Introduction
BABA NYONYA, a unique culture that
combined various customs and
traditions in Malacca.It is also known
as Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya or Straits
Chinese. 600 years ago, the Chinese
immigrants of Malacca settled in the
Malay Peninsular, who intermarried
with the Malay population and later
spread throughout the country.
History
The origin of Baba Nyonya can be traced back to
centuries ago when the Chinese emigrated from China
to the British Straits Settlement of Melaka, Singapore,
Penang and also Java of Indonesia.
Festival
Same as Chinese Culture, Baba-Nyonya also
celebrate the same festival, like Chinese New
Year, Lantern festival, Moon festival and
others.
Baba & Nyonya costume
•The Peranakans have a unique style of clothing and
fashion that was mainly influenced by the Chinese and
Malay cultures – “baju kebaya”.
•The blouse is known as “baju kebaya”, and the skirt is
known as the “sarong”. The kebaya is worn with a batik
sarong and matched with “manek” (beads) shoes.
•Kabaya – the blouse with kerosang
•Sarong – the batik skirt
•Manek kasut – beaded slipper
Food Baba & Nyonya
Laksa Nyonya
A mouthwatering coconut curry
soup, laksa nyonya is a mainstay of
Baba Nyonya cuisine. There are a
number of laksa
variations and
ingredients change from region to
region.
Ayam Buah Keluak
This exotic dish is made using the seeds (known as
“black nuts”) of the kepayang, a tall tree native to the
mangrove swamps of Malaysia and Indonesia.
Nyonya Cendol
•Very similar to cendol, a popular southeast Asian
dessert, nyonya cendol is made with coconut milk,
flavoured pandan leaf, jelly noodles, red beans and
shaved ice with added sweetness from gula Melaka (palm
sugar). This delicious ice-cold delicacy is particularly
refreshing on a hot Malay day.
Udang Masak Lemak Nenas
•Simultaneously fruity, sour and spicy, udang masak
lemak nenas, a rich, creamy dish made with prawns and
pineapple, is traditionally prepared for Chinese New
Year feasts and at family reunions.
BABA NYONYA DANCE
•Baba and Nyonya is a unique ethnic group that has
been in existence in Malacca for around 600 years
through marriages between Chinese traders and local
Malays.
MUSIC TRADITIONAL
Baba and Nyonya is a unique ethnic group that has
been in existence in Malacca for around 600 years
through marriages between Chinese traders and local
Malays.
•Dance for Baba-Nyonya is usually based on Malay
dance, where the music and step are similar. The
dancer normally will dance with a items such as
handkerchief, tiffin carriers, Chinese fans, Chinese
umbrella or embroidery frames to present their life or
culture.
•The name of the dance will name based on the items
they use in the dance, for example, if the items that use
in the dance is Chinese fans, it may be called as fans
dance (tarian kipas).
GAMES
1) CHEKI
This game is similar to western “Gin Rummy” and
Chinese “Mahjong”. This game can allow 2 to 6 people to
play at the same time, and there are 60 cards in a deck.
2) CHONGKAK
•The Chongkak boards can design into any shape as long
it has the holes. And in the past, some Nyonya designed
the shape in a peacock shape
CUSTOM AND
TRADITIONS
TAKING PHOTO (TABOO)
•They believe that when three person is taking photo
together the middle one will be the first person who was
died.
CELEBRATION OF DEATH
(CUSTOM)
A Taoist priest or priestess is invited to help clean and
dress before placing the body in the
coffin.It would be dressed in the white pajama which
worn on his wedding eve.
Indigenous
Community
Index
Introduction
History
Religion
Language
Traditional Food
Traditional Costume
Dance
Instrument
Festival
Game
Custom & Tradition
Introduction
Malaysia's indigenous peoples, the Malays,
Natives and Aborigines or Orang Asli, are
classified as “bumiputera” meaning “princes or
sons of the soil”, a classification that has been
used as a basis for affirmative action and
policies in their favour, including the
reservation of places for them in the civil
service.
History
Genetic studies date Malaysia's Orang Asli back
to India somewhere between 42,000 to
63,000 years ago. After settling in Malaysia,
they adapted to the jungle where they lived
almost undisturbed for thousands of years.
This makes the Orang Asli, or 'Original People',
Malaysia's oldest inhabitants.
Religion & Language
About 70 per cent practise traditional animist
religions, about 10 per cent are Christian and
15–20 per cent Muslim, though the percentage
of Orang Asli who are Muslim has been steadily
increasing in more recent years, especially
among the Proto-Malay.
Festival
Every 21 June, thousands of indigenous
people celebrate National Indigenous People
Day (NIDP).
Traditional First Nation feast it is customary for
men who are chosen by the head server.
Costume
Orang Asli of West Malaysia still wear clothing
of natural materials, often out of tree bark and
skirt.
Food
Pucuk Rebung
Bunga Kantan
Sayur meranti
Dance
Sewang
dance from orang asli to treat
Randai
theater tradition which incorporates music
Music Instrument
Ronggeng
Inang
Games
Kercang
Coconut Shell Race
Custom & Tradition
Wedding
Death
Sabah Community
Index
Introduction
History
Religion
Language
Traditional Food
Traditional Costume
Dance
Instrument
Festival
Game
Custom & Tradition
Introduction
Sabah is well known as “THE LAND BELOW THE
WIND", because it is located just south of the
typhoon-prone region, making it free from
typhoons. Home to 32 different indigenous
groups that consist of over 30 ethnic races,
Sabah is often described as the people that
makes visiting Sabah so special.
History
After Japanese occupation during World War II,
British crown colony status was granted
(1946), and Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963.
Religion & Language
Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the official language
spoken in Sabah. Other widely spoken
languages include a range of Chinese dialects
(such as Mandarin), Tamil and English. Sabah
doesn't have a specific religion.
Festival
Pesta Ka’amatan is a localized thanksgiving
celebration that is on 30th and 31th may
Farmers and families take this
opportunity to give thanks to the
spirits and gods for providing them
with a fruitful reap and pray that the
gods will bless them with bountiful
harvest the following year.
Costume
Kadazandusun is the largest
indigenous group of Sabah, and
Kadazan Penampang is the biggest
sub-ethnic. Their traditional costume
has become an iconic dress to
represent Sabahans.
Food
Hinava is particularly popular among
the Kadazan-Dusun people of Sabah.
It is a traditiona
l Sabahan dish
commonly made from sliced tenggiri
(mackerel) mixed with chilli, ginger,
onions and lime juice. It can be eaten
either as an appetiser or a main dish
typically served with white rice.
Other seafood like prawn and squid
can be used as a fish substitute to
make hinava.
Dance
Magunatip, which is also known as
“Bamboo Dance”, is one of the most
popular traditional dances of Sabah.
This energetic dance is performed by
Murut people, who mainly reside in
the interior districts of Sabah, and
they are the headhunters of Borneo
in the past. During the dance, the
dancers put their feet in and out
between clapping bamboo poles
without being trapped.
Music Instrument
Known as tagunggak amongst the
Murut, togunggak amongst the
Kadazandusun or ‘togunggu’ in
Penampang, these struck bamboo
idiophones are played in groups to
accompany dancing or processions at
festive occasions.
Games
Binsulong is a traditional game of
Kadazandusun people. There is a
string “trapped” inside the double-
loop rattan spiral and you need to
pull it out without cutting the string.
Custom & Tradition
Kadazan wedding in Sabah
Bride and groom are given a ball of rice each,
which they have to feed each other. The ball of
rice symbolises that the two young people are
of different blood, which is now to be unified.
Only after this symbolic unification can the
congregation be served from the communal
kuali.
Sarawak Community
Index
Introduction
History
Religion
Language
Traditional Food
Traditional Costume
Dance
Instrument
Festival
Game
Custom & Tradition
Introduction
Sarawak is nicknamed "Land of the
Hornbills" (Bumi Kenyalang). These
birds are important cultural symbols
for the Dayak people, representing
the spirit of God. It is also believed
that if a hornbill is seen flying over
residences, it will bring good luck to
the local community.
History
The eastern seaboard of Borneo was
charted, though not settled, by the
Portuguese in the early 16th century.
The area of Sarawak was known to
Portuguese cartographers as Cerava,
and by the early 19th century,
Sarawak had become a loosely
governed territory under the control
of the Brunei Sultanate.
Religion & Language
Religions of Sarawak. Christianity is
the largest religion in Sarawak,
representing 63.1% of the total
population according to the 2020
census. Sarawakians practice a
variety of religions, including
Christianity, Chinese folk religion (a
fusion of Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism and ancestor worship),
Islam and animism.
It is ethnically, culturally, and
linguistically diverse; major ethnic
groups including Iban, Malay,
Chinese, Melanau, Bidayuh and Orang
Ulu. English and Malay are the two
official languages of the state; there
is no official religion.
Festival
The Kaul Festival
The Kaul is an occasion celebrated by
the Melanau community. It is usually
celebrated around the middle of
March or early in April.
Gawai Dayak
Gawai Dayak
The Gawai Dayak is the most popular
festival observed in the state of
Sarawak.
Costume
Food
kek lapis
Dance
Ngajat
Music Instrument
the traditional lute of the Orang Ulu called
Sape. Carved out of a single tree trunk and
adorned with Orang Ulu motifs, this plucked
instrument produces sound that is so soothing
and enchanting.