https://padlet.com/hamzishukor98/92w3vkurzmqy Contrasting Malaysia and Indonesia from various aspects. en-us 2017-01-18 05:05:26 UTC 2017-01-24 17:23:58 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Condos.png hamzishukor98 https://padlet.com/hamzishukor98/92w3vkurzmqy/wish/147726376           Malaysia and Indonesia have shared a common history throughout their pasts. Being geographically similar, both nations and their residents have experienced similar hardships in the form of oppression from outside forces, economic inflation and natural disasters. However, despite their common histories, the nations have also been renowned as fierce rivals across South East Asia in several fields including sports, economy and scope of influence. Such a rivalry stems from not only their similarities and thus competition for dominance in similar fields, but also from their differences from one another. Thus, what are their differences and what about them would spur such a rivalry between two close nations sharing such a similar history? 

          One factor that can become a point of contrast between Malaysia and Indonesia is the current state of economy of the nations. One jarring contrast is the exchange rate between Malaysia's Ringgit Malaysia and Indonesia's Rupiah. At 1 Malaysian Ringgit equalling 2998.09 Indonesian Rupiahs, it is a clear indicator that Indonesia faces a harsher economic status comoared to the already economically confined Malaysia. Another point of reference is the current financial status of the residents of the respective nations. Malaysians have been steadily improving in terms of finances via the implementation of The New Economic Policy, whereby the poor and poverty-stricken have been provided homes and job opportunities in order to improve the overall economy of the country. On the other hand, Indonesia has not carried out a similar project and its residents struggle with poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure and corruption.

          Another point of contrast between Malaysia and Indonesia is the spoken language that predominates throughout the countries. Prior to the mass immigrations of the Chinese and Indians to the then Tanah Melayu, the language that was primarily spoken throughout the country was the Malay language while the language spoken in Indonesia even today is Indonesian. Malay was often written in Jawi before being romanized, drawing influence from Arabic while Indonesian was written in Roman letters from the beginning due to its Ditches origins. However, similarities still show due to the Indonesian Language being based on the Malay in Riau. Thus, Indonesian also has some Malay influence though they are not the same language. 

           The political system and social lives of the residents of the nations differ as well. Malaysia, being colonised by the British and Indonesia, colonised by the Dutch, have differing constitutions due to the differing developments undergone during their colonisations. Thus, Malaysia became a federation and constitutional Monarchy whereas the Indonesians became a unitary presidential Republic. Malaysia generally promotes freedom to every individual, allowing individuals to practise any religion, or no religion at all, as long as Islam is kept as the national religion practised nationwide. Indonesia, on the other hand, allow their residents to practise only one of five religions and must be kept with their ID cards. Choosing to opt a differing religion, or no religion at all is forbidden. 

           Malaysia and Indonesia have shared a similar, yet different history, and such a past has proceeded to shape the destinies of the nations as a whole. As a result, two countries, while frequently compared to each other due to their vast similarities, and often confused for each other by foreigners, have glaringly obvious differences despite their relative closeness in terms of geography. As one gets to know the nations as closely as the residents do, what is seen is no longer the similarities, but the differences between them, thus giving rise to the famous rivalry between the two nations and their passionate residents.

]]> 2017-01-18 05:06:26 UTC https://padlet.com/hamzishukor98/92w3vkurzmqy/wish/147726376 hamzishukor98 https://padlet.com/hamzishukor98/92w3vkurzmqy/wish/147848950 Malaysia and Indonesia have shared a common history throughout their pasts. Being geographically similar, both nations and their residents have experienced similar hardships in the form of oppression from outside forces, economic inflation and natural disasters. However, despite their common histories, the nations have also been renowned as fierce rivals across South East Asia in several fields including sports, economy and scope of influence. Such a rivalry stems from not only their similarities and thus competition for dominance in similar fields, but also from their differences from one another. Thus, what are their differences and what about them would spur such a rivalry between two close nations sharing such a similar history? 

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