Malays

Asiaintensive agriculturalists
Map
expand_more Description

Malays live chiefly in peninsular Malaysia, where they are more than half of the population. Malays also live in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), on the coasts of Sumatra and other islands of Indonesia, extending up to the Sulu Sea of the southern Philippines. Their language (also called Malay or Bahasa Melayu) belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages. Wet-rice agriculture, occasionally with modern irrigation, is the primary occupation of Malays, followed by fishing and rubber tapping. These products are sold commercially.

Identifier
Region
  • Asia
Subregion
  • Southeast Asia
Subsistence Type
  • intensive agriculturalists
Samples
Countries
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
External Links