Bangsa Malaysia – One Nation, Multi Culture!

In the chapter of The Shaping of Malaysia (1999), Alberto Gomes wrote

” In 1991, Dr Mahathir announced a new goal of nation building for Malaysia that he called “Vision 2020′. He envisaged that by the year 2020 Malaysia will be fully industrialised country with truly united Bangsa Malaysia ( Malaysian Race ). As Harper indicates, in this rhetoric:

Bangsa Malaysia represents not only the culmination, but also the end of nationalism. Whereas earlier nation-building had attempted to create a hybrid and generated suspicions and tension, the Bangsa Malaysia will be based on people’s own cultures, values and religious.”

I’ve read this book, all about Malaysia such as policies, cultures and history. Written by Malaysian and non-Malaysian, different authors. Not all the contents interest me except the chapter called ‘Peoples and Cultures’. It wrote about the history of formation Malaysia and how we develop. I don’t know how many Malaysian are still interested in Vision 2020, but

I think we should be Bangsa Malaysia (Wawasan 2020) and proud to say to others that we are all Malaysian, one nation, multi culture!

‘Malaysia Boleh!’ (1991)

Transformation Malaysian Traditional Game, Batu Seremban to a new look!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

–>I had a discussion with Laurene (my supervisor) about some of Malaysian traditional games last week (13 July 2006), then to make it more real, I actually make one, just to show her what it’s like but not from stone because I could not find the perfect stone and I think it’s quite dangerous to play with stone (the selected stone has to be round and light), so I make it from lentil and textile. Belows are my creation, a transformation from traditional to modern design.

batu_seremban_new_version.jpg

–>I thought that she will find it different and unusual, but instead she knows these games, not by the material, but by action. Althought she played this game with different material. Thats how she notice it has similar as the game she use to play in her childhood time.

One of the question she asked that interest me is :
Is these games can be recognise as a global game? Does it reach a global level?

I think it has different names but it does have similar action on how to play.
1.Batu Seremban or Batu Tujuh (seven stones) in Malaysia
2. Jacks in Australia and New Zealand

jacks.jpg

3. Knucklebones in Egypt and in Europe

knbones.jpg

4. Otedama in Japan

otedama_minori.jpg

As I notice with all these games it usually played by girls not boys. Perhaps because it has the graceful action, the posture, the technique and the action by it self just perfect for girls in the olden days.

I’m still in the working progress researching this topic. And my questions is:
Can we recognised Batu Seremban as one of Malaysian Cultural Identity, although it has similarity with other traditional games in other country?

Where these games come from? Which roots? Does it has a connection with the “World War”?
If anyone have any comment about this topic please do make some comment.

Discussion With Yoko

I discuss about my research with Yoko yoko.jpg trying to get to know what i want to do with my research, as Laurene said I should do something.
But what is doing something if i’m not sure where I stand..where should i position myself in my research. It seems like I need to read more and add my knowledge in this research. But Yoko said, just start to do something.

Well, we discuss and think may be I should do a small project that have relation to Malaysian product.
Something that I can define as ‘Made in and by Malaysian’

Highlights

I created this image for the 4th GRC visulized the narrative of my research trip in Malaysia. Apart from the actual image is taken from ‘Malaysian Year Book 1967’ which I got from a second hand book store in Penang, I also add in some of Malaysia icon/symbols taken from LAT sketches.

The interesting part in this image is the name of each Malaysian state. It is an old spelling of the state influenced from the British Era. Some might not be in the map anymore because it has been changed. I highlighted the Penang Bridge, Petronas Twin Tower, Malaysian Airlines and Visit Malaysia 50 years logo. There are more icon/symbols of Malaysia, than what you can view from this image, actually much more than this such as food, places, games etc.

map_of_malaysia1967.jpg

Searching for Malaysian National Identity!

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License
.

–>What can we consider our (Malaysian) identity? We do have Proton which is said by our ex-Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as Malaysian National Identity. But how is Proton now? Is Proton surviving in the globalisation market? it seems like Proton is having quite a hard time struggling to survive in the global market. And we also have Malaysian Airline System (MAS). That is also Malaysian National Identity. Although MAS is also struggling to survive. How about Petronas Twin Tower? Yes indeed, i guess we can acknowledge that Petronas Twin Tower is Malaysian National Identity too. And KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport).

But this is a huge things..i mean big project…what about our local product that can be consider as our identity? What is Malaysian Product?
I’m trying to identity what can we called Malaysian Identity? What is our national identity? What is our cultural Identity? In my project base research, these are the things that i should identify…before i start another project i guess…Well that what i think at this moment..so i will start doing it..by collecting images of these and try and put this images together as a collage or in other medium…perhaps exploring this images is different ways..
-Nurul Rahman

Visit Malaysia 2007

I assume not much people know about Malaysia, so I decided to use my blog to promote Malaysia as a holiday get away.

If you like hot weather, beaches, asian culture, loves food and advantures then Malaysia is a place to be!(a part from other interesting places)
citrawarna.jpg
Citrawarna Malaysia (The Colours of Malaysia)

The Colour of Malaysia 2006 is a magnificent event showcasing the fascinating facets of culture and arts of our multiracial community in a fun-lled carnival atmosphere. Over the years, Citrawarna is acknowledged to have played a pivotal role in the growth of the nations tourism industry, but today it has also garnered a revered place in the contemporary culture of Malaysia.

Fast Fact About Malaysia

Country
The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Geographical Location
Located between 2º and 7º north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are bounded by Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.
Area
329,758 sq km
Population
25 million
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
People
Malays who make up about 57% of the population are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest.
Language
Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken. The ethnic groups also speak various languages and dialects.
Religion
Islam in the official religion but all other religions are freely practised.
Government
Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.
Climate
Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm.
Major Holidays
New Year’s Day Hari Raya Aidiladha* Federal Territory Day ** Chinese New Year* Awal Muharam* Birthday of Prophet Muhammad* Labour Day* Wesak Day* King’s Birthday* National Day* Deepavali# Hari Raya Aidilfitri* Christmas*
Note: (*) – National holidays (**) – Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur & Labuan only (#) – Except Labuan & Sarawak
Economic Profile
Manufacturing constitutes the largest single component of Malaysia’s economy. Tourism and primary commodities such as petroleum, palm oil, natural rubber and timber are other major contributors to the economy.

Belows are few links that i find very interesting to browse through to get to know Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia

Malaysian Timeline

Places and People
I assume not much people know about Malaysia,
so I decided to use my blog to promote Malaysia as a holiday get away.

If you like hot weather, beaches, asian culture, loves food and advantures then Malaysia is a place to be!

More about Malaysia

Malaysia Truly Asia

I assume not much people know about Malaysia, so I decided to use my blog to promote Malaysia as a holiday get away.

If you like hot weather, beaches, asian culture, loves food and advantures then Malaysia is a place to be!(a part from other interesting places)
citrawarna.jpg
Citrawarna Malaysia (The Colours of Malaysia)

The Colour of Malaysia 2006 is a magnificent event showcasing the fascinating facets of culture and arts of our multiracial community in a funfilled carnival atmosphere. Over the years, Citrawarna is acknowledged to have played a pivotal role in the growth of the nations tourism industry, but today it has also garnered a revered place in the contemporary culture of Malaysia.

Fast Fact About Malaysia

Country
The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Geographical Location
Located between 2º and 7º north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are bounded by Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.
Area
329,758 sq km
Population
25 million
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
People
Malays who make up about 57% of the population are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest.
Language
Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken. The ethnic groups also speak various languages and dialects.
Religion
Islam in the official religion but all other religions are freely practised.
Government
Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.
Climate
Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm.
Major Holidays
New Year’s Day Hari Raya Aidiladha* Federal Territory Day ** Chinese New Year* Awal Muharam* Birthday of Prophet Muhammad* Labour Day* Wesak Day* King’s Birthday* National Day* Deepavali# Hari Raya Aidilfitri* Christmas*
Note: (*) – National holidays (**) – Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur & Labuan only (#) – Except Labuan & Sarawak
Economic Profile
Manufacturing constitutes the largest single component of Malaysia’s economy. Tourism and primary commodities such as petroleum, palm oil, natural rubber and timber are other major contributors to the economy.

Belows are few links that i find very interesting to browse through to get to know Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia

Malaysian Timeline

Places and People

Je Pense, Donc Je Suis – Descartes

Hey, I’m off for my research trip to France and Malaysia, so don’t expect me to write regularly. I will send some link for the photos that I took while I’m on the trip. This is a research trip. As Laurene said, my supervisor said, this is a designer trip.

As a designer, apart of my usual practice when ever I have a new project, before the project started I will spend time going around some where or visiting the country side to refresh my mind. I think most of designers do that. We glean information. We are the gleaners. That’s is part of our research practices. Research before the research.

highways.jpg

This trip is part of the ‘research field trip’. It will be parts of the methodology that I undertaken in my PhD. I will collect anything that crosses and attracts my eyes, taking photos, observing society, visiting places and human behavior and most of all experiencing the process.

I will try to post some of my experience in the trip regularly.

In this trip I have lo

descartesone.jpg

Rene Descartes 1596-1650
“I Think, Therefore I Am”

More about Descartes

Bonnie Doone-Design Retreat

~
–>Last weekend (1-4 July 2006) we ( Laurene, Yoko, Miek, Tania, Liz, Keith, Neal and me) were in Bonnie Doone to do a ‘Design Retreat”, we had a great time and we learn lots of new things. But the best part is, we’re back to the nature. Nothing but nature. Fresh air, greeny environment, bush walking, hill climbing, open fire and no electricity. We also explore the idea of design and research, well that was a task given by our supervisor, Laurene.

The best things for me, is getting back to the playfullness time, reminds me of my childhood. All we did is play. So getting back to this time, and play within the pine forest and bush forest brings back the memory ( but in different environment).

We’ve been given a task to create an intervention that relates to the idea of design and research. And we did in one day, because of the limited time somehow we did it. The work that we did, i reckon, is to guide us to identify the method in doing research, what kind of methodology that suit each one of us in the research. I realised that everyone of us have different ways of approching research using contrasting methods.

Notwithstanding that, I still could not relate this practise with my research, I know by some means, this research method practise will assit me in my research practice.
More Images of “Bonnie Doone Design Retreat Camping”