Challenges and opportunity preaching to Chinese community in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia consists of Peninsular Malaya and the state of Sabah and Sarawak. It has an area of 329,758 sq km of which Peninsular Malaya has 131,598 sq km, Sa bah 73,711 sq km and Sarawak 124,449 sq km. It lies in the tropical zone of which rainfall is all the year round and has an annual rainfall of 2500mm. Its vegetation consists of hot wet tall equatorial forests with creepers. It is 8 hour faster than GMT}. Politically, it consists of 13 states. It has a federal Parliament, a house of Senate and the constitutional Sultan chosen from the state Sultan. The Parliament chooses its Prime Minister who selects the cabinet ministers. Each of the state also has its governments with its chief minister or Menteri Besar with its state cabinet. There is also the local governments to facilitate the administration of the districts. Malaysia lies in the sea routes of two old civilizations between India and China. These two countries have a deep influence over Malaysia as Malaysian Chinese and Indians are two of the biggest minority ethnic groups in the country. Malaysia has a population of 23,127,469 . The Malays are the majority consisting of 11,680,421 or 51 %. This is followed by the Chinese of 5,691,908 or 26% and Indians of 1,618922 or 7%2. There are also other very small ethnic groups such as Eurasians, the natives races of Peninsular Malaya known as Orang Asli3 and also natives in East Malaysia known as Kadazan, Ibans and Dayak. The natives of Peninsular Malaya is very small and insignificant in politics. In East Malaysia, the Kadazan, Iban and Dayak are significant only in state politics. The religions of Malaysian people are characterized by the presence of major religions of the world namely Islam, Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism and others. This was due to Malaysia located strategically between the sea routes of China and India and between East and West.