1 Christopher Rodney Yeoh the Pluralism Project
Christopher Rodney Yeoh The Pluralism Project Research Report “In these past years of nation-building, we have not become less Malay, less Indian, or less Chinese but we have all become more Malaysian” (Ling Liong Sik, Malaysian Chinese Association, Secretary-General’s Report 1993:9) Malaysia, Truly Asia? Religious Pluralism in Malaysia The slogan “Malaysia, Truly Asia” is commonly heard across the world as part of a large and expensive advertising campaign sponsored by the Malaysian government. It is an attempt to attract foreign visitors to this country of 22 million people which boasts of a highly diverse ethnic and religious composition (Embong 2001, p.59).1 51 percent of the population is Malay, all of whom are Muslim.2 Chinese make up 26 percent of the population; most of whom are Buddhists combining Taoist and Confucian practices while a small number identify as Christian. Indians comprise 7 percent of the population of whom most are Hindu with a small minority of Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. Various ethnic groups, such as different indigenous groups mostly situated in the Borneo region, and Eurasians and migrant workers, most of whom are Indonesians, make up the remaining 16 percent of the population (Peletz 2005, p.243). 1 The campaign has been a tremendous success in terms of its wide coverage and response. Billboards promoting tourism in Malaysia can be seen in soccer stadiums in England, and on highways in Australia and the United Kingdom. The campaign also uses the newspaper and the television to promote tourism. This advertising drive prompted The Hindustan Times, one of India’s largest newspapers to write, “"Malaysia is all set to cash in on its multi-ethnic culture by featuring several Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Sikh and Buddhist houses of worship as the country's premier 'spiritual tourism' destinations” (Press Trust of India 2006).
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