One of the vibrant and happening countries of Southeast Asia, Malaysia, has an impressive historical background. The warm tropical climate and natural prosperity of this country has invited many immigrants since it was discovered. Almost 5,000 years ago, the ancestors of Oranf Asli who are the locals of Peninsular Malaysia, settled here. They were the pioneers of general movement from China and Tibet. Malays followed them around the first century BC and they established a strong trading links with China and India. Their arrival brought about major cultural and social changes in the country. Along with Hindu and Buddhist culture, Islam also spread. Melaka Sultanate ruled both straits of Malaka over a hundred years.

Malaysian history is full of ruling and dethroning of several foreign kingdoms. A dramatic change was noticed when Europeans arrived there in 1511. Portuguese captured Maleka and they had to escape to Johor where they tried to establish a new kingdom. Resistance from the Europeans, Acehnese, Minangkabau and the Bugis resulted in sovereign units of the present-day states of Peninsular Malaysia. In 1641, the Portuguese tasted a defeat by the Dutch who colonized Melaka. British people acquired Melaka from the Dutch in 1824. Thereafter the influence of British kingdom reflected throughout the region and political integration of Malay states of Peninsular Malaysia started taking place.

When the World War II got over in 1945, the British created the Malayan Union which was abandoned in 148 and Malaya Federation emerged in its place. This federation got freedom from British rule in September 1963 and Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah, and initially Singapore came together to form Malaysia—a country with diverse culture, traditions and people.

Niraj Singh
http://www.stayresmalaysia.com