Malaysia-Truly Asia!" This slogan promotes the idea of Malaysia as Asia's cultural and ethnic melting pot and has captured the imagination of visitors from all over the world.
The Malays, Chinese, and Indians are the three ethnic ingredients that make up the unique nation and culture that is Malaysia. After independence from the British Empire in the 1950s, Malaysia's multiethnicity had a tremendous impact on her political, economic and cultural development. Her 6 million Chinese, one quarter of the population, care deeply about education and the passing on of cultural traditions, and are at the center of the debate over whether Malaysia's development should emphasize solidarity or diversity.
Half a century of tears and sweat have produced countless accomplishments for the Malaysian Chinese-over 1,200 Chinese primary schools, 60 Chinese secondary schools, and three Chinese colleges form the most comprehensive Chinese education system in Southeast Asia. Malaysia's Chinese literature, which has come to the fore in world literature in recent years, is the best testimony as to the fertility of Malaysia for the nurturing of Chinese.
Throughout its development, the Chinese education system in Malaysia worked closely with Taiwan. Since the 1960s, many students graduating from Malaysia's Chinese secondary schools have found themselves restricted by ethnic quotas for places at public universities. Those who find their way to further education blocked in Malaysia often elect to study in Taiwan. Upon completing their studies, they carve out their own futures in a variety of fields back in Malaysia, thereby constructing an invisible bridge between Taiwan and Malaysia.
In recent years, mainland China's rapid growth has triggered Mandarin fever around the globe. One after another, nations in Southeast Asia have lifted long-time bans on Mandarin, and Chinese language classes have begun popping up everywhere. What's new in Malaysia's Chinese society and Chinese education system?