Page 23 - Sphere No.20 (Nov 2007)

CRIES OF “MERDEKA!” – Independence – re-
verberated throughout every city, town and vil-
lage in Malaysia on 31 August as people celebrat-
ed the 50th anniversary of their country becoming
an independent nation. The pomp and pageantry of
parades and dance spectacles were matched by the fun
and excitement of motorcycle stunts, light shows, food festivals and jet fighter
displays, putting the whole country in a party mood for the climax of Visit
Malaysia Year 2007.
This multi-ethnic, religiously-tolerant nation has become one of Southeast
Asia’s most vibrant economies, the fruit of decades of industrial growth and polit-
ical stability. Mirroring this development, the face Malaysia presents to the world
has undergone a rapid revolution, from picture postcard scenes of rustic eastern
exotica to the gleaming testaments of modernity of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Today, Malaysia is the 18th largest exporter globally, has one of the highest per
capita median incomes in Southeast Asia and one of the most open and forward-
looking economies in the world. Oil production exceeds the country’s domestic
needs, and the electronics sector represents more than half of exports; tourism is
the second largest foreign exchange earner after manufacturing.
But what makes Malaysia and its people tick? How do we best define this eclec-
tic ethnic mix of cultural diversity? One symbol that springs to mind is the classic
Malaysian delicacy called Rojak, the Malay term for mixture.
This unique combination of fruits and vegetables comes in many varieties
even within Malaysia, with ingredients ranging from cucumbers and pineapples
to bean curd and cuttlefish, crushed and combined with a zesty curry sauce or
prawn paste to create a blend of multiple textures and tastes within a single dish.
For a nation defined by diversity, Rojak aptly describes in verbal, visual and culi-
nary terms the unlikely harmony of so many disparate elements.
“Malaysia is unique in Asia in my experience because it is a truly diversified yet
integrated nation,” says Neil Maffey, General Manager of Watsons Malaysia. “The
Malay, Chinese and Indian communities on peninsular Malaysia and the various
ethnic groups in East Malaysia live together in a harmonious way and relish one
another’s diversity.”
The roots of this diversity can be traced to the rise of Malacca, the 15th century
port and eastern hub of the spice trade. Traders from Europe, Arabia, India, Thai-
land, Java and China not only exchanged goods but left their cultural influences
to linger, mingle and bloom. Hinduism and Buddhism were first introduced by
Indians, who came to this land more than two thousand years ago, followed by the
introduction of Islam by Arab traders.
In the colonial age, the Portuguese, then the Dutch and eventually the British
found the sea trade routes around Malacca and the neighbouring ports of Penang
SPHERE 21
The independence celebrations put the
whole country in the mood to party.
Top right: The national delicacy Rojak,
which means mixture in Malay.
A celebration of diversity and harmony
By Danny Lim
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PHOTOS: LEFT, GETTY IMAGES; TOP RIGHT, STOCKFOOD/OTHK