#malaysian tamil to be specific

[therukurals]

Are u Tamil?

Yes

[handweavers]

as an aside it's interesting how the word 'indian' is used in malaysia vs elsewhere because in malaysia it functions as a specific class of people as enshrined in malaysian law and government, as well as being used colloquially to refer to anyone of south asian origin. my family are punjabis who immigrated to malaya in the 1890s before there was such a thing as india (or pakistan) as a state, but we are legally considered to be racially 'indian' and that 'racial category' is listed on all of my family's government documents including my birth certificate. even if you are a tamil whose family is technically from sri lanka you are called an 'indian' in malaysia because it is a specific racial category there, and it's not considered politically incorrect, because the word 'indian' is not necessarily an ethnic or national one if that makes sense. i am racially 'indian' as a Specific Class within the malaysian framework - and this isn't an ontological thing, it's socially and materially constructed

to put it another way, i don't consider myself indian outside of malaysia, i am specifically punjabi, i have no ties to the state of india at all and reject the partitioning of punjab - 'india' as a specific entity did not exist the last time any of my ancestors lived in that region, calling myself 'indian' would be incorrect. my family doesn't say "we are from india" we say we are from punjab. but i refer to myself as indian in the malaysian context or 'malaysian indian' because in malaysia that is what i am.

[thozhar]

Gogu: Apart from the movie Jagat, I don’t see many clear attempts in Malaysian Tamil cinema to explore our identity. Nevertheless, I draw immense inspiration from other Malaysian filmmakers like Tan Chui Mui, Yeo Joon Han, U-Wei, and Dain Said. Their intimate films delve deep into the psyche of society, raising thought-provoking questions for the audience. It’s truly empowering to witness yourself, your community, and your landscape represented in films. It validates our existence, our joy, our dreams, and the personal struggles we go through.  One thing that truly fascinates me in Southeast Asian films is how they beautifully portray our local beliefs and magic. Our region has a rich history filled with rituals, ghosts, and myths, and seeing them come to life on the screen adds a unique touch to the storytelling, specific to this part of the world.  Moreover, there’s a naturally slow pace in our region, which Indonesians would call “santai.” It’s during these unhurried, laid-back moments that we reflect on our lives. However, this inherent rhythm is being disrupted by new fast-paced narratives and modern technology. Some fantastic filmmakers from our region, like Apitchapong and Lav Diaz, are constantly fighting against this trend. They strive to bring back alignment and harmony in our thoughts through their work. 

— Malaysian Tamil Film Duo Gogularaajan And Kumanavannan Rajendran On The Complexities Of Cinema, Southeast Asia, And Tamilness

[sembulapeyalneerpol]

it's insane how fucking terrible mainland indians specifically dominant castes are, my friend who is also Malaysian Tamil was telling me how her coworker was saying that "oh shes so inspirational because she and her family were slaves in malaysia" girl what!?!?

[dear-indies]

hello! do you have any recs for siblings for an alfie enoch fc? no specific age range or gender requirements, i’m just looking for anyone who would fit. (and have been coming up short in my own search 🫠) thank you so much in advance!

Livvi Franc (1988) Afro-Barbadian / English.

Half siblings:

Ashley Madekwe (1981) Nigerian, Swiss-German / English.

Samba Schutte (1983) Mauritanian / Dutch.

Remy Hii (1986) Chinese Malaysian / English.

Cassie Steele (1989) Filipino / English.

Phillipa Soo (1990) Chinese / English, Irish and Scottish.

Sofia Black-D'Elia (1991) Italian / Ashkenazi Jewish.

Giullian Yao Gioiello (1991) Taiwanese / White.

Aisha Dee (1993) African-American / White.

Frankie Adams (1994) Samoan / White.

Lamar Johnson (1994) Afro-Barbadian.

Midori Francis (1994) Japanese / Irish.

Ayo Edebiri (1995) Afro Barbadian / Yoruba Nigerian.

Geraldine Viswanathan (1995) Tamil Indian / Swiss-German.

Justice Smith (1995) African-American / Italian, French-Canadian - is queer.

Mason Gooding (1996) Afro-Barbadian, African-American / European.

Brianna Hildebrand (1996) Mexican / German, English, Irish - is queer.

Here you go!

[edulink012]

Transform Your Future with Cost-Efficient Education in Malaysia

In an era where the cost of education is steadily rising worldwide, Malaysia stands out as a beacon of affordable, quality education for both local and international students. With a robust academic infrastructure, multicultural environment, and a range of programs designed to meet global standards, Malaysia offers a unique opportunity to transform your future without incurring crippling debt. Here’s how Malaysia's cost-efficient education can shape your path toward success.

Study in Malaysia

1. Affordable Tuition Fees Without Compromising Quality

One of Malaysia’s biggest draws is its competitive tuition fees. Compared to popular education destinations like the United States, United Kingdom, or Australia, studying in Malaysia can save students up to 50-70% on fees. Prestigious local universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), as well as globally-recognized private institutions like Monash University Malaysia, provide high-quality education with world-class facilities. Programs are often aligned with global academic standards, ensuring that students receive an education that is recognized internationally.

Quick Tip: Many Malaysian universities partner with institutions in the UK, Australia, and the US, allowing students to earn a foreign degree without the high cost of living associated with those countries.

2. Low Cost of Living

Malaysia offers a lower cost of living compared to many Western countries, making it an attractive destination for students. The affordability of rent, food, and transportation means that students can manage their expenses without compromising on their lifestyle. On average, students can comfortably live on a monthly budget ranging from $300 to $500, which includes accommodation, meals, and other expenses. This advantage helps students manage their finances while focusing on their studies and future career paths.

3. Scholarships and Financial Aid

To further ease financial burdens, Malaysia offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options, especially for international students. Government-funded scholarships, university-specific scholarships, and merit-based awards are readily available. Notably, Malaysia's Ministry of Education offers scholarships specifically aimed at promoting the country as a premier education hub, making it possible for talented students from around the world to study in Malaysia at reduced costs.

Example: The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) offers financial support to outstanding students from around the world, promoting academic excellence and cross-cultural exchange.

Study in Malaysia

4. Flexibility Through Twinning Programs

Twinning programs in Malaysia allow students to complete part of their studies in Malaysia and the remainder in another country, often leading to a degree from a prestigious foreign university. This arrangement provides students the best of both worlds – they get international exposure and a degree from a top-tier institution, all while saving money on their overall education costs. Popular destinations for twinning programs include the UK, Australia, and the US.

5. Diverse Learning Environment

Malaysia's multicultural society fosters a vibrant and inclusive educational environment. Students from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond come to Malaysia, making it a melting pot of cultures and perspectives. This exposure not only enriches students’ personal lives but also enhances their cultural competence and global awareness – traits that are increasingly valued by employers around the world.

Studying in Malaysia also allows students to pick up multiple languages, including Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, and English, which is widely spoken and used as the medium of instruction in most institutions.

6. Strategic Location and Career Opportunities

Malaysia’s location in the heart of Southeast Asia provides students with numerous travel and career opportunities. Malaysia is home to some of the region's fastest-growing industries, particularly in finance, information technology, healthcare, and engineering. Upon graduation, students have the option to explore job prospects within Malaysia or in neighboring countries like Singapore, where high salaries and career advancements are common.

Additionally, Malaysia’s liberal post-graduation work policies allow international students to stay and work, providing a smoother transition from student life to professional life.

Study in Malaysia

Conclusion: Malaysia – An Investment in Your Future

Choosing Malaysia for your education is not just about cutting costs; it’s about investing in a future with global opportunities, cultural enrichment, and personal growth. With its affordable education, rich cultural experience, and promising career prospects, Malaysia offers a pathway that is as cost-efficient as it is transformative. By opting for Malaysia, you can focus on building a brighter future without the weight of financial strain.

[plucare]

Featuring next in our Inspiring Women Series is none other than Dr Ruby (Rabia Rowback) who has been such a big inspiration in the NGO circle of this country as she broke the norm and made herself someone to be looked up to through her many community works. Here is her sharing to us this International Women's Day: “I am from a medical background and since medical school, community health and HIV always had a special place in my heart. Since I was a medical student, I involved myself with a few NGO such as Elena Franchuk, KYIV, a HIV related NGO and later joined as a volunteer at Haluan Malaysia where I was part of the medical team. I wanted to join Doctor's Without Border and migrate abroad but my dad said something which made me change my mind. He said, "Never ask what the country has done for you but ask yourself what have you done for your country" So I decided to stay for good. Then I started a group called Born to Serve where I gathered old schoolmates and we did community programme with Orang Asli, orphanages and old folk homes. My mom was very supportive. She even emptied a room in our house for me to store the collected donation items. Even my other siblings helped me a lot from the beginning to support and they joined most of the activities that I organized. Through this group, I met many other non-governmental individuals where it led to the present me. A good friend of mine (Juliana Ooi) which I met through Facebook for a charity programme inspired me to join her to advocate to Malaysian Muslims on the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). She guided me to be a member and co-opted EXCO for Selangor & Federal Territory Family Reproductive and Health Association (SWP FREHA) which was established in 1953. Thanks to her, I established my personal advocacy toward SRHR where now I am a trained Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) by Federation and Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM). I worked with many NGOs on field where I was continuously exposed to the marginalized and vulnerable community such as drug users, transgenders, sex workers, people living with HIV, refugees, migrant workers, teenagers and Orang Asli. Since 2013, I have conducted CSE talk or training for thousands of people consisting of parents, teachers, school and college students, health care providers and community leaders nationwide. I'm actively promoting normalization and commonlization of discussion on SRHR among parents and children as I strongly believe that parents are the first contact person for a child. Till today my friends and I still conduct such workshop and talks to all ages and community in multi languages (Malay, English and Tamil). Due to my active participation in promoting SRHR services and CSE to prevent social issues among the young people in Malaysia, I have been invited to be panellist for forum, seminar, conference, talk and lectures related to SRHR at governmental and international school and universities. I have collaborated with UNICEF, UNHCR Malaysia, UNFPA, UNAIDS and many more. I was one of the active panellist for Townhall Saya Sayang Saya, a campaign by UNICEF Malaysia, Digi mobile network, R.AGE, PDRM and WomenGirl on online sexual grooming. I also involved in module development on stigma and discrimination toward key population for health care workers and PROSTAR 2018 (Healthy Programme Without AIDS for Youth). I have trained more than 200 healthcare workers on sensitization toward key population as one of the programmes under National Strategic Plan Ending AIDS 2016-2030. Currently I'm working with PT Foundation as a Programme Manager for 2nd Chance Programme where it provides academic and pyscho-social mentorship and welfare services to HIV infected and affected children and caregivers. Although I'm working specifically on children, CSE and HIV but I always been active with other social issues and charity programmes as I believe that a comprehensive care is needed to have a better Malaysia. I'm born in a Indian Muslim community which highly emphasize the

cultural values but thanks to my family, I had the opportunities to break the tradition. Today I can proudly say that I have done something for my country. My motto is life is norm doesn't mean right. Being different doesn't mean wrong. It is ok to break away from the tradition. This is my personal mantra. A quote that I live by is “Be the changes you want like to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi” And finally my message to the women in Malaysia on how to achieve their dreams in life this International Women’s Day is “Don't be afraid to be different from others. You don't have to be great to start but you have to start to be great." Thank you Dr Ruby for paving the way for girls in this country to pursue their passion and to be unique in their own ways. We I Do Care You. 📷

[sarahlwlee]

31 Stories in 31 Days: Language

What is this? As part of celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May), I am writing a story a day about my experiences as a Chinese Malaysian immigrant in America. My friends and family have provided numerous one-word prompts to help me create these stories. Today’s word prompt was contributed by Chauncey L. and the word is “Language”. Thank you Chauncey for your contribution and thank you everyone who stopped by to read my story today.

I grew up in a country that spoke Manglish, which means a blending of local languages in Malaysia into the English language. Some have described it as English-based creole and influenced by the dominant languages of the country, more specifically Malay, Chinese languages, and Tamil. Even though the official language of Malaysia is Malay, people learn to get by conversationally on Manglish for the most part. It encompasses a lot of “lah” at the end of a word or sentence, such as “you know lah” or “why you like dat lah?”

Another word that similarly describes Manglish is Singlish, commonly used in Singapore with other Chinese language influences and many would say the two are essentially the same, but don’t say that when you are in Singapore. I even had a t-shirt from Singapore, when I was 16, outlining its cultural features through iconography that included “lah” as one of its unique attributes.

English is a second language in Malaysia. Malaysian English is similar and related to British English due to our complicated history of being colonized by the British for 131 years before Malaysia gained its independence in 1957. Learning English for me was easy because we spoke English at home and my mother was a teacher who taught English, Geography and many other subjects. I was encouraged to read a lot of English written books and literature as well as watching a lot of English speaking shows. My grasp of the English language flourished more when I went to college in Kalamazoo. I always thought that my mastery of English was excellent when I was in secondary school, only to find out later that there are much stronger English speakers and writers in Malaysia.

When I arrived in Kalamazoo, I remember a senior from the international student orientation group said I have a very thick Malaysian accent. I couldn’t tell the difference because I couldn’t hear my own voice being different. I understood other English speakers in America, however I felt they couldn’t understand me and some of the words I use. In my senior year of college, I joined a community theatre group to learn how to hone in on acting and public speaking. While running lines with one of the graduate assistants supporting the actors, she said I pronounce the number “three” in a strange way that is very unique to most Malaysian. More specifically, the way I was pronouncing it was “tree” without the emphasis on the “h” in the word “three”. She is a Black American woman who specialized in performing arts and had met several Malaysians before me who spoke quite the same way. I took her comment to heart and started modifying how I said the number three — making sure I emphasized the “h” moving forward.

During this same time in senior year, I started dating Chauncey and to this day he remembers when I use to have a very thick accent when he met me for the first time when I was a sophomore. While dating, he would often ask me to explain words I use when asking for something. For example, I asked him if we need serviettes for our picnic lunch in the park. He said to me, “What are serviettes?”. In that moment I translated it to “napkins” because I remember hearing a McDonald’s employee referring to it that way and then he finally understood what I was asking for. It took me awhile to find word replacements for: lift, boot, singlet, movie theatre, trolley and many more.

Over the years, Chauncey learned what I meant so it became easier to communicate when we were together however out in public, especially while working, I had to use the proper American terminology. I remember my job at the Chamber I was directing a guest who needed access to an elevator and I said, “Please head down the hallway and you will find the lift to your right.” They looked at me puzzled and said they were not looking for a forklift but rather an elevator. I caught myself and repeated to the guest saying, “Yes, my apologies. Please head down the hallway and the elevator will be to your right.” Slightly frustrate and flustered, I offered to just walk him down the hallway and show him exactly where the elevator was.

For the last 17 years I have lived in Kalamazoo, I have worked really hard on my word choices and how I speak. I don’t remember when this happened, but one day I didn’t have an accent anymore and people mistook me for someone who was raised in America because I spoke like an American. When I speak to friends and family in Malaysia, I noticed they were trying to adapt to how I was speaking and I thought to myself, “Well that’s strange, why are they trying to talk with an American accent?” I can’t control my accent. I try my best to drop in a “lah” or two to show that I still understood Manglish and could speak it whenever I communicate with friends and family in Malaysia.

Sometimes it sounds like I am foreigner in Malaysia trying too hard to speak Manglish and it becomes quite laughable. What I forget often is the sentence structure is different for Manglish, so adding a “lah” here and there doesn’t really change how I sound — it just makes me sound silly and forced. Chauncey calls it code switching. He said sometimes it comes back naturally to me when I’m talking to my mother, but I can’t hear it when I do switch. Maybe next time we will capture a recording of this in action.

[therukurals]

Mobile About

Gil. Malaysian Tamil. ‘94. she/they. Follow from @sembulapeyalneerpol Mobile Navigation

This blog is a collection of creative content, fandom, tho(ugh)ts and music. My url is a reference to this album by Arivu. Simplified translation: street poetry. 

Do not repost my gifs. Especially without credit. 

I do take requests, please be as specific as possible, timestamps/episodes are helpful. 

If you need anything tagged let me know, more than happy to do so. 

[handweavers]

i love malaysian english so so so much its like 20 languages stacked in a trenchcoat but it's got specific rules and the syntax changes depending on who is speaking but it's all fully understandable if you're malaysian and entirely incomprehensible to anyone who isn't because you're speaking chinese languages, malay, english, and tamil at the same time but it's not Random like it's specific words from each language that are being used in combination with each other and depending on the ethnic background of the malaysian you're speaking with it shifts a bit to use more of their vernacular too and vice versa like it's a real Language that is fluid and amazing. which makes trying to communicate with people who only speak one of the above languages absolute hell and vice versa. a creole language that is meant to cause psychological damage to outsiders and immense joy to native speakers

[sembulapeyalneerpol]

the conversations around south asian representation in the west is always so interesting to me, mainly because my nationality of being Tamil superceded the identiy of indian. the concept and my understanding of belonging is defined by the politics of Tamils and the experience through being non-Brahmin(but still an intermediate dominant caste), the Eezha Tamil struggle, the Dravidian movement and my family’s own as indentured labor in Malaysia. So my connection and conceptualization of my nationhood and ethnic community is through that. I’ll feel more connected to a person who is Malaysian Chinese than someone who is Indian Gujurati Brahmin. the understanding/identifying as desi/indian is really through the lense of communicating to others who i am not in relationship with or through a specific political context of how i’m racialized in the states but even then im moving further and further away from it.

so i really have no interest in the discourse around desi rep because....i’m dont self-identify as desi no more than i do asian american, which are external identifiers for specific context. there are shared experiences tied to the geopolitics, history of colonization but the distance? or relationship i feel is as equal to say someone who is Korean or Nigerian or Puerto Rican

[dear-indies]

Hi lovelies 💞 I was wondering do you know some female fcs that are have Scottish ancestry ? (Can be any race/ethnicity mixed ) thank you in advance!

Phyllis Logan (1956) Scottish.

Julie Graham (1965) Scottish.

Shirley Henderson (1965) Scottish.

Michelle Gomez (1966) Scottish / Portuguese-Montserratian.

Lila Downs (1968) Scottish American / Mixtec.

Kate Dickie (1971) Scottish.

Neve McIntosh (1972) Scottish.

Kathaleeya McIntosh (1972) Thai Chinese / Scottish.

Laura Fraser (1975) Scottish. 

Kelly Macdonald (1976) Scottish. 

Rachel Grant (1977) Scottish, French-Canadian and Filipino.

Pollyanna McIntosh (1978/1979) Scottish and English. 

Rose Byrne (1979) Irish and Scottish.

Ruth Connell (1979) Scottish. 

Kirsty Strain (1980) Scottish. 

Morven Christie (1981) Scottish. 

Amy Manson (1985)  Scottish,

Georgia King (1985) Scottish. 

Chloe Pirrie (1987) Scottish.

Ruth Connell (1987) Scottish.

Cleopatra Coleman (1987) Afro-Jamaican / Scottish.

Sharon Rooney (1988) Scottish. 

Sophie Kennedy Clark (1990) Scottish.

Danielle Macdonald (1991) Scottish and Italian.

Joanna Vanderham (1991) Scottish. 

Lois Chimimba (1991) Malawian / Scottish.

Maggy / Natsuki Margaret Gibb (1992) Japanese / Scottish Canadian.

Freya Mavor (1993) Scottish, Irish, some Danish.

Mirren Mack (1997) Scottish.

Eubha Akilade (1998) Nigerian and Scottish.

Sorcha Groundsell (1998) Scottish.

Jade Alleyne (2001) Afro-Barbadian and Scottish.

Was born in Scotland:

Katie Leung (1987) Hongkonger.

Eunice Olumide (1987) Nigerian. 

Kiran Sonia Sawar (1991) Pakistani.

Emma Maembong (1992) Malaysian / Scottish.

Charithra Chandran (1997) Tamil Indian. 

Moyo Akandé (?) Nigerian. 

Let me know if you want suggestions from a specific age range because this is a broad question!

[babylon-cal]

4, 7 and 22! Love ya ❤

Country : Malaysia

4. Favourite dish from your specific country? Well, Malaysia is a multiracial country so we have a lot of mixed cuisine from each race that we indulge in but we also have authentic Malaysian dishes as well and my favourite is definitely, nasi lemak. It’s pretty much what all Malaysians would answer to this question tbh. Nasi lemak is a dish that consists of gluttonous rice, sambal (please Google what this means), fried anchovies OR fried chicken usually, cucumbers and half of a hard boiled egg. It’s sold at cheap prices, as low as 1 Malaysian Ringgit per packet. It’s packed in banana leaf and newspaper.

7. Three words from your native language that you like the most?

Okay, I’m Indian by race (only by race, i was born and raised in Malaysia) so ideally my native language should be tamil but I grew up speaking English so I literally don’t even know that much tamil. But this is about my country so I’m gonna use bahasa Malaysia (“Malaysian language” direct translation). The first word, is kemerdekaan which means independence and since our recent election, the word holds a special place in our hearts and ha's given us a new meaning and sentiment. The second, is harapan which means hope. I don’t think I need to explain it. The third is, dare I say it, alamak. Yes, it’s the word ashton was made to say, and yes, it is SOMEWHAT a slang but it’s also a word that people use. It means “oh dear”. I like it because it’s not something you say in a very serious context but more for like tiny mistakes or clumsy moments. You can also say it to your friend when they have dumb moments. I think it’s funny and it has a sense of togetherness too hahaha.

22. What makes you proud about your country? What makes you ashamed?

This answer really contradicts each other because what makes me proud also has its “buts” that make me ashamed. As a nation, I’m proud how we can come together to make a better change for our country as well as unite in ways that could make you stay up all night, waiting for election results and make you cry when a country’s representative wins a world match, it’s the things like this that makes this country so special. But, what makes me ashamed is the fact that we still have a lot of change to make. We have certain laws and certain SOCIETAL RULES that cause some form of discrimination or ostracisation towards certain groups of people. A few years ago, the minority races were heavily discriminated but it’s improved a lot which I’m happy about :) but due to the global equality and acceptance of the LGBTQ community, more Malaysians who are part of this community, have started to be more open about this as well. Bear in mind, that we have laws against the idea of even being part of this community let alone practicing relations. I’m, to a small extent, ashamed of the fact that a large proportion of our society, predominantly the older generation are still very much against and less accepting of the people of LGBTQ community. The younger generation fortunately, have been extremely open minded. :) x 

Thanks so much for the questions, doll 💕

[ohnohetaliasues]

((Malaysia OC)) Hetalia

Country Name: Malaysia

Human Name: Muhammad Amir Bin Arish

((EXPLANATION))

(( In Malaysia, the official religion for the country is Sunni Islam, however, the country does allow freedom of religion. The name ‘Muhammad’ is a very common name for muslim men and is also the name of the Last Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, who is a very respected and important figure in Islam. 

'Amir’ means 'commander of prince’. It fits Malaysia’s personality in becoming a leader to lead his people to success and his country to strive forward.

'Bin’ means 'son of’ which is for muslim men while 'Binti’ which is 'daughter of’ is for muslim women.

'Arish’ means 'brave soldier’. I chose it specifically for a meaning that defines Malaysia himself. His national animal is the Malayan Tiger, where tigers are symbols of courage in Asia. The colour red in the flag of Malaysia called 'Jalur Gemilang’, symbolises courage. The two tigers in his 'Coat of Arms’ also represents courage and strength in his country))

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Official Religion: Islam (Sunni)

Birthday: August 31st 1957 (Declared independence from Britain)

Height: 5'1 ft

Weight: 9 st

Location:

Located in the continent of Asia, Malaysia is  located south of Thailand and covers 328, 657 square kilometers of land and 1,190 square kilometers of water

Capital City: Kuala Lumpur

Political Leader: Prime Minister Najib Razak (since 2009)

Official Language: Malay

Other Languages: Most Malaysian Chinese uses Mandarin while Malaysian Indians uses Tamil

National Animal: The Malayan Tiger

National Flower: Hibiscus

Human Age: 19

Appearance: Malaysia has a tan skin and a bit chubby. He has short black hair with a twin ahoge, representing the Petronas Twin Tower in his capital city, Kuala Lumpur. He wears the uniform for the Royal Malay Regiment, embodying the Malay national dress. He wears a cap called a 'kopiah’ which is important for many muslims in Malaysia. Underneath the clothing, he actually has a scar on his body which was made during his time under the ruling of Japan.

Personality and Interest:

Malaysia is a fairly laid-back and relaxed person. He enjoys taking siestas whenever he has free time and hang out with friends at 'mamak stalls’. However, that does not mean he cannot be strict. In his country, he does practice the sharia law but it only applies to Muslims. He can get a bit too lazy and procrastinate a lot in his work but he always makes sure that he gets everything done in time. He is kind towards children but never forgets to remind them to always respect their elders. He rarely gets angry but when he does it is built up anger so the results are not pretty.

He does not work out often but is able to enjoy sports such as badminton, football, field hockey, squash and many more. He can get a bit carried away with his rivalry with his neighbouring countries namely Indonesia and Thailand. Malaysia likes to dream big and wishes that one day his country becomes developed. He very much treasure the friendships he has with many other countries and would lend a hand if they need help. He loves sweet and spicy food. His favourite beverages would be either 'teh tarik’ or 'milo’.

History:

In 2000 B.C., Maritime trade links are established between India and Southeast Asia. Hindu and Buddha begin to spread throughout the region by Ksyatria, Brahmin and Vaisyha where only interesting aspects are adapted by the locals.

In the A.D. 1-99, the Kingdom of Funan is established in the lower Mekong Delta.

By the year of 200, Langsuka, one of the first Hindu-Malay kingdom, is established around the area known as Kedah. It lasts in one form or another until the 15th century.

In the year 600, from southern Sumatra, around Palembang, for six centuries the Buddhist Srivijaya Empire dominates Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Borneo.

By the year of 1000, the religion of Islam spreads throughout the region with the arrival of Arab merchants where locals were impressed by how trusting the merchants are and decided to adopt the new religion.

In the year of 1402, Parameswara, a king of Singapore, had went to search an area to build his new kingdom. He was resting under a tree when he saw his dog chasing a mouse deer. Then, he saw how the mouse deer outsmarted the dog and his dog fell into the river. He thought to himself how wonderful the area us as even the animals there are brave. And so, he had established the kingdom of Malacca, named after the tree he had rested under. At that faithful moment, Malacca was found sleeping under the tree peacefully, much to the surprise of Parameswara. Malacca was then adopted by Parameswara as his own son. After 5 years of that event, Parameswara marries an Islamic princess and adopts the Persian title Iskandar Shah.

In 1442 until 1445, the Malacca ruler adopts Islam and takes the title of Sultan. After this, it was the golden era of the Sultanate of Malacca.

In 1511, the Portuguese had seize control of Malacca which was at the start of the Industrial Revolution. The Sultanate of Malacca fell and lost much of his memories in the process.

In 1641, the Dutch had waged war against the Portuguese for the control of Malacca and won. This was the longest period that Malacca was under foreign control.

In 1826, the British decided to have an agreement on the trade of Sumatra for Malacca with the Dutch. For a long time, Malacca and his people had tried to fight back for control but were unsuccessful. 

Many events had happened during under Britain’s ruling, such as the introduction of rubber tree from Brazil, Kew Gardens and Ceylon. Both Sarawak and Sabah becoming British protectorates, the creation of Federated Malay States which includes Selangor, Perak, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. The Unfederated Malay States were formed which included Kedah, Johor, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan and Perlis. There have also been a rise of communists in the country due to the introduction of the Malay Communist Party whom main goal is to get rid of the British through any means necessary even through radical means. Malacca grew and was named Malaya instead after all of the states in the Peninsular of Malaysia.

Japan then came along and used a propaganda in trying to give independence to countries in Southeast Asia that has been conquered. Their slogan was 'Asia is for Asians’.

The year was 1941, Japan had instead invaded Malaya and shortly after Singapore. Both Britain and Malaya tried their best to stop the Sun Rising country but lost and Britain had to surrender. Many people in the country were killed mercilessly by the Japanese soldiers. Already killed Malay soldiers were stabbed until they were nothing but mushed meat, buildings were burned down and the women were taken from their homes as pleasuring tools for the Japanese. It was utter chaos as Japan ruled over the country with such ruthless behaviour. 

In the year 1945, two atom bombs were dropped by the United States as an effort to stop the ongoing war on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki which forced Japan to surrender. After two weeks where no one was in charge, the country was instead ran rampant by the communists who were in hiding, Britain came back and reoccupied Borneo, Malaya and Singapore. The Federation of Malaya had replaced the older Malayan Union and so on. 

Finally, in the year 1957, Malaya gained his independence from Britain and having his first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman who helped the ethnic groups in the country to work together. Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore had agreed to join Malaya to become one country known as Malaysia. Brunei was considering to but turned down the offer at the last minute due to the differences in the systems in ruling in the two countries with Malaysia being democracy and Brunei being monarchy.

After just two years however, Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia due to the racial tensions and became an independent country.

((OH GOD THAT WAS SO LONG. I apologise for any grammar errors and mistakes. I will continue to check for any flaws, thank you thank you thank you so much if you were to review this. Please do have a lovely day))

Okay, this looks incredible. The history is great, and I'm in love with how much research you did! I'm so proud of you, fam! I saw that you submitted your OC's relations, so I'll look at those in a minute.

~Kat

[pinkguacamole]

Singapore: Finding the City Amongst the Malls

I almost wasn’t let in to Singapore because the Customs Agent was convinced I was not the same person from my passport photo. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but did you get work done?”

“No but I have spent the past 3 years baking in the sun and I don’t really comb my hair anymore…”

Finally, after an excruciating interview and a lot of tense waiting, they stamped me into a country I have been curious about ever since I read about it in National Geographic, maybe 10 years ago. 

I have met some Singaporean friends while traveling and I was excited to reconnect with them! One of my friends, Matt whom I met in Macedonia and spent a Christmas with in Istanbul, Turkey (he is Muslim and I am Jewish), set me up with his friend Hafizhah who likes to host travelers. I stayed at her home with her family while I was in town and it was wonderful. Hafizhah and Matt took me to all of the places they like to go to and thought I would enjoy. 

They brought me to cool neighborhoods and Malaysian restaurants. They made me try Durian…but it was in the form of a cake. That was really nice of them to give me a pastry instead of the fruit, but the smell of durian will haunt my dreams for the rest of my life. Cake can’t save everything. I was also excited to check out the Harry Potter themed cafe Platform 1094. It was cool to dress up but I think they could have done a lot more with the theme. One morning, we went on a treetop hike through one of Singapore’s nature reserves.

When I wasn’t with Matt or Hafizhah, or my other friend Shalini whom I met traveling almost 4 years ago in Scotland, I was exploring by myself. I took the underground train and walked all over the neighborhoods I had heard about beforehand. Marina Bay is where the giant man-made trees are and they do not disappoint! They drape across a skyline of oddly shaped modern sky-scrapers. Every building I passed left me in awe. Singapore is trying very hard to look fancy and it is working! 

I went to Little India so I could try some of my favorite food: Vegetarian Indian! Unfortunately the curry was a bit cold and it went right through me. This happens with Indian food sometimes. I love curry but sometimes my body says: “no.”

Luckily, Little India was not too far from one of Singapore’s most prominent treasures: a giant mall (where there are typically nice toilets).

I swear, Singapore is mostly malls and then some streets and trees in between. Every Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Station seems to end in a Mall. Downtown- “oh what’s that gorgeous building?” 

A mall.

There are malls across the street from malls. 

I got overwhelmed a few times when I was trying to exit the underground station and landed in a mall. Sometimes it was really hard to find the exit…to the outside world. I had a few panic attacks trying to escape. I don’t do well in malls after spending 2 years in Madagascar. All of the consumerism and things I have no interest in purchasing (because I am a poor traveler) just overwhelm me. 

I am so lucky I had Singaporean friends to show me around because I am afraid I might have been sucked into a mall and never sprung free if I did not have people to guide me. 

The best part of staying with Hafizhah is that she was spending a lot of time celebrating the cultures of Singapore and I got to tag along! One night we went to her Indian-Singaporean friend’s house to try on Punjabi Suits. Her and her friend are teachers and it was a cross-cultural day at school where people were supposed to dress in one of the various Singaporean Cultures that wasn’t their own: Chinese, Malay, Tamil or …other. Her friend’s mom was so excited for me to try on their dresses too. The sweet little old lady ran all over the house grabbing all of the colors she thought would look good on me, pulling the garments over my head, and continuously telling me my hair was a mess. It was one of the most hilarious “dress-up” montages I have ever experienced. She wanted me to keep a Punjabi Suit, but I just don’t have room in my small bag. Also in America it would be very offensive for me to ever wear it. I do understand why cultural appropriation in America is such a problem, but it was honestly so refreshing to be in an Asian country surrounded by people sharing their culture with me in such exuberance. It would have been completely rude for me to not try on these dresses. And they are absolutely gorgeous.

These past few weeks, Muslims have been celebrating Hari Raya, a post- Ramadan series of feasts and family time. Hafizhah cooked up a traditional Malaysian meal and throughout Saturday her cousins, former students, and friends came to eat, drink tea, and celebrate. I had so much fun meeting them and learning about Muslim customs specific to Malay culture. 

I have only been in Singapore for a few days and I am leaving tomorrow because it is so expensive, but in my short time I have had so many beautiful experiences. Singapore is an interesting place because it is a city-state on a series of islands. Singapore is just Singapore. And it is one of the most economically powerful countries in the world. Since it is so small, it is easy for the government to maintain control over certain things, but it did not seem as intense as I expected. 

Thanks to globalization and the resolve for Singaporeans to be united by learning English in school, I feel like I have so much in common with my Singaporean friends. We all come from different backgrounds but the internet and pop culture spread far and wide and despite our different religions and ways of dress, we are all so similar and it is gloriously beautiful.   

[zabpadotcom]

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