Malaysia 1 - Where is this place? 

25 images to make you think and give you the big picture

All photographs can be used in any teaching and learning context in a school but cannot be used for any other purposes.

This enquiry is about exploring perceptions of a country that is newly industrialising country.  What might it look like? Malaysia is made up of The Malay Peninsula and two states on the island of Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak. It is all between the tropic of Cancer and the Equator. Added to that it is a multi-cultural society Malays are the largest group and are Muslims, the Chinese are a very large group and practise Daoism largely.  Furthermore, there are various Indonesian tribal groups many of who are Christians. Finally there are Hindus of southern Indian origin.  It is a NIC because it is undergoing rapid development. The country has a stated goal to be an industrialised country by 2020.  Many development agencies have pulled out.  You will see a sample of images that may surprise you. The photographs here have been taken in Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak.

	1.1 This is the Manchester United store in Kuala Lumpur [KL] in one of the large air conditioned and chic shopping malls called LOT 10.  It contains M&S and Topshop too as well as Japanese department store Setan.
	1.2 Two Muslim girls walk home from school at lunchtime in the small market town of Serian, Sarawak.  Schools start early due to the tropical heat. In this picture it is about 35oC at about 12 noon and it is February.
	1.3 Rice the staple crop of just about everyone. This is hill rice, but paddy rice is common in the river valleys too
	1.4 A Chinese temple, in the heart of Kuching, Many of the businesses in Kuching are run by the Chinese.
	1.5 An Iban longhouse, Batang Ai, Sarawak made from various tropical hardwoods. There are no phone communications, people live from shifting cultivation and eco-tourism.
	1.6 Putrajaya, is the twenty-first century intelligent city. Here a Malay government official, who is traditional dress for Friday prayers explains the planning and development of the city. The plan is to create a city of 330 000 people and move the Government from Kuala Lumpur.
	1.7 Rubber, the traditional cash crop of Malaysia for over 100 years. The economy is no longer dependent on it.  Rubber plantations thrive in the hot, wet tropical climate.
	1.8 Petronas, the government owned oil company owns this Argentinian architect designed, Korean and Japanese built towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world at the heart of KL.
	1.9 People in the Iban long house discuss the day. 30 families live in this wooden structure, over 200 people. This a two hour boat ride and 3 hour drive. Next to the long house is a lodge for tourists to sleep and eat.  The long house earn a royalty for everyone who stays as well as provide a handicraft market for tourists and a forum for meeting the people.
	1.10 A Chinese Malaysian biochemist is investigating the medicinal properties of tropical rainforest plants.  They go out into the communities to talk to village people and record their knowledge of plants and their use etc.  The lab will then investigate if there is any
	1.11 Wild pineapple, growing in Sarawak.  The fruits of the forest are abundant and allow people to gather them. Some are seasonal, but there is always something available.
	1.12 Fish is an important part of the Malay diet.  The fishing boats capture large tiger prawns which thrive in the rich muddy estuaries of Sarawak. This Kuching fleet will fish in the South China Sea.
	1.13 Putrajaya. The Primeminister office, in the background with the botanical garden in the foreground.  This modern city is built which the philosophy of 'A city in a garden'.  The parks have been completed before many of the houses.
	1.14 The Rainforest in Sarawak, once much of Borneo. Orang utan means  'people of the jungle'.  Their engaging nature makes them an important symbol of eco-tourism.
	1.15 Cats is the symbol of the Sarawak capital city Kuching. Kuching means cats. Rapidly becoming a tourist destination for many people from Europe to experience the outback of Borneo.
	1.16 Hindus come to pray in the Batu Caves on the outskirts of KL.  Malaysia has a large Hindu population, the third largest group. Tourists come too and people pose with a monitor lizard and overcome their distinct fear.
	1.17 Timber trucks bring hardwoods to the town from forestry reserves in Sarawak. The debate goes on about whether development will destroy rainforests or ultimately protect them.
	1.18 The centre of KL at night outside the Hard Rock Cafe. A Harley Davidson gathering. There wer over 50 bikes.
	1.19 Palm oil plantations are more important than rubber.  This is a processing plant where clusters of fruits are turned int the oil and exported over the world. There are many applications. Malaysian scientists and engineers are experimenting with a Palm oil fuel for cars.
	1.20 Chinatown, KL home of the original imitation. Gucci bags, Man U shirts, Nike shoes, tourists and local flock for a bargain.
	1.21 The national mosque, KL, a place of worship. The urban motorways of Kuala Lumpur pass by and on some days can be badly congested.
	1.22 fish farms are abundant in Malaysia.  They dot the landscape and seem part of every settlement. At the market, in Serian, they keep them alive to keep them fresh in the tropical heat.
	1.23 The new Kuala Lumpur monorail, built in Malaysia. Like the Proton a car from Malaysia a symbol of their modern industrialising goal.
	1.24 An eco-tourism guide, Majang Banggai explaining the food and medicinal properties of plants to tourists.
	1.25 Three races in one picture, symbolising the peaceful co-existence of the different races and religions of Malaysia.
	1.26 Malaysia is in SE Asia, partly the Malay peninsula and partly on the island of Borneo [the two states of Sabah and Sarawak]
	These were taken on a recent teachers inspection visit with Discover the Living Planet.  There are many acknowledgements. Particular thanks to Tony Escritt and Majang Banggai of Borneo Adventure and the company of the teachers who went on the February 2004 Teachers visit.

 

 

This page last updated 30 March 2012