The Culture of

Malaysian Society

Definition
Culture
Culture is that complex whole which
includes knowledge, belief art, law, morals,
custom, and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by man as a member as
society. (Edward Taylor, 1871)

Definition

A total way of life held in common by a

group of people, including such learned
features as speech, ideology, behavior,
livelihood, technology, and government.

(
http://www.utexas.edu/deprs/grg/sanders/GRG305
/glossary.htm
)

In general definition, culture is the entire life

style of certain community or their entire
thinking aspects and
behaviour
were
UNDERSTANDING
CONCEPTS
OF which
CULTURE
inherit from one generation to another
through learning process.

UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS OF CULTURE

Which means culture is the complex entity

which including knowledge, beliefs, arts,
decency, laws, customs and other ability or
habit which are acquire by humans as a
part of community.

CULTURE FIELD
Culture can be grouped
as:
1) Thoughts/ideas
Like knowledge,
languages,
philosophy,
literature, mitos,
legend, beliefs and
folk stories

CULTURE FIELD
2) Materialism
Like buildings,
machineries, object de
art, costumes, foods,
medicines and
furniture

CULTURE FIELD
3) Arts
Divided into two field which are acting art
(theater, dance, music, songs) and visible
art (carvings, engraving, drawings, plaiting
and weaving)

CULTURE FIELD
4)Values and Norm
Like rules, law,
custom, folk-ways &
mores, style and
behaviour,
prohibitions, religious
values and politeness

Characteristics of Culture

Each culture has its own history, ideology,

traditions, values, lifestyles and languages that
determine how individuals interact with one
another.
Culture provides individuals with both implicit
guidelines on how to view the world and behave
in relation to others and the environment.

Characteristics of Culture
Beliefs make up the truths of a culture.
Truth for one culture may be radically different
from truths of another culture.
Cultures differ on beliefs regarding family
dynamics, gender roles, sexual behaviors, diet,
personal hygiene, body alterations, dress, drug
use, leisure, medicine, etc
(http://unr.edu/homepage/dballard/sld009.htm)

Characteristics of Culture

Culture is learned.
Culture is inculcated.
Culture is a social phenomenon.
Culture is a social gratifying.
Culture is adaptive.

(http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/bruner/culture/tsld003.htm)

Heritage

Heritage is related to something that has

been inherited from one generation to the
next by someone or a group of people in a
community.

It is about the memories of a lifestyle of a

people that reflects their civilization.

Heritage

Malaysia is a multi-racial country with rich

cultural heritages.
Much of its cultural heritages are recorded
in various formats - manuscripts, artifacts,
sculptures, traditional motif and designs on
textiles and jewelers, etc.

Heritage

Some of these items are kept in libraries,

museums, archives, art galleries and
cultural centres.
There are also traditional songs and music,
poems and rhymes, legends, traditional
herbs, and oral traditions, which are
handed down from generation to
generation.

1. World Heritage List

Kinabalu National Park (Listed in
year2002)
Mulu Cave National Park (Listed in
year2002)
Pahang-Terengganu-Kelantan National
Park (Tentative
List) at International Level
Heritages
Recognition
Niah Cave, Sarawak (Tentative List)

Kinabalu National Park (Listed in

year2002)

Mulu Cave National Park

(Listed in year 2002)

Niah Cave, Sarawak (Tentative List)

National Cultural Policy

The National Cultural Policy was formulated

in 1971.
The Policy consists of three important
elements:

National Cultural Policy

1)
2)

3)

It must be based on the culture of the

indigenous people of this country.
Elements from other cultures which are
suitable and acceptable may be
incorporated into it.
Islam will be an important element in the
national culture.

Cultural Promoting
Agencies

Istana Budaya

National Arts Culture and Heritage

Academy

National Art Gallery

Malaysian National Library

Activity

Discuss the importance of preserving our

culture.
Provide a video clip with 2 minutes of time
frame.
Method of approach: Interview or feed back
from the public?