help improve the economic standing of various Orang Asal groups and encourage the survival of their traditional arts.


Written by Puah Sze Ning(http://www.wildasia.org/main.cfm/support/Crafting_Culture)

Experience the Expressions of Community

Malaysians strong sense of community is reflected in many of their traditional games and pastimes. These activities are usually held during festivities such as before or after the rice harvest season and to usher in the new spring.

Silat
This fascinating Malay martial art is also an international sport and traditional dance form. Existing in the Malay Archipelago for centuries, it has mesmerising fluid movements that are used to confuse opponents. It is believed that practising silat will increase one's spiritual strength in accordance with Islamic tenets. Accompanied by drums and gongs, this ancient art is popularly performed at Malay weddings and cultural festivals.

Sepak Takraw
Sepak takraw, also known as sepak raga, is a traditional ball game in which a ball made by weaving strips of buluh bamboo or rattan together is passed about using any part of the body except the lower arms and hands. There are two main types of sepak takraw: bulatan and jaring. Sepak raga bulatan is the original form in which players form a circle and try to keep the ball in the air as long as possible. Sepak takraw jaring is the modern version in which the ball is passed across a court over a high net.

Wau
A wau is a traditional kite that is especially popular in the state of Kelantan on the East Coast of Malaysia. Traditionally flown after the rice harvest season, these giant kites are often as big as a man - measuring about 3.5 metres from head to tail. It is called wau because its shape is similar to the Arabic letter that is pronounced as 'wow'. With vibrant colours and patterns based on local floral and fauna, these kites are truly splendid sights.

Gasing
A gasing is a giant spinning top that weigh approximately 5kg or 10lbs and may be as large as a dinner plate. Traditionally played before the rice harvest season, this game requires strength, co-ordination and skill. The top is set spinning by unfurling a rope that has been wound around it. Then it is scooped off the ground, whilst still spinning, using a wooden bat with a centre slit and transferred onto a low post with a metal receptacle. If expertly hurled, it can spin for up to 2 hours.

Wayang kulit
Wayang kulit is a traditional theatre form that brings together the playfulness of a puppet show, and the elusive quality and charming simplicity of a shadow play. The flat two-dimensional puppets are intricately carved, then painted, by hand out of cow or buffalo hide. Each puppet, a stylised exaggeration of the human shape, is given a distinctive appearance and not unlike its string puppet cousins, has jointed "arms". Conducted by a singular master storyteller called Tok Dalang, wayang kulit usually dramatises ancient Indian epics.

Congkak
Congkak is a game of wit played by womenfolk in ancient times that required no more than holes in the earth and tamarind seeds. Today, it has been refined to a board game. It consists of a wooden board with two rows of five, seven, or nine holes and two large holes at both ends called "home". Congkak, played with shells, pebbles or tamarind seeds, requires two players

Chingay
Famously from the state of Penang, Chingay or The Giant Flags Procession is a spectacular procession that celebrates the arrival of spring during the New Year season. Its trademark elements are giant triangular flags and lanterns. These flags equally huge poles are balanced on performers foreheads, chins, lower jaws and shoulders. Other entertainers include dancers, jugglers and magicians.

Sepak manggis
Sepak manggis is a unique outdoor game played by the Bajau and Iranun men of Sabah. Forming a circle and facing each other, players aim to strike the bunga manggis floral carrier that dangles from a 10-metre high pole. The winner will be rewarded with money, gift or edibles, which are in the carrier.

Batu Caves

First discovered over 115 years ago, Batu Caves have never ceased to attract visitors. Only 13km from Kuala Lumpur's central business district and just outside the city limits, these famous caverns are easily accessible. Formed within the framework of an imposing limestone outcrop about 400 million years ago, Batu Caves actually consists of three main caves and several smaller ones. The best known of these is Temple or Cathedral Cave.

Temple Cave has a ceiling looming over 100 meters overhead and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, one has to climb 272 steps, a feat performed by many Hindu worshippers on the way to the caves to offer prayers to their revered deities.

During the annual Thaipusam (Hindu festival in honor of Lord Murugan) between January and February, as many as 800,000 devotees and other visitors throng the caves and make this climb. Chanting devotees carry a statue of the deity, Lord Murugan, up the 272 steps that lead to the shrine. As a form of penance or sacrifice, entranced worshippers carry a Kavadi, which is a large, elaborately decorated wooden frame. The Kavadi is attached to their flesh (e.g. skin, cheeks & tongue) with a variety of sharp skewers and metal hooks, to no apparent discomfort or pain! Accompanied by the incessant beat of Indian drums and shouts of encouragement, the procession is testimony to the power of religious conviction.

A little below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave. It is a 2km long network of relatively untouched caverns containing a large number of cave mammals & a living fossil (trap door spider). However, access to this cave is restricted. Permission must be obtained from the Malaysian Nature Society and guidelines must be strictly followed.

At the foot of the steps is the Art Gallery, in which statues and wall paintings depicting Hindu mythology are displayed. Access to this cave is via a concrete walkway spanning a small lake