RESOURCES FOR LEADERS OF CHILDREN’S GROUPS

MALAYSIAN CHILDREN
“Let Justice Prevail – Is it Fair?”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Malaysia is perceived to be a model of racial integration with its multi-racial, multi-cultural and
multi-religious communities living in harmony with one another. Malaysia’s long-term goal is to
become a developed nation and to achieve a balanced growth and a high standard of living by 2020.

Let us pray that this country continues to live in peace and harmony and that justice, stability and
religious freedom will always prevail.

Malaysia’s vegetation is tropical rainforest and includes 2,500 different types of trees and over 5,500 species of other plants. It is also home to an amazing collection of animals, birds, butterflies and insects. The Durian fruit is native to the country and can be found everywhere. It is called the King of Fruits and has a prickly skin and a very nasty smell.

Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of the UK and a distance of 6,557 miles from London to the capital city,
Kuala Lumpur. Malays comprise 57% of the 28 million inhabitants, while Chinese, Indian, Bumiputeras and other races make up the rest of the population.

Bahasa Malaysia is the national language but English is also widely spoken.

Things to do and make

Malaysian food chain. (You can find pictures on the web)

1. Plant: evergreen (adinandra angulata)
2. Insect: bees (Malaysian hymenoptera - winged membrane)
3. Small mammal: squirrel (cream- coloured)
   
4. Bird: bird (rhinoceros Hornbill)
   
5. Mammal: gibbon monkey
6. Crocodile: eats small animals. Dies, rots to feed plants.

The Eden Project

In the Tropical Biome of the Eden Project in St Austell, Cornwall, there is a section of typical
Malaysian rain forest and a typical Malaysian house. Look on their web site for pictures and further
details.

Windmill

You will need

• 15cm square of paper or foil paper
• pins, plastic straws and stapler
  
• Small jelly sweets
  
• Stickers & colouring pens to decorate

1. cut from each corner of the square to almost the middle
   
2. fold the alternate corners to overlap into centre and staple together
   
3. children can decorate and/or write words such as “Fair”,” Just”, “Good”, “Right” on the sails of the windmill or on stickers and stick them on
   
4. put pin through straw then through a sweet, through the paper windmill and then add
   another sweet

Blow gently!

Shadow Puppets

Using these puppets you can act out the story of the Cat and the Monkey and/or the Judge and the
Widow. See Children’s Activity Sheet.

You will need

• stiff black paper or thin card
  
• brass paper fasteners
  
• plastic straws (can be cut to size)
  
• sticky tape
• a light source eg powerful torch and a white cloth

1. cut shapes of body parts for figures and fasten the moving parts together
   
2. stick straws onto the back to work the puppets

Other Ideas

1. decorate flip-flops with flowers, tassels or ribbons
   
2. decorate headbands with flowers etc
   
3. cook a prawn curry (Malaysian children eat lots of rice, fish and seafood)
   
4. taste dried/candied tropical fruits eg pineapple, papaya, mango, star fruit
   (available from most supermarkets)
   

Answers to World Stats section in Children’s Activity sheet

If the world were a village of 100 people:

1. 80 would live in poor housing 24 would not have electricity
2. 67 would be unable to read 1 would go to university
3. 50 would go hungry 33 would not have safe water to drink
4. 7 would have access to the internet