Malays are an Austronesian group of peoples from Southeast Asia that inhabits the Malay Peninsula and islands of the Malay Archipelago, Indonesia, Brunei, southern Thailand and southern Philippines. They speak the Malay language, and a defining trait of an ethnic Malay is one who follows Islam and adheres to Malay customs.
BY COUNTRY - GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
In the Malay Peninsula, the ethnic Malays are found in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. In Thailand, most of the ethnic Malays live in the southern provinces of Thailand bordering Malaysia. Malays, also make up one of Singapore's officially recognized populations. Since 60% of Malaysia's population are ethnic Malays, the Malays are obviously in Peninsular Malaysia. In the Malay Archipelago, ethnic Malays live in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. They form the majority populations in Malaysia and Brunei and a significant minority population in Indonesia. Nearly all of Brunei's population are ethnic Malays, since Brunei is a very small country in Borneo that is surrounded by Malaysia. In Indonesia, most of the Malays live in Borneo, Sulawesi, western Sumatra and parts of Java. About 10-30% of Indonesia's populare are ethnic Malays. The rest are either Javanese or indegenous.
LANGUAGE
The Malays, speak the Malay language. Malay is a member of the Austronesian family of languages, also known as "Malayo-Polynesian". Malay is a world major language and is the national languages of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. An official language in Singapore and a minority in Thailand and Sri Lanka. In Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, the ethnic Malays speak the standard form of Malay which is known as "Bahasa Melayu" or "Malay language". Sometimes in Malaysia, it is referred to as "Bahasa Malaysia" or "Malaysian language". In Thailand, the Malays also speak their own Malay dialect known as "Yawi" or "Patanni Malay". The national standard form of Malay spoken in Indonesia is known as "Bahasa Indonesia" or "Indonesian". It too, is a major language of the world. Indonesian differs from the standard form of Malay, spoken in Malaysia and Singapore. In Brunei, there is also "Bruneien Malay", or "Brunei Melayu" but the standard Malay is also Brunei's national language. Various peo ple from Borneo also speak their own Malay dialects or creoles like those living in the Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak.
CULTURE & CUISINE
Malay culture, is of Austronesian stock with an entire load of Chinese, Arabic and Indian influences. Malays use wood to build their houses and villages called "kampongs". Malay architecture is also known for its ability to make houses durable from typhoons. Malay cuisine consists of meats and seafoods marinaded in various sauces. Although due to religious regulations, pork is absent in Malay cuisine. Every Malay meal is served with rice, and served on banana leaves. Malays eat with hands, as a tradition; with the right hands. Rice and coconut milk are two staple ingredients of Malay cuisine. A lot of sauces made by Malays use coconut milk. Satay is a popular Malay snack/dish made of grilled meats, seafoods or tofu on skewers. Chinese, Arabic and Indian influences have also played a major role in influencing Malay culture. In fact those are the top three influences of Malay culture. Brunei's leader is a sultan.
MALAY AS A "RACE"
Malay can also refer to the Malay Race. The Malay Race and the ethnic Malays are two different things. Ethnic Malays are focused on the ethnic group living in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia. The Malay Race on the other hand, includes people from all of Southeast Asia, Oceania and the African island of Madagascar. So this would mean that Samoans, Tongans, Fijians, Madagascar Africans, Hawaiians, Javanese, Balinese, Taiwanese and all other Southeast Asian and Oceanic people are all "Malays" by race, not ethnicity. The term "Malay Race" is simply an easier term for "Austronesian people". Meaning everyone from the entire region of Austronesia (which strectches all the way from the African island of Madagascar to Hawaii's easternmost tip).
