SOUTHEAST ASIA: INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, & VIETNAM

INDONESIA

 BRIEF HISTORY

Indonesia has begun to emerge as an economic power in Southeast Asia, as well as a newly democratic nation. Its
long history as the source of spices coveted around the world shaped Indonesia into the multi-ethnic and religiously
diverse nation that we see today. Although this diversity causes friction at times, Indonesia has the potential to become a
major world power. (Szczepanski, 2019)

Human history in Indonesia goes back at least 1.5-1.8 million years, as shown by the fossil "Java Man" - a Homo
erectus individual discovered in 1891. The ancestors of most modern Indonesians reached the archipelago around 4,000
years ago, arriving from Taiwan, according to DNA studies. Melanesian peoples already inhabited Indonesia, but they
were displaced by the arriving Austronesians across much of the archipelago.

 EARLY INDONESIA

In the 7th century, the powerful Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya arose on Sumatra. It controlled much of Indonesia
until 1290 when it was conquered by the Hindu Majapahit Empire from Java. Majapahit (1290-1527) united most of
modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia. Although large in size, Majapahit was more interested in controlling trade routes
than in territorial gains.

 COLONIAL INDONESIA

The Portuguese took control of parts of Indonesia in the sixteenth century but did not have enough power to hang on
to their colonies there when the much wealthier Dutch decided to muscle in on the spice trade beginning in 1602. Portugal
was confined to East Timor.

CAPITAL AND MAJOR CITIES

Capital City: Jakarta, pop. 9,608,000

Major Cities

 Surabaya, pop. 3,000,000

 Medan, pop. 2,500,000
 Bandung, pop. 2,500,000
 Serang, pop. 1,786,000
 Yogyakarta, pop. 512,000

 POPULATION

Indonesia is home to over 258 million people. It is the fourth most populous nation on Earth (after China, India and
the US). Indonesians belong to more than 300 ethno linguistic groups, most of which are Austronesian in origin. The
largest ethnic group is the Javanese, at almost 42% of the population, followed by the Sundanese with just over 15%.
Others with more than 2 million members each include: Chinese (3.7%), Malay (3.4%), Madurese (3.3%), Batak (3.0%),
Minangkabau (2.7%), Betawi (2.5%), Buginese (2.5%), Bantenese (2.1%), Banjarese (1.7%), Balinese (1.5%) and Sasak
(1.3%).

 CAPITAL AND MAJOR CITIES

Capital City: Jakarta, pop. 9,608,000

Major Cities

 Surabaya, pop. 3,000,000

 Medan, pop. 2,500,000
 Bandung, pop. 2,500,000
 Serang, pop. 1,786,000
 Yogyakarta, pop. 512,000

 LANGUAGES OF INDONESIA

Across Indonesia, people speak the official national language of Indonesian, which was created after independence as
a lingua franca from Malay roots. However, there are more than 700 other languages in active use throughout the
archipelago, and few Indonesians speak the national language as their mother tongue. Javanese is the most popular first
language, boasting 84 million speakers. It is followed by Sundanese and Madurese, with 34 and 14 million speakers,
respectively. The written forms of Indonesia's multitude of languages may be rendered in modified Sanskrit, Arabic or
Latin writing systems.

 RELIGION

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country, with 86% of the population professing Islam. In addition, almost 9%
of the population is Christian, 2% are Hindu, and 3% are Buddhist or animist. Long a commercial hub, Indonesia acquired
these faiths from traders and colonizers. Buddhism and Hinduism came from Indian merchants; Islam arrived via Arab
and Gujarati traders. Later, the Portuguese introduced Catholicism and the Dutch Protestantism.

 GEOGRAPHY

With more than 17,500 islands, of which more than 150 are active volcanoes, Indonesia is one of the most
geographically and geologically interesting countries on Earth. Indonesia covers about 1,919,000 square kilometers
(741,000 square miles). It shares land borders with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor. The highest point in
Indonesia is Puncak Jaya, at 5,030 meters (16,502 feet); the lowest point is sea level. Indonesia's climate is tropical
and monsoonal, although the high mountain peaks can be quite cool. The year is divided into two seasons, the wet and the
dry.

 GOVERNMENT

The Republic of Indonesia is centralized (non-federal) and features a strong President who is both Head of State and
Head of Government. The first direct presidential election took place only in 2004; the president can serve up to two 5-
year terms. The tricameral legislature consists of the People's Consultative Assembly, which inaugurates and impeaches
the president and amends the constitution but does not consider legislation; the 560-member House of Representatives,
which create legislation; and the 132-member House of Regional Representatives who provide input on legislation that
affects their regions. The judiciary includes not only a Supreme Court and Constitutional Court but also a designated Anti-
Corruption Court.

 ECONOMY

Today, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation and 10th largest economy in terms of purchasing power
parity. Further, Indonesia has made enormous gains in poverty reduction, cutting the poverty rate by more than half since
1999, to under 10 percent in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Indonesia is pursuing a 20-year development plan,
spanning from 2005 to 2025. The plan is segmented into 5-year medium-term development plans called RPJMN (Rencana
Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional), each with a different set of development priorities. The current plan, the last
phase of the 20-year vision, aims to further strengthen Indonesia’s economy by improving the country’s human capital
and competitiveness in the global market.

According to the World Bank’s October 2023 economic report, Indonesia’s economic growth is underpinned by a
pick-up in private consumption and positive terms-of-trade. GDP growth is projected at 5.0 percent in 2023 and to an
average of 4.9 percent over the medium term in 2024-2026. Nevertheless, downside risks from the global economic
environment are high and could weigh on Indonesia’s growth if they materialize.

 CULTURE AND ARTS

Balinese Artistry

 Bali, a haven for art enthusiasts, has nurtured a unique painting tradition. Originating from classical Kamasan or
Wayang styles, Balinese art captivates with its vibrant yet refined baroque folk art. Ubud and Butuan stand as
beacons of this artistic prowess, drawing in painters from around the world.

Pioneers of Modern Indonesian Paintings

 The 19th-century painter Raden Saleh pioneered modern Indonesian paintings during the Dutch East Indies
period. The colonial era witnessed the emergence of Mooi Indie, capturing romantic scenes of colonial life. In the
20th century, painters like Basuki Abdullah, Lee Man Fong, and Affandi left an indelible mark, shaping the
trajectory of Indonesian visual arts.

Halus

 “Halus” (refined) Javanese culture still exits. Rooted in Hinduism, it revolves around respect for the sultan and
appreciation of the high culture and arts that are associated with it. Sultans—particularly those in Yogyakarta and
Solo— have traditionally presided over Muslim rituals and served as unifying symbols. They have been regarded
as the focal points for art forms such as painting, batik. music and masked dance. Sultans are known officially as
"Susunan"—the "Volcano" or 'Life-Giving Mountain," Every year the Sultan of Yogyakarta throws an offering of
his hair and fingernail clippings into Merapi volcano.

Performing Arts

 Indonesia is also strong in the performing arts. The beautiful Ramayana dance drama is enacted during the dry
season at the large open stage at Prambanan near Yogyakarta under a tropical full moon and against the dramatic
illuminated background of this 9th.century temple. Indonesia’s dances are colourful, dramatic or entertaining.
They vary from the highly synchronized “saman” song and dance from Aceh, to the sedate and sophisticated court
dances from Java accompanied by the liquid sounds of the gamelan orchestra, to the war dances of Kalimantan,
Papua, and Sulawesi. Chinese influence can be seen along the entire north coast of Java from the batik patterns of
Cirebon and Pekalongan, to the finely carved furniture and doors of Kudus in Central Java, as also in the intricate
gold embroidered wedding costumes of West Sumatra.

MALAYSIA

 BRIEF HISTORY

For centuries, port cities on the Malay Archipelago served as important stops for spice and silk traders plying
the Indian Ocean. Although the region has an ancient culture and a rich history, the nation of Malaysia is only about 50
years old. Humans have lived in what is now Malaysia for at least 40-50,000 years. Certain modern indigenous peoples
named "Negritos" by Europeans may be descended from the first inhabitants, and are distinguished by their extreme
genetic divergence from both other Malaysians and from modern African peoples. This implies that their ancestors were
isolated on the Malay Peninsula for a very long time. On August 31, 1963, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak,
and Singapore federated as Malaysia, over the protests of Indonesia and the Philippines (which both had territorial claims
against the new nation.) Local insurgencies continued through 1990, but Malaysia survived and has now begun to thrive.

 GOVERNMENT

Malaysia's government is a constitutional monarchy. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme King of Malaysia) title
rotates as a five-year term among rulers of the nine states. The king is the head of state and serves in a ceremonial role.
The head of government is the prime minister, presently Najib Tun Razak. Malaysia has a bicameral parliament, with a
70-member Senate and a 222-member House of Representatives. Senators are elected by state legislatures or appointed by
the king; members of the House are directly elected by the people. General courts, including the Federal Court, Court of
Appeals, high courts, session courts, etc., hear all types of cases. A separate division of sharia courts hears cases
pertaining only to Muslims.

 PEOPLE AND RELIGION OF MALAYSIA

Malaysia has more than 30 million citizens. Ethnic Malays make up a bare majority of the population of Malaysia at
50.1 percent. Another 11 percent are defined as "indigenous" peoples of Malaysia or bumiputra, literally "sons of the
earth." Ethnic Chinese make up 22.6 percent of Malaysia's population, while 6.7 percent are ethnically Indian.

 CAPITAL AND MAJOR CITIES:

Capital: Kuala Lumpur, pop. 1,810,000

Major Cities:

 Subang Jaya, 1,553,000

 Johor Baru, 1,370,700
 Klang, 1,055,000
 Ipoh, 711,000
 Kota Kinabalu, 618,000
 Shah Alam, 584,340
 Kota Baru, 577,000

Officially, Malaysia is a Muslim country. Although the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it also defines all
ethnic Malays as Muslims. Approximately 61 percent of the population adheres to Islam. According to the 2010 census,
Buddhists make up 19.8 percent of the Malaysian population, Christians about 9 percent, Hindus over 6 percent, followers
of Chinese philosophies such as Confucianism or Taoism 1.3%. The remaining percentage listed no religion or an
indigenous faith.

 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE OF MALAYSIA

Malaysia covers almost 330,000 square kilometers (127,000 square miles). Malaysia covers the tip of the peninsula it
shares with Thailand as well as two large states on a portion of the island of Borneo. In addition, it controls a number of
small islands between peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Malaysia has land borders with Thailand (on the peninsula), as
well as Indonesia and Brunei (on Borneo). It has maritime borders with Vietnam and the Philippines and is separated from
Singapore by a saltwater causeway. The highest point in Malaysia is Mt. Kinabalu at 4,095 meters (13,436 feet). The
lowest point is sea level.

Equatorial Malaysia has a tropical, monsoonal climate. The average temperature throughout the year is 27°C (80.5°F).
Malaysia has two monsoon rain seasons, with the stronger rains coming between November and March. Lighter rains fall
between May and September. Although the highlands and coasts have lower humidity than the inland lowlands, humidity
is quite high throughout the country. According to the Malaysian government, the highest temperature ever recorded was
40.1°C (104.2°F) at Chuping, Perlis on April 9, 1998, while the lowest was 7.8°C (46°F) at the Cameron Highlands on
Feb. 1, 1978.

 CULTURE AND ARTS

The multiethnic makeup of Malaysia’s population significantly influences the country’s cuisine. Indian, Thai,
Sumatran, Malay, Chinese, Javanese and other cuisines have all helped shape the Malaysian dishes. The cuisine of the
country also varies regionally.

 A shrimp paste called belacan is widely used to add flavor to various Malaysian dishes.
 Weaving, carving, and silversmithing have long traditions in the country.
 Music is an integral part of weddings, birth ceremonies, harvest festivals, and storytelling events in Malaysia.
 Wau is a traditional Malaysian sport that involves kite flying.
 Marriage customs in Malaysia are varied due to the country’s ethnic diversity.

The earliest works of Malaysian literature were transmitted orally. It encompassed many genres ranging from folk
tales, legends, and myths to poetry, history, proverbs, epics, and love stories. Written literature developed much later and
is mostly in the four languages of Malay, English, Tamil, and Chinese. The earliest literary works in the country were in
the Arabic script. Malaysian has a rich heritage of art and craft. Weaving, carving, and silversmithing have long traditions
in the country. Handwoven baskets, woven batik, songket (luxurious textiles), kris, wooden masks, beetle nut sets, etc.,
are some common Malaysian artworks. Earthenware has developed in areas like Perak.

Hindu festivals like Thaipusam (January/February) and Diwali (November) are best enjoyed at temples like the Batu
Murugan temple, while the Dragon Boat Festival (December) and Malaysia Water Festival (April) see long snake boat
races and dragon dances as a vital part of the culture in Malaysia. Eid (May) and Milad Un Nabi (October) promise lip-
smacking biryani and kebabs with music performances and merrymaking. Music festivals like Urbanscapes and the Good
Vibes Festival draw younger crowds.

 ECONOMY

The Malaysian economy has shifted over the past 40 years from dependence on raw materials export to a healthy
mixed economy, although it still relies to some degree on income from oil sales. Today, the labor force is 9 percent
agricultural, 35 percent industrial, and 56 percent in the services sector. Malaysia was one of Asia's "tiger economies"
before the 1997 crash and has recovered nicely. It ranks 28th in the world in per capita GDP. The unemployment rate as
of 2015 was an enviable 2.7 percent, and only 3.8 percent of Malaysians live below the poverty line. Malaysia exports
electronics, petroleum products, rubber, textiles, and chemicals. It imports electronics, machinery, vehicles, etc. The
currency of Malaysia is the ringgit; as of Oct. 2016, 1 ringgit = $0.24 US.

The government will use Madani Economy, a ten-year master plan to restructure the economy and improve living
standards, to guide big policy moves such as the review of the 12th Malaysia Plan and the National Industrial Masterplan
2030. Malaysia's economy will accelerate to 4.4% in 2024 as external demand recovers. Over the medium term Malaysia's
established electronics parts and components industry and will benefit from the ongoing US-China trade conflict, which
will see foreign investors in the sector expand existing facilities, albeit at a gradual pace.

VIETNAM
  BRIEF HISTORY

In 207 BCE, the first historic kingdom of Nam Viet was established in northern Vietnam and southern China by Trieu
Da, a former governor for the Chinese Qin Dynasty. However, the Han Dynasty conquered Nam Viet in 111 BCE,
ushering in the "First Chinese Domination," which lasted until 39 CE. Between 1788 and 1802, peasant revolts, small
local kingdoms, and chaos prevailed in Vietnam. The Nguyen Dynasty took control in 1802 and ruled until 1945, first in
their own right and then as puppets of French imperialism (1887–1945), and also as puppets of the occupying Japanese
Imperial forces during World War II. Colonies in French Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos). The Vietnamese
wanted independence, so this touched off the First Indochina War (1946–1954). In 1954, the French withdrew and
Vietnam was partitioned with the promise of democratic elections. However, the North under communist leader Ho Chi
Minh invaded the U.S.-supported South later in 1954, marking the beginning of the Second Indochina War, also called
the Vietnam War (1954–1975). The North Vietnamese eventually won the war in 1975 and reunited Vietnam as
a communist country. Vietnam's army overran neighboring Cambodia in 1978, driving the genocidal Khmer Rouge out of
power. Since the 1970s, Vietnam has slowly liberalized its economic system and recovered from decades of war.

 GOVERNMENT

Vietnam is a one-party communist state. As in China, however, the economy is increasingly capitalistic. The head of
government in Vietnam is the prime minister, currently Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. The president is the nominal head of state;
the incumbent is Nguyễn Phú Trọng. both are top members of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Vietnam's unicameral
legislature, the National Assembly of Vietnam, has 496 members and is the highest branch of the government. Even the
judiciary falls under the National Assembly. The top court is the Supreme People's Court; lower courts include provincial
municipal courts and local district courts.

 POPULATION AND RELIGION OF VIETNAM

Currently, Vietnam’s population is 97.3 million people, a number expected to hit 100 million by the end of 2024.
Vietnam’s population is projected to hit its peak of 109.78 million people in 2054. Vietnam’s population is increasing by
about 1% each year, adding about 1 million people per year. Despite this, the annual population growth rate is decreasing
each year and eventually, the population will begin decreasing after 2055. Vietnam’s fertility rate in 1980 was 5 births per
woman, which has decreased to 2.0 births per woman. This is the result of the government’s “two-child policy” that limits
births by issuing contraception, fining couples that have more than two children, and prohibiting them from moving to
urban centers.

Viet Nam is a multi-religion and multi-belief country. The Vietnamese people have a time-honored tradition of
practicing their beliefs. Different ethnic groups in Viet Nam have different beliefs linked to their own economic and
spiritual life. Vietnamese Folk Religion - 73.2%.

Vietnamese folk religion is the dominant religion in Vietnam. Some of these most common folk religions include:

 Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương

Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương is an organized folk religion in Vietnam that takes some of its religious traditions from elements
of Buddhism. That religion was started by a Vietnamese mystic named Đoàn Minh Huyên (1807–1856) who while living
in the Thất Sơn mountains claimed to be a living embodiment of Buddha. Currently, there are around 15,000 followers of
the religion throughout Vietnam.

 Minh Đạo

Minh Đạo is a religion that has its roots from the Xiantiandao (Tiên Thiên Đạo) religion of China. That religion started to
emerge in Vietnam around the city of Saigon in the 17th Century just as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) of China declined
and lost influence in Vietnam. For most of its history the religion focused in literature, helping the poor and worship but
took on a more nationalistic tone at the beginning of the 20th Century.

 Đạo Tứ Ân Hiếu Nghĩa

Đạo Tứ Ân Hiếu Nghĩa is an organized folk religion in Vietnam that was founded at some point towards the end of the
19th Century. The religion currently has around 80,000 practitioners, mostly farmers throughout out the south of Vietnam,
with most of them located in the Tri Tôn district of the country.

 Đạo Mẫu

This Vietnamese folk religion worships the various mother goddesses of Vietnam, a practice that has gone on in Vietnam
since its prehistory. These include, but are not limited to, the worshiping of such goddesses as Bà Chúa Xứ (The Lady of
the Realm) and Bà Chúa Kho (The Lady of the Storehouse), as well as actual people, including the female warrior Lady
Triệu (225-248 AD) and the Trung Sisters, who were female military leaders.

 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE OF VIETNAM

Vietnam has an area of 331,210 sq km (127,881 sq miles), along with the eastern coastal strip of Southeast Asia. The
majority of the land is hilly or mountainous and heavily forested, with only about 20% flatlands. Most cities and farms are
concentrated around river valleys and deltas. Vietnam borders China, Laos, and Cambodia. The highest point is Fan Si
Pan, at 3,144 meters (10,315 feet) in elevation. The lowest point is sea level at the coast.

Vietnam's climate varies with both latitude and elevation, but generally, it is tropical and monsoonal. The weather
tends to be humid year-round, with substantial rainfall during the summer rainy season and less during the winter "dry"
season. Temperatures do not vary much throughout the year, generally, with an average around 23°C (73°F). The highest
temperature ever recorded was 42.8°C (109 °F), and the lowest was 2.7°C (37°F).

 ECONOMY

Economic reforms since the launch of Đổi Mới in 1986, coupled with beneficial global trends, have helped propel
Vietnam from being one of the world’s poorest nations to a middle-income economy in one generation. GDP per capita
increased 6-fold in less than 40 years, from less than $600 per person in 1986 to almost US$3,700 (constant 2015 US$).
Poverty rates (US$3.65/day, 2017 PPP) declined from 14 in 2010 to 4.2 percent in 2022.

The economy has proven resilient through different crises. Economic growth is projected to reach 5.5 per cent in
2024, up from five percent in 2023, driven by increasing global demand and restored domestic consumer confidence. Real
GDP growth is expected to strengthen in the next three years, reaching the pre-pandemic average by 2026. Growing at 2.5
to 3.5 percent per year over the past three decades, the agriculture sector has supported economic growth and ensured food
security. It contributed 13 percent of GDP and 29 percent of employment in 2021.

 CULTURE AND ARTS

Vietnamese culture values emphasize respect for family, harmony in community relationships, and humility in
personal conduct. These values are rooted in Confucianism and permeate daily life, influencing everything from social
interactions to business practices in Vietnam. Viet Nam’s culture blends traditions influenced by Chinese and Western
cultures, alongside a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, collectively known as Tam Giao in Vietnamese. A
famous Vietnamese dish, Pho is a noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, usually beef or chicken.
Vietnamese cuisine is known for its use of fresh herbs and vegetables, minimal use of dairy and oil, and reliance on rice
and noodles as staples.

Vietnamese traditional music includes various forms such as Ca Tru, Cheo, and Quan Ho. Each region of
Vietnam has its own distinct musical styles. Traditional Vietnamese dance often depicts historical events, myths, and daily
life. The Lion Dance is particularly popular during the Tet festival. Vietnam is home to many ancient pagodas and
temples, which are architectural marvels. These structures often have curved roofs, intricate carvings, and statues of
deities. French colonial architecture is also prominent in Vietnam, especially in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vovinam is a traditional Vietnamese martial art that combines self-defense techniques with the philosophy of striving to
achieve harmony between hard and soft elements. Vietnam is known for its high-quality silk and traditional silk weaving
techniques. Vietnamese handicrafts, such as lacquerware, ceramics, and bamboo products, are highly valued both
domestically and internationally.