MY List

5Things & Facts About Marvellous Malaysia

1 Plural Society Over 60 percent of the Malaysian population is Muslim, but people of other religions are free to practise their own faiths and beliefs. It is common to see different houses of worship located right next to each other all over Malaysia.

2 Accessible Healthcare Malaysians enjoy access to one of the region’s best and most affordable healthcare systems. Public healthcare is subsidised by the government, and patients seeking treatment usually pay a nominal fee. Private healthcare is more expensive but offers benefits such as faster and more specialised services. Thanks to the country’s top-notch medical facilities and highly skilled professionals, Malaysia was recognised as one of the world’s top medical tourism destinations, according to a 2019 ranking by the International Medical Travel Journal.

3 Delicious Rice Dish Popular on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, nasi dagang consists of rice steamed in coconut milk and fenugreek seeds, served with gulai (a type of curry, usually fish), pickled vegetables and other ingredients such as sambal, hard-boiled eggs and fried shredded coconut. The rice has a creamy finish, as it is sometimes steamed twice.

4 Cempedak Cempedak comes from the same genus as breadfruit and jackfruit. The tree is native to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. Fried cempedak (cempedak goreng) is a popular tea time snack, which is usually sold at roadside stalls.

5 Cheongsam The modern-day cheongsam was only invented in the 1920s, but many ethnic Chinese women in Malaysia wear the dress as a ‘traditional’ garb — especially during celebrations such as the Lunar New Year. The dress is usually formfitting, with short sleeves and a high collar. Floral motifs are common. •