HAOL, Núm. 7 (Primavera, 2005), 93-105 ISSN 1696-2060 MALAYSIAN PERCEPTIONS OF CHINA Ibrahim Abu Bakar National University of Malaysia, Malaysia. E-mail:
[email protected] Recibido: 27 Febrero 2005 / Revisado: 20 Marzo 2005 / Aceptado: 09 Mayo 2005 / Publicado: 15 Junio 2005 Resumen: Malaysia consisting of Malaya, Politically and historically Malaysia was Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore gained her created on 16 September 1963 after Malaya, independence from the British on 16 September Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak had agreed to 1963. Malaya gained her independence from form the Federation of Malaysia. Singapore, the British on 31 August 1957. In 1965 Sabah and Sarawak gained their independence Singapore was independent from Malaysia. from the British Government through the Malaysia is a parliamentary democratic and Federation of Malaysia. However, Singapore capitalistic nation. Moreover, Malaysia is a withdrew from the Federation of Malaysia in multi-religious and multiracial nation. Malaysia 1965 and since then Singapore has been an has been populated by the Malays, Chinese, independent nation in the southern part of Indians and others. The Malays are Muslims Malaysian Peninsula. and Islam is the religion of the Federation of Malaysia. Malaysia has a very long history with Malaya is the English name for the Malay name China but China never colonizad certain areas Tanah Melayu (the Malay land) or in Malaysia and then the British colonized the Semenanjung Tanah Melayu (the Malay whole Malaysia. Malaysian perceptions of peninsula). Malaya gained her independence China are influenced by many internal and from the British Government on 31 August external factors such as the politico-ideologies, 1957 after the Malayans demanded the economic development as well as the national, independence of Malaya.