Malay Culture in Singapore

General Statistics

14% of the Singapore’s population is Malays who are also the 2^nd largest ethnic group in Singapore. The majority of the Malays are descendants from Malaysia, Indonesia and even Singapore. Most of them are Muslims while the minorities are Christians and Buddhists.

Language

Many Malays in Singapore do not speak the language of their ancestors from Indonesia. They speak “Bahasa Melayu” (Malay Language) which originates from Malaysia. English is also widely spoken and Arabic amongst Muslim religious teachers during Islamic lessons.

Malay, now being one of the four main languages in Singapore was the national language spoken by the indigenous Singaporean Malays. It is also spoken by over 30 million people worldwide. The language is also used to sing the National Anthem written by Zubir Said.

Religion

The majority of the Malays are Muslims. Therefore, they practice Islam. Thus, the Malays in Singapore do not consume pork or alcohol. They only consume foods that are certified as ‘halal’. The word originates from Saudi Arabia which means permitted according to the law of Islam.

The Muslim Malays are also dressed modestly. The female wear the ‘tudung’ (headgear) and cover all their body parts except for their faces, hands and feet. The men wear the ‘songkok’ which is usually worn during prayers or festivals (scroll down for more information).

The Malay also pray 5 times a day, fast from sunrise to sunset during the Ramadan (the 9^th month in the Islamic Calender).

Clothing

For Malay women, they wear the baju kurung; Malay men wear the baju melayu with a songkok on the head. Alternatively, the men wear batik shirts with trousers.

Food

The most popular dish amongst the Malays is the ‘Nasi Lemak’- Coconut Rice Meal. This is cooked in coconut milk with Sambal Ikan Bilis- fried anchovies cooked in dry chili shrimp sauce garnished with cucumber slices, roasted peanuts and fried egg. It is packaged in a small banana leaf and is usually eaten as breakfast.

Satay is also very famous in Singapore. It is barbequed meat on sticks served with spiced sweet peanut sauce for dipping. Ketupat, a Malay rice cake is also an accompaniment to Satay.

Other dishes such as Beef Rendang (Malay Spiced Coconut eef), Sambal Udang (Spicy Prawns), Laksa (Noodles in Tangy Fish Soup), Roti Jala (‘Net’ Bread or Crepe, Apam Balih (peanut pancake) and Otah (Malay Fish Mousse) are simply amazing and are must tries!

Way of Greeting

Malays of the same gender shake hands as Muslim men do not touch women in public. ‘Salaam’ is often used as greeting. This is an Arabic word, meaning peace. Thus, when they greet, they pray for each other to have peace. The younger Malays ‘Salaam’ and kiss the hands of the Elders (usually of the same gender) to show deep respect.

Wedding

Malay wedding in Singapore is blessed with the fascinating and age-old traditions that are an integral part of the wedding celebration. One of the special features of the Malay wedding in Singapore is that both the bride and the groom according to the customs are treated as king and queen for a day. The Malay wedding in Singapore are generally arranged during the weekends to reduce costs as well as to accommodate relatives coming from far distant places. The berinai ceremony held in the Malay wedding bears strong resemblance with the traditional Indian weddings. It is a tradition followed since time immemorial where the palms and feet of the bride are exquisitely decorated with dye obtained from the henna leaves. The berinai or henna application ceremony is followed by the tukar pakaian and the raised dais is decorated for the wedding ceremony. Kadhi, a religious official of the Shariat court presides over the entire solemnization ceremony. During the ancient times it was a religious custom for the biological father of the bride to perform the entire function.  The akad nikah ceremony is in fact a verbal contract between the father of the bride or his representative and the groom. In order to seal the contract a small sum of money popularly known as the mas kahwin is paid. The sum amounts to be S$22.50 in Singapore. The wedding feast in Malay is an informal affair, noisy and lively. A bunga telur is given to each and every guest attending the wedding ceremony. The groom is charged with an entrance fee before letting him to see his bride.  The relatives sprinkle petals and yellow rice on the bride and the groom as a traditional custom. They are seated on the throne and are treated as king and queen in a Malay wedding in Singapore.  The date of the solemnization and the dowry to be given to the bride is determined in the pre-wedding meeting which is held between the parents of the bride and the groom.

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Names

 Many Malays do not have surnames. Instead, men add their father's name to their own name with the term "bin" (meaning ‘son of’). So Rosli bin Suleiman, would be Rosli the son of Suleiman. 

• Women use the term "binti", so Aysha bint Suleiman is Aysha the daughter of Suleiman.

Gift Giving Etiquette

o   If invited to someone's home for dinner, bring the hostess pastries or good quality chocolates.

o   Never give alcohol.

o   Do not give toy dogs or pigs to children.

o   Do not give anything made of pigskin.

o   Avoid white wrapping paper as it symbolizes death and mourning.

o   Avoid yellow wrapping paper, as it is the color of royalty.

o   If you give food, it must be “halal” (meaning permissible for Muslims).

o   Offer gifts with the right hand only or both hands if the item is large.

o   Gifts are generally not opened when received.

Festivals

Hari Raya Haji is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Ibrahim‘s (Abraham‘s) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail forAllah. It is one of two Qur’anic Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate.

Hari Raya Haji is the 10th day of the month of Zul Hijjah of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities sometimes last for two to three days more depending on the country. It is the day after the pilgrims in Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat.

Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually sheep, but also camels, cows, and goats) as a symbol of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) sacrifice. The sacrificed animals, called korban, have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. Generally, these must be at least a year old, and weigh 165 kg.

Hari Raya Puasa

Hari Raya Puasa is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.

Before the day of Hari Raya Puasa, during the last few days of Ramadan, each Malay family gives a determined amount as a donation to the poor. This donation is of actual food -- rice, barley, dates, rice, etc. -- to ensure that the needy can have a holiday meal and participate in the celebration

On the day of Hari Raya Puasa, Malays gather early in the morning in outdoor locations or mosques to perform the Hari Raya Puasa prayer. This consists of a sermon followed by a short congregational prayer.

After the Hari Raya Puasa prayer, Malays usually scatter to visit various family and friends, give gifts (especially to children), and make phone calls to distant relatives to give well-wishes for the holiday. ‘Duit Raya’(small packets of money) are also given to children and youths. These activities traditionally continue for three days.

Culture in Singapore

Did you know that of the 4,987,600 citizens in Singapore, there are many diverse cultures? Maily there are the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasion. Today, I shall focus on some of the attraction sites in Singapore that can let you learn and experience more about the Chinese and Indian culture in Singapore

Singapore was once ruled by the Sultanate of Johor and part of the British Malaya for many centuries. In 1819, the British came to the Island and set up a port and coloney. The British ruled Singapore for over 2 centuries and the port in Singapore attracted many migrants to Singapore. After World War 2, Singapore beacme an independent nation and a republic which it is today. And hence, many of the migrants that came to Singapore, they settle down and bring along their culture from their own countries to Singapore.

The first culture I would like to bring to you is the Indian culture. One site to visit that can let you experience the Indian culture is the Little India. It is located on the east of the Singapore River, across Chinatown and can be easily accessible Via MRT( Mass Rapid Trasit). In the past the Tamil immigrants is located in Chulia Kampong, however the Tamils is moved to the now Little India due to overcrowding. Since the start of the 20th century, the area began to look like a Tamil ethnic neighborhood.


This neighborhood has the patronage of the people of all races who wish to eat or buy something specific to Tamils culture, such as curry or Tamil clothing. One of the more prominent examples of cross-culture patronage besides those regarding food is that many Chinese parents go to shops in Little India to grind rice to make congee for babies. In such cases, the shops have machinery primarily meant to grind spices into powder for use inTamil Cusine





















During the Deepavali festival, it is the best period of time to visit Little India. As the streets in Little India will be lighted up, people will be visiting the temples. This is a good experience to get to be involved in the Tamil culture. What better way to learn about it then to be part of it.













The second culture is the Chinese culture. The site that I would like to introduce is Ghinatown. Shinatown is located within the larger district of Outram and can be easily accessible via MRT(Mass Rapid Transit). As the largest ethnic group in Singapore is Chinese, Chinatown is considerably less of an enclave that it once was. However, the district does retain significant historical site officially designated for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.



Under the Raffles Plan of Singapore, the area originally was a division of colonial Singapore where Chinese immigrants tended to reside. Although as Singapore grew, Chinese immigrants settled in other areas of the island-city, Chinatown became overcrowded withindecades of Singapore's founding in 1819 and reamained such until many residents were relocated at the imitiation of Singapore's govermental Housing Development Board in the 1960's.


The effects of diversity of Chinatown are still present. The Hokkiens are associated with Havelock Road, Telok Ayer Street, China Street and Chulia Street and the Teochew merchants mostly in Circular Road, River Valley Road, Boat Quay and South Bridge Road. The ubiquitous Cantonese are scattered around South Bridge Road, Upper Cross Street, New Bridge Road and Bukit Pasoh Road. These days, the Hokkiens and Teochews have largely scattered to other parts of the island, leaving the Catonese as the dominant dialect group in Chinatown.

So by visiting Chinatown, you will be able to ecperience types of peopl like the Hokkiens and Teochews and learn their history and culture.

Heritage Trails

You may be asking, Where can i go to understand more about the heritage and cultures of singapore? Don't fret! We will be bringing you along with us on a Heritage trail, which includes the various Must-see Museums and heritage centres in Singapore! If you want to experience it in real life, you can simply visit them as addresses are provided below in every location, or you may also click on the names of the location, you will be brought to their official site, whereby you could read and understand more about the events happening! Let's go!

• Chinatown Heritage Centre

• Malay Heritage Centre

• Peranakan Museum

• National Museum of Singapore

Chinatown Heritage centre

The Chinatown Heritage Centre is the only place in Singapore that has recreated the original interiors of its shop house tenants in the 1950s, offering visitors an honest, revealing glimpse in to the lives of Chinatown early residents.

48 Pagoda Street. Singapore 059207

Hours: 9am to 8pm daily (last entry at 7pm)

Admission: Adult $10, Child(3-12years) $6

Malay Heritage Centre

The Malay Heritage Centre Complements the national institutions with more detailed interpretation of the history and cultures of Malays by showcasing the contributions provided for the nation by Malays in Singapore, examples are the history of Kampong Gelam, which is the first Malay settlement in Singapore.

85, Sultan Gate

Singapore 198501

Republic of Singapore

Hours: Mondays: 1pm to 6pm Tues-Sun: 10am to 6pm

Admission: Free

Peranakan Museum

The Peranakan Museum houses the world’s finest and most comprehensive collection of Peranakan artifacts, is the latest addition to the National Heritage Board’s family of museums. The Peranakan Museum presents a Southeast Asian-wide view of Peranakan culture including the elaborate 12-day Peranakan wedding, the role of the Nonyas, prominent Peranakans in Singapore’s history, food and feasting.

39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941

Hours: Monday: 1pm to 7pm

Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30am – 7pm (to 9 pm on Fridays)

Admission: Adult $6/ Concession$3

Free admission for visitors aged 60 years and above every Monday

Free admission on Fridays, 7-9pm, during non-special exhibition periods

National Museum of Singapore

Designed to be the People’s museum, National Museum of Singapore prides itself on introducing cutting edge and varied ways of presenting history to redefine the conventional museum experience. More than just a space for exhibitions and artifacts, the Museum will also distinguish itself through its challenging and vibrant festivals and events that will unleash new creative possibilities in culture and heritage.

93 Stamford Road Singapore

Hours: The Museum is open everyday.

History Galleries from 10 am to 6 pm

Living Galleries from 10 am to 9 pm

Admissions: adults $10 / concessions $5

Brief History about Singapore

Singapore has a rich and diverse history.
There are many war memorial sites in Singapore dedicated to those who were killed or tortured during the tragic World War 2.
During the war, many were killed.
They include children, women, men and the elderly.
Even babies were killed.
Men were taken as slaves of the Japanese or killed.
Singapore was first bombed in the early morning of December 8 1941.
The siren was sounded at 4.15am.
Though Singapore had a few anti aircraft weapons, the Japanese had the advantage as they could use the cloudy dark skies to hide in.
On January 1st, Singapore encountered it's second air raid attack after almost 3 weeks of hiatus.
All the air raids we are done at night which makes the Japanese suffer few losses.
There are many well known anti-Japanese activists who were tortured to death because they refused to provide the relevant information to the Japanese army.After the end of the war, they were given a proper burial and their families were informed of their tragic deaths.
Some of these people are Elizabeth Choi, Lim Bo Seng & Lieutenant Adnan.
Lim Bo Seng was the head of the secret organization named Force 136.
This organization didn't last long and soon all of the members were killed, imprisoned or tortured.
After the war, the British took back control of Singapore and the Japanese troops in Singapore were made to do repairs and reconstruction of Singapore.
The higher ranked officers were charged with war crimes and were sentenced to death.
However some of the Japanese soldiers killed as they didn't want to be under command of the British.
However things weren't all peaceful after the war.
Many riots occurred after the war.
Riots include the Racial riots and the Hock Lee bus riots.
The racial riots occurred due to misunderstanding of the Chinese and Malays.
The muslims were celebrating prophet Muhammad's birthday when the riot occurred on the 21st July.
36 people and 556 were injured.
Another 3000 people were arrested.
In June 1956, David Marshall appeals to the United Kingdom for full self governance but failed and resigns soon after.
Lim Yew Hock took over his position and his appeal finally succeeded and Singapore was given full self governance in March 1959.
In 1959 also, Encik Yusof Bin Ishak was also given the title of Head of State.
In 9 August 1965 Singapore was expelled from the Malaysian Federation and Singapore became independent.
Now Singaporeans celebrate it's independence every 9 August.
There are now many heritage trails located in Singapore such as The War Memorial Park, Fort Canning Part and many more.

Victoria Concert Hall

The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall along Empress Place, are two separate buildings built more than 40 years apart and joined by a Clock Tower. Also known as the Town Hall and the Victoria Memorial Hall, respectively, they have long been a meeting place for Singaporeans, forvarious functions ranging from political meetings to musical and stage performances.

Located in the heart of it's civic district, The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a grand stately building built in the memory of Queen Victoria who passed away in 1901. Completed and opened in 1905, Victoria Concert Hall has figured prominently in Singapore's Historical and Cultural life. Victoria Concert Hall has also been the proud residence of the World Famous Singapore Symphony Ochestra Since 1980.

The design of the building is considered to be Palladian in style, a common style for the 19th century British Singapore. It was the first building in Singapore to adopt that style, with its Italianate windows and rusticated columns. Originally, it served a dual function with a theatre on its ground floor and offices and meeting rooms on its second floor. However, with a growing administration and an increasing population requiring entertainment, it eventually proved too small for both functions.

In the course of its nearly 150-year history, apart from being a focal point for arts and cultural entertainment, this handsome Victorian-era colonial landmark with its distinctive Palladian clock tower, Italianate windows and rusticated columns was once a town hall, hospital and a war crimes trials court. In the period before World War II, the Victoria Theatre and Memorial Hall staged many concerts, musicals and plays, including a performance by Noel Coward in 1930. It was lucky to have survived intact during the Japanese air raids, and during the Japanese Occupation its strategic location in the city saw it being used as a hospital.

Between 1952 and 1958, the buildings underwent major renovations with the interiors restructured so that air-conditioning and soundproofing could be added. In 1979, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renovated again, with a gallery added to bring the total seating capacity to 937. With this extensive renovation, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renamed the Victoria Concert Hall.

The Hall underwent an extensive renovation program to faithfully preserve its neoclassical architectural integrity, after which it was reopened in 1 October 1980 by Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. With a performing stage fit for a 100 member ochestra, The Hall has an impressive interior completed by the grand Klais Pipe Organ, installed in 1987. The Hall had a spacious yet intimate setting, with warm acoustics and great staff which adds a unique identity to it.

Victoria Concert Hall has since been a venue for concerts of classical music, orchestras, theatre productions, and even modern art. It has also been a one of the places of interests mainly for tourist who come to Singapore, because of it's rich history and unique look.

Arts In Singapore

What is Art? Many have asked but none have the specific answer to it. Reason being, there is no universally accepted definition of art. Art is diversified in different prospects - Visual arts, Applied arts and Performing arts.

In Visual arts, we have things such as paintings, drawings, printmaking and sculptures. Applied arts include fashion design, interior design, photography and architecture. Performing arts on the other hand are more to the public performance event such as opera, theatre, music and ballet.

In this small city, many must be wondering what type of art is available here in Singapore. Well, many must have overlooked about us. The art scene in Singapore is rather overwhelming. We have various places where art is involved! From architectures to museums. We even have places for these 'art people' to shine! Some of the places are like The Esplanade.

Esplanade or most of the locals call it "The Durian" because of its durian-shaped like, is where most of the Art scene is located at. It's actual main purpose is to be the centre for performing arts for the island nation of Singapore. These days, The Esplanade is mostly used as a showcase or concert venue for local and international acts from everywhere. It contains a Concert Hall which seats about 1,600 and a Theatre with a capacity of about 2,000 for the performing arts.

The Concert Hall is a venue for concerts, recitals and other performances. The four storey high Theatre is designed for all genres of the performing arts, including but not limited to Asian and Western arts, Musicals and plays, classical, traditional and contemporary forms and advanced multimedia performances, whether they are large scale, or intimate in size. There are also other venues in The Esplanade for a smaller audience and they are the Recital Studios, Theatre Studios, The Outdoor Theatre, library@esplanade and the "Jendela", where art exhibitions can be held for the public.

Aside from The Esplanade, there are several other oraganisations, centres and clubs in Singapore that offers themselves as a platform for local or even international artists to showcase their art or performances such as The Victoria Concert Hall.

To know more about Victoria Concert Hall, just wait for our upcoming post!