 Malaysia is a
multicultural society, with Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by side. The Malays
are the largest community. They are Muslims, speak Bahasa and are largely responsible for
the political fortunes of the country. The Chinese comprise about a third of the
population. They are Buddhists and Taoists, speak Hokkein, Hakka and Cantonese, and are
dominant in the business community. The Indians account for about 10% of the population.
They are mainly Hindu Tamils from southern India, they speak Tamil, Malayalam, and some
Hindi, and live mainly in the larger towns on the west coast of the peninsula. There is
also a sizeable Sikh community. Eurasians and indigenous tribes make up the remaining
population. Despite Bahasa Malaysia being the official language, when members of these
different communities talk to each other, they generally speak English, which was recently
reinstated as the language of instruction in higher education. The main indigenous tribe is the
Iban of Sarawak, who number 395,000. They are largely longhouse dwellers and live along
the Rejang and Baram rivers. The Bidayuh (107,000) are concentrated on Sarawak's Skrang
River. The Orang Asli (80,000) live in small scattered groups in Peninsular Malaysia.
Traditionally nomadic agriculturalists, many have been absorbed into modern Malaysia.
 Malaysian music is heavily
influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms. The music is based largely around the endang
(drum), but includes percussion instruments (some made of shells), flutes, trumpets and
gongs. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian
and Portuguese origin. Other artistic forms include ayang kulit (shadow-puppets), ilat
(a stylised martial art)  and crafts such as batik, weaving and silver and brasswork.
 It's not easy to find authentic
Malay food in Malaysian restaurants, though you can take your pick of Chinese, Nyonya (a
local variation on Chinese and Malay food - Chinese ingredients, local spices), Indian,
Indonesian or (sometimes) Western cuisines. Satays (meat kebabs in spicy peanut sauce) are
a Malaysian creation and they're found everywhere. Other dishes include fried soybean curd
in peanut sauce, sour tamarind fish curry, fiery curry prawns and spiced curried meat in
coconut marinade. Muslim Indian dishes have developed a distinctly Malaysian style. The
variety of wonderful tropical fruits and fruit juices available is huge, and strange sweet
concoctions include endol (sugar syrup, coconut milk and green noodles) and is
kacang (beans and jellies topped with shaved ice, syrups and condensed milk).
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