Malay borrowings in Malaysian English
adat n. [Malay] 1 Traditional practices and customs of a particular group. 2 Customary law and dispute resolution practices.
1 2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. “We have lost our identity and sense of belonging when it comes to adat (customs) for the Malays and the same applies to the Chinese, Indians and Eurasians here.” 2 2001 New Straits Times 18 Aug. Customs or adat are not only peculiar to the Malay Muslims, but also in other nations. Adat, in the Middle East, represents the unwritten customary laws and practices that have the force of social laws and the syariah. As long as the customs do not contradict the syariah, it is acceptable.
Alhamdulillah int. Also alhamdullilah, Alhamdullillah. [Malay, orig. Arabic] Praise be to Allah, an interjection that expresses gratitude.
2001 New Straits Times 16 Aug. The 33-year-old mother of 14-month-old Mohd Aiman Armin, said: “I had a terrible flu. Alhamdulillah, it didn’t affect my voice that much during the show.”
asam pedas n. [Malay] A sour and spicy soup.
baba n. & a. [Malay] A n. Pl. same, -s. 1 The Straits Chinese community. 2 The men folk of the Straits Chinese community. B a. Of language, culture, etc.: pertaining to the Straits Chinese community.
A 1 2001 The Star 1 Nov. The Penang Babas speak the Hokkien dialect incorporating Malay words (the Babas of Malacca and Singapore – the other two cities that comprised the Straits Settlements – speak a type of Creole Malay with Hokkien words). B 2001 The Star 1 Nov. Clubs such as the Chinese Amateur Dramatic Association were not only famous for promoting Baba bangsawan in the 1920s and 1930s but also for presenting their own plays which centred around the stereotypical Baba household in which rich husbands squandered money, stepmothers were strict and mothers-in-law ill-treated their daughters-in-law.
baju Kedah n. [Malay] A short blouse with three-quarter length sleeves that is thought to have originated in Kedah. Also a suit comprising the blouse and a long skirt.
2001 New Straits Times 24 Nov. Key pieces in the collection include the classical baju kurung and elegant baju Kedah as well as the more contemporary curvy baju kebaya.
baju kurung n. [Malay] A loose knee-length blouse with sleeves that end at the wrists, typically worn by Malay women. Also a suit comprising such a blouse and an ankle-length skirt with folds on the left side.
2001 The Star 6 Sept. Sri Lumandeng, who was clad in a green baju kurung, looked calm throughout the proceedings yesterday and nodded her head as the court interpreter read out the facts of the case.
baju Melayu n. [Malay] A long-sleeve shirt with either a round neckline or a Mandarin collar that is worn by Malay men. Also a suit comprising such a shirt and a loose pair of pants.
2001 The Star 14 Oct. Clad in the same white baju melayu that he wore on his wedding day, Mohd Sufian said he regretted what had happened.
balik kampung v. [Malay] To visit the (usually rural) home of one’s parents, in-laws, siblings or close relatives, during long weekends, festive seasons, etc.
2001 New Straits Times 20 Aug. He would keep repeating the same story everytime we balik kampung. We used to joke among us that he sounded like a broken record.
batik n. Also batik cloth. [Malay kain batik] Traditional Southeast Asian wax-resist dyed textile.
2001 The Star 30 Sept. With this encouragement, she started making and selling her batik from a small hut 13 years ago. 2001 New Straits Times 31 Oct. I usually buy scarfs (sic.), batik cloth, clothes for my grandchildren, etc.
Attrib.: batik art [Malay seni batik] the art of drawing and painting using the wax-resist batik method; batik painter [Malay pelukis batik] an artist who paints on fabric employing techniques and tools used for making batik; batik painting [Malay lukisan batik] the art of painting on fabric employing techniques and tools used for making batik.
2001 New Straits Times 29 Oct. “I spent time observing a commercial batik painter so as to learn how to paint batik. However, when I later tried it out myself, nothing worked,” said this renowned batik artist.
bawal hitam n. [Malay] A marine fish (Parastromateus niger). Also called black pomfret.
2001 The Star 5 Dec. Its chairman Senator Zainal Rampak had said that there were drastic increase in the prices of essential items like chicken, chicken eggs, coconut, cooking oil, prawns, potatoes, long beans, kangkung, cabbage, red chillies, ikan kembung, tenggiri, bawal putih, bawal hitam, cencaru, ikan merah, local beef, imported beef and mutton.
bawal putih n. [Malay] A marine fish (Pampus argenteus). Also called white pomfret.
belacan n. [Malay, orig. Minangkabau Malay] Dried shrimp paste.
Comb.: sambal belacan a condiment of blended chillies and belacan.
2001 The Star 20 Oct. Finally, cuttlefish strips are added for the flavour and slight crunch. It is served with sambal belacan and green leaf lettuce.
bersanding ceremony n. [Malay majlis persandingan] A Malay wedding ceremony where the bride and the groom sit side by side on a dais awaiting the blessings of the guests.
2001 New Straits Times 2 Nov. The pelamin is an integral part of the Malay wedding ceremony. It is a decorated platform on which newlyweds sit for the bersanding ceremony.
bomoh n. Pl. -s. [Malay] A shaman and traditional healer of Malay culture.
2001 New Straits Times 24 Aug. A bomoh from Sabak Bernam, Selangor, claims he has caught what he believes is a langsuir or vampire near a cotton tree two days ago.
briyani rice (tautology) n. Also nasi briyani. [Malay, orig. Hindustani biryani] An Indian meat and rice dish.
2001 New Straits Times 7 Sept. The buffet line is filled with assorted Malaysian cuisine, from kurma chicken to spicy lamb, tender beef curry, steamed fish and briyani rice. 2001 New Straits Times 28 Nov. The hampers comprised rice and packets of seasoning for nasi briyani, nasi tomato and chicken.
bubur n. [Malay] Porridge or gruel made from rice, beans, lentils or other grains; may be sweet or savoury.
2001 New Straits Times 3 Oct. Although found in other States like Terengganu, Perak or Malacca, locals insist Benta’s gula kabung is the best in quality and taste. It enhances the flavour of bubur, local kuih or cendol, they say.
Comb.: bubur cha cha porridge made by boiling pieces of yam, sweet potato, etc. in a broth of coconut milk and sugar; bubur kacang gruel made of various types of beans; bubur lambok/lambuk savoury porridge with meat and spices, traditionally served during the month of Ramadan; bubur pulut hitam sweet porridge made of black glutinous rice.
budu n. [Malay, orig. Kelantan Malay] A condiment made by pickling anchovies in brine; popular in the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.
2001 New Straits Times 22 Nov. Among the fare served for the hotel’s Ramadan buffet dinner are various types of kerabu, ulam-ulaman, sambal belacan, budu and tempoyak.
buka puasa n. Also berbuka puasa. [Malay] The breaking of fast: during the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and break the fast at dusk.
2001 New Straits Times 24 Nov. If you are not one of those “busy bees” who only have time to grab a murtabak or kuih for berbuka puasa, then stay tuned. Starting today, this page will provide some interesting recipes, both sweet and savoury, Asian and Western, for the aspiring chef.
bumiputera n. & a. Also bumiputra. [Malay, orig. Sanskrit bumi earth + putra son] A n. Pl. -s. A category created by the Malaysian state to designate those citizens it considers indigenous to Malaysia. B a. Of or pertaining to the bumiputeras.
A 2001 The Star 24 Sept. According to the latest electoral roll, Kidurong has 22,001 registered voters, with 51.3% Chinese and 48.7% bumiputras (70% Ibans and 30% Malays). B 2001 The Star 20 Oct. Amin said he was confident that the budget measures would go a long way towards assisting bumiputra businessmen, especially the medium- and small-scale businessmen now trying to cope with the challenges of globalisation.
non-bumiputera/non-bumiputra a citizen who is considered non-indigenous to Malaysia, usually of Chinese or Indian ethnicity.
Comb.: Muslim bumiputera/Muslim bumiputra a bumiputra of the Muslim faith, usually a Malay or a person belonging to one of the many indigenous tribes of Malaysia; non-Muslim bumiputera/non-Muslim bumiputra a bumiputra who is not a Muslim, usually of Christian or traditional faith.
2001 The Star 3 Aug. At the conclusion of the Upko congress on Wednesday, the party’s 315 delegates adopted a resolution asking the state to adopt a 4:4:2 formula in all appointments and promotions in the civil service. This meant that for every 10 civil servants hired or promoted, four should be Muslim bumiputras, another four be non-Muslim bumiputras and two be non-bumiputras.
bunga kantan n. [Malay] The pink bud of a ginger plant (Etlingera elatior) that is used to flavour many Malay dishes.
bunga manggar n. [Malay] A palm-like structure comprising a pole and plumes of glittery tinsels that it used to decorate the venue during a wedding.
2001 New Straits Times 20 Aug. Besides the beat of the kompang and the glittering bunga manggar, no traditional Malay wedding is complete without a silat performance.
bunga telur n. [Malay bunga flower + telur egg] A gift of a boiled egg tied to a paper flower that is given to the guests at Malay weddings.
2001 New Straits Times 17 Sept. As the big day approaches, the neighbours congregate at the house to help make bunga telur, set up the wedding dais and build the balai.
ciku n. [Malay] An oval fruit about the size of a large kiwifruit with pale brown thin skin and yellowish, sweet flesh.
2001 New Straits Times 14 Aug. Ciku is a sweet-smelling brown coloured fruit, popular in Asean countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
cincalok n. [Malay] A relish made from small shrimps.
2001 New Straits Times 10 Aug. For the main course, chef Chew recommends the special deep-fried chicken, which was marinated with cincalok.
congkak n. [Malay] A traditional Malay game played by moving counters from one base to another on a boat-shaped board.
2001 New Straits Times 30 Aug. Traditional games such as sepak raga bulatan and congkak were also held.
dadah n. [Malay] A generic name for chemical substances, such as narcotics or hallucinogens, that affect the central nervous system.
2001 New Straits Times 24 Aug. He said initial investigation showed that the man could have been involved in a spate of armed robberies, motorcycle thefts, tampering of motorcycle chassis numbers, and peddling dadah and pornographic VCDs.
dalang n. [Malay] The puppet-master of the wayang kulit or the shadow play.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Oct. I’m a writer; worse, I’m a poet. I’m a dalang, I learn Jawi, and half the time I live in Kelantan. For most parents, it’d be bizarre!
Datin n. [Malay] 1 A title reserved for the wife of a man who has been awarded the title of Datuk. 2 The wife of a man who has been awarded the title of Datuk.
1 2002 The Star 30 Jan. Dr Jeffrey was represented by Datin Marina Tiu .... 2 2001 The Star 24 Sept. An odd-job labourer, arrested on suspicion of murdering a Datin last year, told a Sessions Court yesterday he admitted to police that he received stolen jewellery after they started beating him.
Datin Seri n. [Malay] The title reserved for the wife of a person who has been awarded the title of Datuk Seri.
2001 The Star 23 Dec. Also present were the Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, his consort Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, members of the Johor royal family, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.
Datuk n. Pl. -s. [Malay] 1 An honorary and non-hereditary title awarded either by the federal government or the state rulers. 2 A person who has been awarded the title of Datuk.
1 2001 The Star 21 Nov. The Malaysian embassy in the Republic of Ireland will open soon with Datuk Ali Abdullah appointed as its first ambassador. 2 2001 The Star 27 Nov. The Datuk, she claimed, had told her that the police would not dare take action on any report lodged against him and his family members.
Datukship n. the state of having been awarded the title of Datuk.
2001 New Straits Times 3 Sept. A casual perusal of the lists reveal that the Datukship recipients range from the royals, party stalwarts, exco members, civil servants, towkays and corporate figures, police and military personnel, entertainers and even unheard-of foreign dignitaries.
Datuk Bandar n. [Malay]. A mayor.
2001 New Straits Times 20 Nov. The ceremony was officiated by Kuala Lumpur Datuk Bandar Tan Sri Kamaruzzaman Shariff.
Datuk Seri n. [Malay] A honorary title awarded by the state rulers of Malaysia.
2002 The Star 2 Jan. Puteri Umno pro-tem chief Azalina Othman Said said issues associated with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have become stale and would not influence the Indera Kayangan by-election.
daun kesum n. [Malay] A pungent herb (Polygonum hydropiper) with long pointed green leaves tinged with purple.
daun mambu n. [Malay] A bitter herb that is often used to treat measles and chicken pox.
2001 The Star 14 Oct. Neem grows well in Malaysia and is common to all the races. The Malays call it daun mambu, while the Chinese and Indians call it chin sou chin and veepelai respectively.
daun salam n. [Malay] An aromatic leaf used in Malay cooking which has a similar flavour to curry leaves.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Sept. What makes the nasi lemak so unusual is the addition of fenugreek (halba) that lends a certain aroma to the rice. Not to mention the slight hint of daun salam.
Dewan Negara n. [Malay Dewan Hall, Assembly + Negara Nation] The national Senate.
2001 New Straits Times 8 Aug. Six syndicates were busted and 22 people arrested from January to March this year in connection with forged Malaysian identity cards, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday.
Dewan Rakyat n. [Malay Dewan Hall, Assembly + Rakyat “the people”] The national House of Representatives.
2001 New Straits Times 27 Oct. Abdullah reportedly advised MPs to raise any dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister first, instead of turning the Dewan Rakyat into a bashing ground.
dikir barat n. [Malay] A style of call-and-response singing originating in Kelantan.
2001 New Straits Times 3 Oct. You’ll get to see groups bantering in dikir barat, hitting traditional drums, playing and dancing to traditional music.
dukun n. [Malay, orig. Javanese Malay] A medicine man, healer.
2001 The Star 20 Oct. The virtues of jamu were later introduced to the “common people” by native healers known as dukun (witch-doctor).
Friday prayers n. [Malay sembahyang Jumaat, orig. Arabic Jum’ah] Congregational prayer performed by Muslims every Friday afternoon.
2001 New Straits Times 25 Oct. A witness told the High Court today that he did not perform the Friday prayers on Dec 18, 1998, ….
gamelan n. [Malay, orig. Javanese Malay] A type of Javanese orchestra that has become an important part of the music culture of Malaysia.
2001 New Straits Times 27 Oct. The gamelan is a sound from our past, unique to this region and its people, its melodies a record of our forefathers’ lives.
gasing n. [Malay] A giant top that weighs approximately 5kg. Top spinning competitions are held annually, especially in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, with the participants being adults rather than children.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Sept. A typical gasing is about the size of a dinner plate and may weigh about 5.5kg. Spinning gasing is hardly child’s play as it requires strength, great dexterity and precise timing.
Comb.: gasing pangkah a top-spinning competition whereby a participant hurls his top at his opponent’s in order to break or destabilise the latter; gasing uri a top-spinning competition whereby the participant tries to keep his top spinning for as long as possible.
2001 New Straits Times 18 Aug. Among the other events to be held are a chess tournament from Aug 30 to Sept 2 at the Putra World Trade Centre, a gasing pangkah competition from Sept 7 to 9 in Labuan, ....
gatal a. [Malay] Mischievous and flirtatious, usually of lecherous men.
2001 New Straits Times 13 Oct. Add in a gatal (lecherous) rich man (essential in ALL local movies) and a love triangle between Harry, Yati and Chantal, and there you have it: 90 minutes of entertainment.
God willing [Malay insyaallah, orig. Arabic] If God wills it. Many Muslims consider any expression of certainty about the future to be arrogant, and very often use this term to prefix any statement of positive intent or prediction, or agreement to do something. It is this suggestion of humility and knowledge that everything is in the hands of God that distinguishes the use of this term in ME. See also Insyaallah.
2001 The Star 10 Oct. “His Majesty also said that with the prayers of everyone, God willing, he will be returning home soon.”
gotong-royong n. [Malay] The traditional Malay practice of helping one another in communal projects, preparation for festivals, etc.
2001 New Straits Times 28 Nov. ... revive traditional practices like gotong-royong, visiting neighbours during festivals and helping neighbours who face problems.
Hajah n. Also Hajjah. [Malay] The title used by a woman who has performed the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
2001 The Star 16 Sept. The others are Mej-Jen Datuk Pahlawan Mohd Azumi Mohamed, Hajjah Salbiah Mohd Painah, Shell Companies in North-East Asia chairman Tan Eik Kia, former assemblyman and educationist Temenggong Tan Meng Chong, businessman and philanthropist Lee Chi Min and Reverend Made Katib.
Haji n. [Malay] The title used by a man who has performed the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
2001 The Star 23 Nov. “I had known the King since I was a little girl because my grandfather, Haji Kassim, was the imam of Istana Alam Shah (in Klang). He was very fond of children even then,” she said.
halal a. [Malay, orig. Arabic] Permitted under Islamic law, usually in reference to food.
2001 New Straits Times 4 Nov. Of the switch to halal Chinese cuisine, he says that he and his kitchen team have been preparing for it for months, testing various ways to get similar or almost similar flavours and textures.
non-halal not permitted under Islamic law, usually in reference to food and restaurants.
2001 The Star 15 Aug. Shops that do not have a Chinese restaurant permit, even though they are Chinese-owned and have been selling other non-halal food like pork, cannot legally sell beer without the permit.
hantu n. [Malay] A spirit, ghost or demon.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. I think most Malaysians believe in one kind of hantu or another.
haram a. [Malay, orig. Arabic] Forbidden by Islamic law.
2001 New Straits Times 2 Aug. Hassan said all 12 State Muftis at the meeting unanimously agreed that the council should decree black metal music as haram.
Hari Raya n. Also Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Aidilfitri. [Malay hari day + raya celebration] The celebration marking the end of the fasting month.
2001 The Star 15 Dec. The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, will hold an open house at Istana Bukit Kayangan here on the first day of Hari Raya from noon to 3pm.
ikan bilis n. [Malay] 1 Dried anchovies. 2 Insignificant people, small fry.
1 2001 New Straits Times 17 Sept. Another Penang favourite is loh bak, which is an assortment of deep-fried fish balls, fish cake, crab sticks, tau hoo, cucur udang and other items cut into bite-size pieces and eaten with a special sauce, which is made from ikan bilis stock, seasoning and eggs. 2 2001 The Star 7 Nov. “We don’t act only against the ikan bilis. Our action is against all, whether they are ikan bilis or king of illegal loggers,” Rahim said during a highly spirited question hour that focused on issues of illegal logging, illegal immigrants and illegal fish bombings.
Comb.: sambal ikan bilis condiment made by cooking ikan bilis in chilli paste.
2001 The Star 20 Sept. “If the choice is nasi lemak, taken with a small serving of sambal ikan bilis, a slice of boiled egg, some slices of cucumber or fried kangkung, and a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea, that should be fine. ...”
ikan kembung n. [Malay] A local species of mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta).
2001 The Star 17 Nov. Sabariah Ismail, 43, said ikan kembung, normally costing RM5 a kilo, was sold between RM6 and RM8 per kilo.
ikan tenggiri n. [Malay] Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson).
2001 The Star 5 Dec. “The standard price for other items which are not under the controlled list like ikan selar and ikan tenggiri were also not exorbitant.”
ikan terubok n. [Malay] A sequential hermaphrodite fish from the herring family (Clupeidae) found mainly in Sarawak. Ikan terubok is sought after not only for its flesh but also for its roe.
2001 New Straits Times 16 Nov. To ensure that the ikan terubok continue to exist on a sustainable basis, we need to put in place some form of licensing for terubok catchers.
imam n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] The man who leads prayers in a mosque.
2001 New Straits Times 5 Oct. They allegedly performed the prayers in a congregation separate from the one led by the imam appointed by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council, in contravention of a directive dated Aug 14 issued by the council.
Insyaallah Also InsyaAllah, Insya-Allah, insyallah. [Malay, orig. Arabic] If God wills it. Many Muslims consider any expression of certainty about the future to be arrogant, and very often use this term to prefix any statement of positive intent or prediction, or agreement to do something. See also God willing.
2001 New Straits Times 1 Oct. We are waiting for the time to sign the Articles of Agreement with the founding members that include Sudan, Indonesia, Bahrain, Brunei and the Islamic Development Bank, to effectively launch the IIFM project, Insyaallah this year.
Ipoh [Malay] Capital city of the Malaysian state of Perak.
2001 The Star 9 Dec. Like a treasure hunt, it takes a while to uncover Ipoh’s culinary secrets, tucked as the food establishments are in little squatter settlements, wet markets and corner shops.
Islamic Affairs Council n. Also Islamic Council, Islamic Religious Council. [Malay Majlis Council + Agama Religion + Islam Islam] A state-level council responsible for formulating policies aimed at the advancement of Islam.
2001 The Star 3 Aug. All the state Islamic affairs council presidents were present at the meeting.
Islamic Affairs Department n. [Malay Jabatan Department + Hal Ehwal Affairs + Agama Religion + Islam Islam] A state-level department in charge of implementing policies and programmes formulated by the Islamic Affairs Council. Each state has either an Islamic Religious Department or an Islamic Affairs Department.
2001 The Star 30 Sept. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the students, all studying in universities in the Middle East, had been informed of the decision by the state Islamic Affairs Department.
Islamic Religious Department n. [Malay Jabatan Department + Agama Religion + Islam Islam] A state-level department in charge of implementing policies and programmes formulated by the Islamic Affairs Council. Each state has either an Islamic Religious Department or an Islamic Affairs Department.
2001 The Star 1 Aug. Dr Hilmi, who is the State Islamic Religious Council chairman said yesterday the Islamic Religious Department will be writing the sermons.
Isyak prayer (tautology) n. Pl. Isyak prayers. [Malay sembahyang Isyak, orig. Arabic Isha] The evening prayer – the last of the five daily prayers performed by Muslims.
2001 The Star 21 Nov. Strengthening neighbourhood ties can also be seen during the performance of the optional terawih and witir prayers at night after the compulsory Isyak prayer.
jaguh kampung n. Pl. jaguh kampungs. [Malay] An uncomplimentary term for an athlete who is only able to win when he or she plays on the home turf.
2002 The Star 4 Jan. He has been in the national team for a long time and he has to break out of the shell in international tournaments ... we don’t want to breed jaguh kampungs,” said Zolkples.
jampi n. [Malay, orig. Sanskrit] Spell or charm.
2001 New Straits Times 4 Nov. Information Minister Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob, who took to the rostrum, must have sensed the politically charged atmosphere when he said: “If I can work some jampi (charm), I will try to bring about unity in MCA.”
Comb.: air jampi water which has been subjected to an incantation.
Jawi n. [Malay] An adapted Arabic alphabet for writing the Malay language. It is used as one of two official scripts in Brunei, and is employed to a limited extent in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore as well, particularly in religious contexts.
2001 The Star 22 Oct. A UNIQUE attraction in the fishing village of Kuala Sepetang, about 17km from Taiping, Perak, is a concrete signboard along Jalan Tepi Sungai with the name “Port Weld” rendered in four languages: English, Bahasa Malaysia (in Jawi script), Chinese and Tamil.
jembalang n. [Malay] An evil spirit.
2001 New Straits Times 10 Nov. After all, the air jampi will not lift a gypsy curse in Oxford. Neither will the Holy Water send the Malay jembalang (evil spirits) scurrying.
joget n. [Malay] Malay folk dance characterised by quick rhythmic movements.
2001 The Star 11 Nov. The Actors Studio Academy’s traditional dance programme offers a choice of classical Malay dances such as Asyik and Trinai or folk dances like joget, zapin, endang and layang mas.
Johor n. Also Johore. [Malay] A state situated in the south of Peninsular Malaysia.
Johorean n. Pl. -s. A native or inhabitant of the state of Johor.
2001 The Star 5 Aug. The 23-year-old Johorean feels that he should be picked based on his victory in the men’s 100m event at the MAAU Open in Malacca last week.
kacang n. [Malay kacang peas, beans, lentils or nuts; orig. Tamil kaccaan] Roasted nuts, usually eaten as a snack.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Oct. I’ve rediscovered a passion for those films, now - I have quite a collection of James Bond movies! Not out of any fondness for the hero, but for the memories he evokes. Of me and my father, the Majestic and Sentosa cinemas in Petaling Jaya, Coke and kacang.
Comb.: ais/ice kacang local dessert of shaved ice, syrup, kidney beans, cream corn, sago, etc.; bubur kacang gruel made of various types of beans; putu kacang local biscuit made of mung bean meal and sugar.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Oct. For dessert, there is ais kacang with pastries and cakes.
kadi n. [Malay, orig. Arabic qadi] A judge in Islamic affairs.
2001 New Straits Times 31 Oct. Under the ruling, couples wanting to get married have to undergo the HIV test, the results of which must be handed to the kadi before the wedding.
kampung n. Pl. -s. [Malay] A small village.
Attrib.: kampung house [Malay rumah kampung] traditional (Malay) house on stilts, usually made of wood and with a thatched roof; kampung chicken [Malay ayam kampung] local breed of chicken usually raised in the backyard by rural folk using traditional methods and therefore regarded as having better meat quality.
2001 The Star 22 Sept. According to Sundram, British bikes were extensively used in the estates by management staff to get around. In addition, the police, army and postal services owned many too, especially BSAs of 250cc and 350cc capacities. Many are still around; quite a few rotting under kampung houses all over the country. 2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. TCRS offers customers a choice of ordinary chicken or kampung chicken with a slight difference in prices.
Comb.: Malay kampung [Malay kampung Melayu] a Malay village.
2001 New Straits Times 11 Sept. We are sitting in her library in a middle-class enclave surrounded by Malay kampungs in Selayang, Selangor, and she is talking animatedly about her latest project: implementing a community transport service in the Klang Valley for those unable to use, or who have difficulty in using, public transport.
kangkung n. [Malay] A semi-aquatic tropical plant (Ipomoea aquatica) grown as a leaf vegetable. Sometimes called water convolvulus.
kaya n. [Malay serikaya] Custard-like spread for bread made of coconut milk, sugar and eggs and flavoured with pandanus juice.
2001 The Star 20 Sept. Wholemeal bread toast with a thin spread of butter or kaya, could also be your breakfast.
kebaya n. Also baju kebaya. [Malay] A form-fitting blouse with frontal opening and long sleeves, traditionally worn by Peranakan and Malay women. Also a suit comprising such a blouse and a sarong or a form-fitting long skirt.
2001 New Straits Times 12 Aug. Dressed in black baju kebaya with a beige and blue floral motif, the mother of four was accompanied to accept her award by State Executive Councillor Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen and Penang Council of Datuks council member Datuk Saleena Yahaya-Isa.
Kedah n. [Malay] A state situated in the northwest region of Peninsular Malaysia.
Kedahan n. & a. A n. Pl. -s. A native or inhabitant of the state of Kedah. B a. Of or relating to or characteristic of the state of Kedah or its people or language or culture.
A 2001 The Star 13 Dec. Next year will be Kedah-born Zahir’s 20th as the Speaker. He is an inspiring figure to many Kedahans. B 2001 The Star 11 Nov. The venue is Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman bin Nayan located in Jalan Stonor (near the KLCC), a beautifully restored Kedahan Malay house that was “transplanted” to KL and now hosts Badan Warisan.
Kelantan n. [Malay] A state situated in the northeast region of Peninsular Malaysia.
Kelantanese n. Pl. same. A native or inhabitant of the state of Kelantan.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Sept. Kelantanese are renowned for their warmth and friendliness.
kemenyan n. [Malay] A type of incense made from the resin of a tree of the same name.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. It is said that close to every Umno supreme council election, Dewan Merdeka at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur would be filled with the smell of kemenyan (incense) and lilin (candle) as some candidates sought the help of their trusted bomoh and pawang to influence voting.
kenduri n. Pl. same, -s. [Malay, orig. Persian, Hindustani] A traditional Malay feast, often religious.
2001 New Straits Times 17 Sept. In addition, the expenses are high because the host has to feed the volunteers days before the kenduri ....
kerabu n. [Malay] Malay salad.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Nov. Break fast with dates and whet your appetite with kerabu, ulam and sambal ....
Comb.: nasi kerabu salad of rice, herbs and other greens.
kerisik n. [Malay] Lightly-roasted grated coconut. Not to be confused with desiccated coconut.
2001 New Straits Times 22 Aug. “City folk especially do not use stuff like kerisik, hand-squeezed coconut milk, rempah-rempah (spices), real pandan leaf extracts for colouring and taste, ...”
keroncong n. Also kroncong. [Malay, orig. Javanese Malay] A type of Javanese music and song performance that has some Portuguese influence.
2001 New Straits Times 27 Oct. My personal favourite for the evening was definitely Suasana, a piece that used a range of musical styles such as the Terengganu gamelan, keroncong, asli singing style, kompang/rebana drums, the rebab and vocals.
kerongsang n. Pl. -s. [Malay] A set of three decorative brooches worn on the lapel of a baju kebaya, traditionally used in place of buttons.
Comb.: ibu kerongsang the biggest of the three brooches that make up a kerongsang.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Nov. Traditional jewellery is actually an amalgamation of our diversified cultures, Tan reveals. For instance, a ruby-studded ibu kerongsang in his collection shows Sri Lankan influence.
ketupat n. [Malay] Rice cakes made by cooking rice in small casings made of palm leaves.
2001 The Star 11 Dec. The island’s assistant resort manager ... also used the opportunity to learn to make ketupat.
khalwat a. [Malay, orig. Arabic] Related to the offence, under the Syariah law of Malaysia, of being in an isolated place and in close proximity with a person of the opposite sex who is not one’s spouse.
2001 The Star 19 Aug. A gotong-royong turned into a khalwat raid when Chief Minister Datuk Wira Mohd Ali Rustam, suspecting human presence in an abandoned house in Kampung Morten, instructed those involved in the cleanliness campaign to check the place.
kompang n. [Malay] Shallow-frame hand-held Malay drum, usually played in processions.
kompang troupe [Malay kumpulan kompang] kompang ensemble.
2001 New Straits Times 18 Aug. We arrived at the resort at 6pm, and were welcomed by a kompang troupe, Azwan and several artistes who had arrived earlier.
Kota Kinabalu n. Capital town of the Malaysian state of Sabah.
2001 The Star 26 Sept. KOTA KINABALU: National bowler Ng Yiew Hup defeated United States’s Purvis Granger over two games in the step-ladder grand finals of the inaugural Kota Kinabalu International Open Championships at the CPS Bowl here on Monday night.
Kuala Lumpur n. [Malay] Also KL. (Abbrev.) Capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
KL-ites n. Usu. in pl. Natives or inhabitants of KL.
2001 The Star 25 Aug. Originally from Kuala Lumpur, he’s been here for the last seven years. 2002 The Star 18 Jan. And in their bid to become the first team to win back-to-back world titles, the Dutch realise that they need all the help in getting used to the conditions in KL. 2001 New Straits Times 4 Nov. Rainy days and Monday, Oct 29, really got KL-ites down. Another day that will go into the records as one of Kuala Lumpur’s “worst” flash floods. The way it’s going, it promises to be worse when the next big one strikes.
Kuantan n. [Malay] The capital town of the Malaysian state of Pahang.
2002 The Star 4 Jan. Kapten Nazri cheated death on Wednesday when the Pilatus aircraft he was piloting crashed off the Kuantan coastline.
Kuching n. [Malay] Capital city of the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
2001 The Star 3 Aug. KUCHING: The fate of the five Sarawak Premier League players, suspended over allegations of drug abuse, will be known when the FA of Sarawak’s (FAS) disciplinary board meet today.
kuih n. Pl. same, kuih-muih, kuih-kuih. [Malay, orig. Batavia Malay, Penang Malay] Any type of local cakes, puddings, biscuits, pastries and fritters, made variously from glutinous rice flour, rice flour, wheat flour, cane sugar, palm sugar, coconut milk, grated coconut and eggs.
2001 New Straits Times 6 Nov. For dessert, check out ais kacang, assorted ice cream, bread and butter pudding, iced longan and jelly, kuih, French pastries and fresh fruits
Comb.: kuih bahulu small cupcake, traditionally baked over charcoal fire in cast iron moulds; kuih bangkit light biscuit made of coconut milk, sugar and rice flour; kuih kapit thin wafer made from wheat flour, coconut milk, sugar and eggs.
kunyit n. [Malay] Turmeric.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Sept. Chew it slowly and enjoy the release of aroma from the serai, daun kadok, daun limau purut, daun kunyit, shallots, kunyit, dried prawns, salted fish and kerisik.
langsat n. [Malay] The oval, greyish-yellow edible fruit of a tree native to Malaysia and Indonesia (Lansium domesticum).
2001 New Straits Times 28 Nov. ... visitors are offered such local fruits as durian, langsat, dokong, rambutan and cempedak, among others.
Comb.: duku langsat a sweeter variety of langsat, this fruit has a slightly thicker skin.
Lembaga Tabung Haji n. Also Tabung Haji, Tabung Haji Board [Malay Lembaga Tabung Haji]. Pilgrims Fund Board, a fund management board that helps Muslims in Malaysia to invest in ways accepted under Islamic principles so that they may have the financial means to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
2001 New Straits Times 16 Aug. The Government will restructure Lembaga Tabung Haji to address the organisation’s weaknesses and enable it to perform better.
lontong n. [Malay] A dish of rice cakes in a gravy of coconut milk, vegetables and spices.
2001 The Star 20 Sept. “... Sometimes I take lontong or a bowl of vermicelli soup. ...”
madrasah n. Pl. same, -s. [Malay, orig. Arabic] An Islamic school.
2001 New Straits Times 10 Nov. Speaking to reporters later, Dr Mahathir said misinterpretation of Islamic teaching was rampant, especially among Muslim countries. “The Government has to correct the wrong teaching of Islam because children in the madrasahs and pondoks are taught to hate and fight the Government.”
makan n. [Malay] 1 A meal or feast. 2 Eating or feasting, usually with family or friends.
1 2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. The coming weekend will be a long holiday for most people .... Naturally, Malaysians will celebrate the way they know best – with a good makan. 2 2001 The Star 10 Sept. This activity is for seniors especially the widowed, divorced, single or separated to get together for fellowship, to share, learn and also take part in group activities like learning computer skills, dancing, exercising, sightseeing and, of course, makan.
Comb.: makan kecil a party where snacks and drinks are served.
2001 New Straits Times 21 Oct. There was a makan kecil at school, handled by the Student Council members, then a trip out to the beach (“Malaysia’s Waikiki”), and finally a call on Vic and Jane Buzdon, where there was much reminiscing about Hilo days.
makcik n. [Malay] 1 A title of respect for a middle-aged Malay woman. The tile (usually with an initial capital) often precedes the name. 2 Pl. -s. A middle-aged Malay woman.
1 2001 The Star 15 Dec. Makcik Siah, 60, is one of the very few people who still labour over the hot stove to churn out traditional delicacies for Hari Raya. 2 2001 New Straits Times 22 Aug. I have spent close to 10 years talking with the kampung ‘makciks’ and other sources to unlock the secrets of Malay food, especially preparing them traditionally like how our forefathers did.
Malacca n. Also Melaka. [Malay] 1 A state situated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, noted for its historic sites. 2 The capital city of the state of Malacca.
Malaccan n. & a. A n. A native of inhabitant of the state of Malacca. B a. Of or relating to or characteristic of the state of Malacca or its people or language or culture.
2001 The Star 30 Oct. A true-blue Malaccan Straits Chinese, Tan teaches us to distinguish between the cooking styles of Penang and Malacca Nyonya.
Malaysia Boleh spirit n. [Malay semangat Malaysia Boleh] “Malaysia Boleh” (lit. “Malaysia can”) is a slogan used to promote national pride. The can-do attitude encapsulated in this slogan became known as the Malaysia Boleh spirit.
2001 The Star 16 Oct. I’ve read of the biggest mooncake, the longest teh tarik, the biggest roti canai, the longest chain of diners, etc, all of which did nothing to strengthen the Malaysia Boleh spirit.
Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation n. [Malay Yayasan Foundation + Pembangunan Development + Ekonomi Economy/Economic + Islam Islam/Islamic + Malaysia Malaysia, also YPEIM] Established in 1976 by the Federal Government, the foundation oversees the economic development of the Muslim community in Malaysia.
2001 New Straits Times 6 Aug. Seventeen years after its re-birth, Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YPEIM) can be proud of its achievement in helping the hardore poor and supporting petty traders.
mamak n. [Malay, orig. Tamil] An Indian Muslim.
2001 New Straits Times 4 Nov. It does not matter whether one is a Javanese, a Mamak, a peranakan Arab or an Orang Asli. The question is: what does it mean to be a Malay?
mamak stall [Malay gerai mamak, warung mamak] stall run by an Indian Muslim, usually selling humble fare like roti canai, local kuihs, noodles, teh tarik, etc.
2001 New Straits Times 29 Sept. “Sometimes, it can be really tiring as I hate putting on make-up. I’m a jeans and T-shirt girl who loves sitting at mamak stalls but I can’t do that too often now,” she says.
Mat Salleh n. & a. Malay slang. [Malay] A n. A Caucasian person. B a. Of or pertaining to a Caucasian.
1 2001 The Star 14 Sept. The mat salleh might not look very intimidating now but some of them do appear rather imperious in the pages of this volume, especially when they were our colonial rulers. 2 2001 New Straits Times 1 Oct. I think because Brian is Mat Salleh and I’m local, the comedic elements come in when the two cultures meet.
mee goreng n. [Malay, orig. Hokkien mee noodles + Malay goreng fried] Fried wheat noodles, usually spicy.
2001 The Star 15 Dec. For those who enjoy roti canai, mee goreng, nasi goreng or kuey teow goreng, there are various stalls offering these along the Pasir Bogak stretch.
mee rebus n. [Malay, orig. Hokkien mee noodles + Malay rebus boiled] Wheat noodles in a spicy sauce.
mengkuang mat n. [Malay tikar mengkuang] A mat woven from the leaves of the mengkuang, a type of screw pine with long and broad leaves.
2001 New Straits Times 5 Sept. Malaysia’s traditional crafts like the batik sarong, rattan products and mengkuang mats are being elevated to new heights thanks to the creative women in the industry as shown in the "Women in Craft" event held at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex recently to celebrate and appreciate their work.
Menteri Besar n. Pl. Menteris Besar. [Malay Menteri Minister + Besar Big] Chief Minister for any of the nine former Federated and non-Federated Malay states.
2001 The Star 19 Aug. The Menteri Besar has been so pleased with Yee’s book that the state government purchased over 600 copies to be distributed to students in Sabak Bernam.
Merdeka spirit n. [Malay semangat Merdeka] Spirit of independence.
2001 New Straits Times 30 Aug. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali has urged the people to show their Merdeka spirit by flying the national flag at their premises.
Muar n. [Malay] An old town in Johor on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
2001 The Star 7 Nov. “I am truly overwhelmed by their generosity,” says the Muar-born beauty who is pursuing a degree in Science and Psychology at the University of North British Columbia in Canada.
muhibbah a. [Malay muhibah] Harmonious, associated with good will and friendship among different groups of the society.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Oct. The five kids in the band incidentally are a muhibbah bunch - Harry (the delicious Craig Fong) is the Chinese deejay who formed the band; Yati (Ellie Suriaty Omar) is a Malay girl who plays the bass; Chantal (Corinne Adri) is the Eurasian vocalist; Ariff (Edwin R Sumun) adds flavour to the group as the flamboyantly gay keyboardist, and JJ (Sanjeet Jarnail) is the Indian drummer.
naan bread (tautology) n. [Malay roti naan, orig. Hindustani naan] Naan, a type of unleavened bread baked in a tandoor.
2001 New Straits Times 5 Sept. Ask for the minced beef tandoori and naan bread ....
nasi lemak n. [Malay nasi rice + lemak rich, oily] Rice cooked in coconut milk, usually served with sambal, and traditionally wrapped in a banana leaf.
nasi lemak stall n. [Malay gerai nasi lemak, warung nasi lemak] stall selling nasi lemak, snacks and drinks.
2001 New Straits Times 15 Oct. In the not-too-distant past, the phrase woman entrepreneur would more likely than not conjure the picture of a makcik minding her nasi lemak stall in the morning, a preoccupation that takes part of her day, before she goes home to mind the husband and her family.
Negri Sembilan n. Also Negeri Sembilan. [Malay] A state situated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
2001 The Star 19 Aug. Kolej Tunku Kurshiah in Negeri Sembilan bagged two major awards for best SPM academic performance and for best overall academic achievement last year.
night market n. Pl. night markets. [Malay pasar market + malam night] A market place where itinerant traders gather at night to sell fresh produce, food, clothing, flowers, trinkets, CDs, DVDs, etc.
2001 The Star 25 Dec. Church members sold pastries and cakes in a night market to collect the money for the refugees, he said after handing the money to The Star’s Afghan Refugees Fund during a Christmas high tea at the centre on Sunday.
nyonya n. & a. [Malay] A n. Pl. -s. The women folk of the Straits Chinese community. B a. Of cuisine, food, culture, fashion, cooking, restaurant, etc.: pertaining to the Straits Chinese.
2001 The Star 30 Oct. The Malaccan Nyonyas add fragrant leaves, flowers and herbs to enhance their cooking. 2001 The Star 30 Oct. Nyonya cuisine is synonymous with sumptuous food by fastidious and meticulous cooks who take pride in their cooking.
orang asli n. & a. [Malay orang people + asli original] A n. Pl. same. The aboriginal peoples of the Malay Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, comprising various nomadic and sedentary groups and tribes. B a. Of or pertaining to the aboriginal peoples of Malaysia.
A 2001 New Straits Times 3 Sept. To date, 24 Orang Asli had been trained as excavator operators and 40 others were working in various positions at the worksite, he said. B 2001 The Star 23 Aug. Since both nomadic and sedentarised orang asli groups are facing a demographic crisis, the theory that resettlement has helped to develop them economically and socially is possibly untrue except under conditions where economic development is designed to benefit them directly.
Orang Asli Affairs Department n. Also Department of Orang Asli Affairs. [Malay Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli] A government department that oversees the economic development of the Orang Asli community.
2001 The Star 30 Oct. The project, a joint venture between Risda and the Pahang Orang Asli Affairs Department, is intended to benefit about 100 orang asli families living nearby.
orang minyak n. [Malay orang people + minyak oil] A demon whose skin is believed to be shiny, black and oily. Of Malay folklore.
2001 New Straits Times 13 Oct. Last month, on Sept 22, a bomoh, witnessed by villagers in Kuala Kedah, purportedly trapped an orang minyak, an oily, or rather, a slippery bogey man who, in Malay myth, is believed to prey on virgins.
orang putih n. [Malay orang people + putih white] A Caucasian.
1 2001 The Star 23 Aug. He said the commission seemed disinclined to make an independent decision based on Malaysian values, fearing that it would not be praised by the orang putih (whites).
Orang Ulu n. & a. [Malay orang people + ulu upriver] A n. A catch-all phrase used to describe a large number of upriver tribes in Sarawak, including the Kayan, Kenyah, Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit and Penan tribes. B a. Of or pertaining to any of the upriver tribes of Sarawak.
2001 The Star 26 Sept. Several Orang Ulu leaders such as Senator Joseph Balan Seling, a former Telang Usan assemblyman, have been campaigning there to convince the Orang Ulu to close ranks and vote for the party.
outrage ... modesty v. [Malay mencabul to violate + kehormatan self-respect] To molest; to abuse sexually.
2001 New Straits Times 28 Aug. He was commenting on a newspaper report today which said a doctor had allegedly outraged the modesty of a 25-year-old woman on the pretext of carrying out a “thorough body check”.
outraging the modesty (of) n. the action of molesting someone.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Oct. In August 2001, Iwabuchi was sentenced by the Sessions Court to eight years’ jail and ordered to be given 10 strokes of the rotan for outraging the modesty of a woman.
Pahang n. [Malay] A state situated on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Pahangite n. Pl. -s. A native or inhabitant of the state of Pahang.
2001 New Straits Times 24 Aug. The VSPD said in the Bentong district – the place where Genting Highlands is located – such units currently command a median price of RM175,000, while in Cameron Highlands, it is RM142,750 and in Kuantan, RM165,000. Needless to say, such units are not intended to appeal to the majority of Pahangites. Instead, they are aimed at purchasers from other states as well as foreigners who can afford a getaway home in one of the state’s natural attractions.
pakcik n. [Malay] 1 A title of respect for a middle-aged Malay man. The tile (usually with an initial capital) often precedes the name. 2 Pl. -s. A middle-aged Malay man.
1 2001 The Star 2 Sept. At the shop set up by the middleman, Pakcik Zin is busy sorting out the bananas that have been brought in by the farmers.
pandan n. [Malay] Pandanus, a type of screw pine. The pandan leaves can be woven into baskets and mats while the juice extracted from the leaves is used to flavour savoury as well as sweet dishes.
2001 New Straits Times 29 Oct. ... she felt that pandan was underexploited as a raw material for handicraft.
Attrib. & Comb.: pandan leaf [Malay daun pandan] the leaf of the pandanus from which pandan juice is extracted; pandan mat [Malay tikar pandan] mat woven from pandan leaves; pandan jelly [Malay agar-agar pandan] pandan-flavoured jelly.
2001 New Straits Times 29 Oct. Bajau women in Sabah, for instance, weave exquisite pandan mats, incorporating intricate designs which reflected their historical and cultural bonds with the Philippines.
pantun n. [Malay] A type of didactic verse that can be recited or sung.
2001 The Star 19 Aug. Despite a cold morning drizzle, the children eagerly assembled in the assembly ground, where they sang .... They also presented a pantun and dance ....
parang n. Pl. -s, same. [Malay] A short, heavy, straight-edged knife used in Malaysia and Indonesia as a tool and weapon.
2001 New Straits Times 10 Nov. Two men armed with parangs robbed a MBf Finance branch in Taman Maluri, Cheras of RM72,000 today.
pasar malam n. Pl. same. [Malay] A night market.
2001 The Star 13 Aug. In Shah Alam, the Selangor Government’s ban on VCD and videotape sales at pasar malam and five-foot ways has forced traders to operate their businesses from the boots of their cars, reports Elan Perumal.
pasar tani n. Pl. same. [Malay] A farmers’ market.
2001 New Straits Times 12 Nov. “Farmers who have been marketing their produce at farmers’ markets or pasar tani managed by Fama will have a more comfortable place to carry out their business when terminals are completed,” he said ....
pawang n. [Malay] A traditional Malay medicine man believed to be capable of exorcising illnesses, driving out bad luck, etc.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. It is said that close to every Umno supreme council election, Dewan Merdeka at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur would be filled with the smell of kemenyan (incense) and lilin (candle) as some candidates sought the help of their trusted bomoh and pawang to influence voting.
pelamin n. [Malay] A Malay bridal dais where the bride and the groom sit during the bersanding ceremony.
2001 New Straits Times 2 Nov. The pelamin is an integral part of the Malay wedding ceremony. It is a decorated platform on which newlyweds sit for the bersanding ceremony.
Penang n. Also Pulau Pinang. [Malay] A state on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, comprising an island and a thin strip of land on the Peninsula.
Penangite n. Pl. -s. A native or inhabitant of the state of Penang.
2001 The Star 22 Oct. The decision by Malaysia Airlines to discontinue its Penang-Phuket-Penang service effective end of this month came as a shock to many as it is a popular destination among Penangites and other northerners.
Perak n. [Malay] A state situated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
2001 The Star 10 Oct. The 19 Al-Ma’unah members have been ordered to enter their defence on a charge of waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at three places in Perak, from June to July 6. The charge, under Section 121 of the Penal Code, carries the death sentence or life imprisonment if convicted.
Peranakan a. [Malay] Of cuisine, culture, etc.: pertaining to the Peranakan community – the descendants of the 17th- and 18th-Century Chinese seafarers and their local wives. Also Baba, Nyonya.
2001 The Star 29 Dec. ... Seri Nyonya also serves up hard-to-find Peranakan dishes such as Hee Peow Soup and Ikan Goreng Cili Garam.
Comb.: peranakan Arab (rare) descendants of early Arab traders and their local wives.
2001 New Straits Times 4 Nov. It does not matter whether one is a Javanese, a Mamak, a peranakan Arab or an Orang Asli. The question is: what does it mean to be a Malay?
Perlis n. [Malay] The smallest state in Malaysia, situated in the northwest region of the Peninsula.
2001 The Star 25 Dec. MCA leaders yesterday pledged to set aside their differences to work together and ensure victory for the Barisan Nasional in the Indera Kayangan by-election in Perlis.
petai n. [Malay] The strong-smelling green seeds of a long, flat bean (Parkia speciosa), used in Malay cooking. The seeds can be cooked or eaten raw dipped in a spicy sambal.
2001 New Straits Times 18 Nov. ... the sambal has the right touch of pedas to bring out the best of the prawns and petai.
Comb.: sambal petai petai cooked in a chilli paste; sambal udang petai a spicy dish of petai and prawns in a chilli paste.
2001 New Straits Times 25 Sept. Another thing about Gerald is that he consumes sambal petai like ice-cream. 2001 New Straits Times 18 Nov. Another item to look out for is the sambal udang petai.
pondok n. Pl. -s. [Malay] 1 An Islamic school, usually in small villages. Also sekolah pondok, pondok school [Malay sekolah pondok]. 2 Small hut.
1 2002 The Star 28 Jan. “The sekolah pondok is not a fossil. If you want your children to have an Islamic education, the pondok still offers the best option ...,” said Zaidi. 2 2001 New Straits Times 30 Aug. Earlier, Ibrahim told the court that at 10am on April 1, last year, Azhar, Mohd Rais and Abdul Aziz had asked him to meet them at a pondok (hut) near his (Ibrahim’s) house where Azhar was also staying.
Comb.: pondok polis a hut that houses a small police station, usually found in small villages.
2001 The Star 25 Aug. There used to be a pondok polis nearby. When it was here, the crime rate was low.
pongteh chicken n. Also chicken pongteh, ayam pongteh. [Baba Malay ayam pongteh] A chicken stew with preserved soy bean paste, a traditional Peranakan dish.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Sept. I had never really thought much of pongteh chicken but I must admit Queenie has given it a new perspective.
pontianak n. [Malay] A female vampire.
2001 The Star 2 Sept. Many would be able to remember how their grandmothers would scare them with ghost stories about the beautiful pontianak (female vampire) who lived in the heart of banana trees and led young men astray, with often fatal consequences.
Puan Sri n. [Malay] The title reserved for the wife of a person who has been awarded the title of Tan Sri.
2001 The Star 15 Nov. In Seremban, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad and his wife Puan Sri Hazizah Tumin went to the open house of several Hindu leaders, including that of former state executive councillor Datuk Muthu Palaniappan in Jalan Labu Lama.
putu beras n. [Malay] A type of Malay biscuit made of rice meal and sugar.
putu kacang n. [Malay] A local biscuit made of mung bean meal and sugar.
Raja n. [Malay, orig. Indian] The sovereign of the state of Perlis.
2001 The Star 31 Dec. On Dec 13, the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, is elected the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the Conference of Rulers during a special meeting at Istana Negara.
Raja Permaisuri Agong n. [Malay] 1 The official title of the consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agung, the head of state of Malaysia. 2 The consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agung.
1 2001 The Star 23 Nov. The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Siti Aishah, Malay Rulers and members of the royalty were present at the ceremony. 2 2001 New Straits Times 22 Nov. “The House records its profound sadness on the demise. On behalf of the House, we offer our condolences to the Raja Permaisuri Agong and the royal family.”
rakyat n. [Malay] The common people (as opposed to the government or the aristocracy) of Malaysia.
2001 New Straits Times 28 Aug. For Ayub, this statement reflects the capricious ideologies spread by certain quarters who take advantage of the leeway afforded them by turning the rakyat against the Government.
Ramadan n. Also Ramadhan. [Malay, orig. Arabic] The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims fast during the day and break the fast in the evening.
2001 The Star 21 Nov. Ramadan is not just about fasting during the daytime. It goes beyond that. The holy month of Ramadan is also a training ground for Muslims to cultivate good character.
rebab [Malay, orig. Arabic] A two-stringed fiddle believed to have originated in Arabia or Persia, and closely associated with Islamic culture.
2001 New Straits Times 7 Sept. At the same time, traditional performers inserted another dimension into Antara Semangat by using ethnic instruments like the rebab, serunai and gendang.
rebana n. [Malay] A Malay single-headed drum.
Comb.: rebana ubi very large rebana that can be hung vertically or placed horizontally on the floor.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Sept. Thirty years ago men used their hands to beat the rebana ubi but players in their impetuous enthusiasm are oblivious to the fact that the palms of their hands were cut or bruised. This interfered with their work, thus padded drumsticks are now used interchangeably.
rempah n. [Malay] Spices.
Comb.: wet rempah [Malay rempah basah] A combination of spices ground or blended with a little water to form a paste.
2001 New Straits Times 18 Nov. So we marinate the deer the day before, using local herbs like daun ketumbar, kurma powder, ginger, serai and wet rempah...
rendang n. [Malay] A spicy meat dish with a rich and fragrant gravy.
2001 The Star 23 Dec. More than 100 food stalls offering local favourites such as laksa Johor, ketupat, rendang, soto, rojak, lontong and traditional cakes ensured a free flow of food for guests.
Comb.: beef rendang [Malay rendang daging] spicy beef dish with a rich coconut gravy; chicken rendang [Malay rendang ayam] spicy chicken dish with a rich coconut gravy.
2001 The Star 2 Sept. We naturally like to learn new things, and turning out a fragrant apple pie or dishing out a plate of mouth-watering beef rendang from your own kitchen can be very satisfying. 2001 The Star 27 Dec. In Malacca, Christmas joy was visible in the Portuguese settlements of Ujong Pasir and Bandar Hilir where guests were served with the special dish of “karisenko” (chicken rendang with long beans).
rice bowl n. [Malay periuk pot + nasi rice] 1 Pl. rice bowls. Means of livelihood. 2 A reference to Kedah, the most important rice-producing state in Malaysia.
1 2002 The Star 24 Jan. These people are truly selfish and think nothing of throwing sand in the rakyat’s rice bowl. 2 2001 The Star 15 Nov. ... Kedah is the “rice bowl” of Malaysia.
rojak n. [Malay] 1 A vegetable and fruit salad with a spicy dressing. 2 A confused collection or mixture – hodgepodge.
1 2001 New Straits Times 15 Oct. Spokesman for the buyers, Satiayawani Arumugan, said most of them were from the lower-income group and performed odd jobs like selling cendol and rojak. 2 2001 The Star 22 Sept. “The bike was in a bad state when I got it for RM2,500 eight years ago,” says Azahar who spent a further RM3,000 to get it all spruced-up and smartened. He sourced parts from all over – ”Rojak,” Azahar says – scavenging used ones as well as ordering new parts.
ronggeng n. [Malay] Malay social dance in which couples dance and exchange verses to the accompaniment of a violin and drums.
2001 The Star 1 Nov. Believed to have developed during the post-Portuguese period in Malacca, ronggeng became a popular form of entertainment at Baba and Malay weddings and other festivities in Penang in pre-war days.
rotan n. [Malay] n. 1 A rattan cane used for inflicting judicially-sanctioned corporal punishment in Malaysia. 2 Any of various climbing plants of tropical Asia, having long, tough, slender stems. 3 (rare) A cane. 4 (rare) Judicially-sanctioned caning in Malaysia.
1 2001 New Straits Times 5 Sept. In allowing Tan’s appeal, the court sentenced him to 15 years’ jail and 10 strokes of the rotan for dadah possession. 3 2002 The Star 24 Jan. ... are jointly charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to nine-year-old Teoh Lee Sean by using a rotan between Oct 2000 and July 10 last year at Jalan Tiram in Cheras. 4 2001 New Straits Times 18 Aug. He also said he understood that he could be sentenced to a maximum 20 years jail and rotan for the offence.
roti n. [Malay, orig. Hindustani] Bread, usually the local version of a white loaf, which is slightly sweet and has a very soft texture.
Comb.: roti canai South-Indian fried bread usually eaten with curry; roti jala lacy pancake usually eaten with curry; roti kaya toast spread with kaya, often served as breakfast and morning tea fare in Chinese coffeeshops in Malaysia.
2001 The Star 20 Sept. Chef Wan seldom takes roti canai or nasi lemak because they are “nutritionally unbalanced.”
Sabah n. [Malay] A Malaysian state situated on the northeast coast of the island of Borneo.
Sabahan n. & a. A n. Pl. -s. A native or inhabitant of the state of Sabah. B a. Of or relating to or characteristic of the state of Sabah or its people or language or culture.
A 2001 The Star 21 Nov. In another development, another Sabah player, striker Rizal Awang Jad, is set to play for Sarawak. If he seals the deal, he will be the second Sabahan in the Sarawak team. B 2001 The Star 21 Nov. The competition rules required them to buy the fabrics for their designs for one formal/evening outfit, a haute couture piece and a casual creation, all under one theme. The required fabrics ranged from songket, kain tenun, tjanting batik, pua kumbu to dastar (an ethnic Sabahan fabric traditionally used for headgear) for the first two categories and cotton batik, pua and dastar for the casual wear.
sajak n. [Malay] Various types of modern Malay poems.
2001 New Straits Times Apart from being a member in her school’s debating team, she represented it in elocution and sajak recitation contests and organised a fund-raising drive during Hari Pahlawan.
sambal n. [Malay, orig. Tamil sambaar] Spicy condiment made variously from chillies, tamarind, shrimp paste, etc.
2001 New Straits Times 28 Nov. “Over 70 per cent of our stay-in guests are local business travellers, thus even our food and beverage outlets cater for them. The coffee house serves mainly Malay food because locals tend to miss their sambal and ‘warong’ dishes.”
Comb.: sambal belacan condiment of pounded chillies and dried shrimp paste; sambal ikan bilis condiment of chilli paste and dried anchovies; sambal petai condiment of chilli paste and petai.
Sarawak n. [Malay] The biggest state in Malaysia, situated on the north coast of Borneo.
Sarawakian n. & a. A n. Pl. -s. A native or inhabitant of the state of Sarawak. B a. Of or relating to or characteristic of the state of Sarawak or its people or language or culture.
A 2001 The Star 6 Sept. Ironman Wong Tee Kui’s hopes of retaining the gold medal in the SEA Games men’s hammer event took a severe jolt yesterday when the 37-year-old Sarawakian aggravated a hamstring injury while training in Bukit Jalil. B 2001 New Straits Times 8 Aug. Sharifah Kirana showcased a fusion of East and West eveningwear. Sarawakian designer Tom Abang Saufi put on a collection with Sarawakian motifs. Bill Keith’s collection of dazzling designs added glitter to the occasion.
saree cloth (tautology) n. [Malay kain sari, orig. Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu sari] A long piece of fabric that is worn over a petticoat by Indian women.
2001 New Straits Times 16 Aug. Materials used include songket, linen, Chinese brocade, saree cloth and casa rubie (Indonesia’s finest cotton).
sarong n. Also sarung. Pl. -s. [Malay] A tubular garment that is worn by wrapping it around the waist and tying it in such a way that it stays in place without a belt.
2001 New Straits Times 12 Nov. This type of batik dates back to 1793 and was commonly worn as a sarong or as a shawl by women in the palace in Terengganu.
Comb.: batik sarong batik worn as a sarong
2001 New Straits Times 16 Aug. ... cheongsam tops that can be teamed with batik sarong, pareos, pants and even jeans and comfy three-quarter pants.
Selangor n. [Malay] A state situated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Selangorian n. A native or inhabitant of the state of Selangor.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. Being a transplanted Selangorian, who lived in Hulu Langat, Bandar Baru Bangi and Subang Jaya for more than 30 years, I think I can make a fairly accurate judgment of the State’s deteriorating natural environment.
selendang n. [Malay] A shawl that is generally worn with baju kurung or baju kebaya.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Oct. The dancers from Perak were all clad in purple Putri costumes and selendang.
sepak takraw n. [Malay, orig. Malay sepak to kick + Thai takraw woven ball] A Southeast Asian game whereby two teams of three players each use their feet and heads to send a hard rattan or plastic ball back and forth over a net.
2001 New Straits Times 12 Nov. The games that were contested during the first phase of the sports carnival in Penang were soccer, netball, sepak takraw, swimming, hockey, tenpin bowling, tennis, badminton and table tennis.
serai n. [Malay] Lemongrass.
2001 New Straits Times 18 Nov. So we marinate the deer the day before, using local herbs like daun ketumbar, kurma powder, ginger, serai...
silat n. [Malay] A type of Malay martial art.
2001 New Straits Times 20 Aug. Silat has its roots as far back as 6 AD when it was formalised as a combative system.
Comb.: silat olahraga competitive silat, silat as a sport.
2001 New Straits Times 20 Aug. However, there are those who feel that silat olahraga will compromise its combative value.
songket n. Also kain songket. [Malay] A traditional Malay hand-woven fabric with gold and silver threads, usually worn during official functions and ceremonies.
2001 New Straits Times 5 Sept. Some of the great crafts produced were the award-winning kain songket which has broken away from the usual repetitive motif and instead has a flowing floral motif that runs boldly across the material by Habibah Zikri from Kuala Terengganu.
songkok n. [Malay] A velvet foldable oblong hat worn by Malay men.
2001 New Straits Times 30 Aug. “Some of the Chinese even resorted to wearing the songkok to deceive the Japanese soldiers into thinking that they were Malays.”
soto n. [Malay, orig. Javanese Malay] A spicy chicken soup with noodles or rice cakes.
2001 New Straits Times 28 Nov. I’m a soto fan and the best soto is at a small shop by the seashore of Pasir Gudang, Johor.
Subuh prayer n. Pl. subuh prayers. [Malay sembahyang Subuh] Prayer performed at dawn by Muslims.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. I leave my house just after Subuh prayers.
Sultan n. Pl. -s. [Malay, orig. Arabic] 1 The sovereign of a Muslim country. 2 A sovereign of any of the nine former Federated and non-Federated Malay states. 3 The title of the sovereign of a Muslim country or the nine former Federated and non-Federated Malay states.
1 2001 The Star 4 Oct. The Sultan of Brunei was also conferred an honorary doctorate in Political Science by the International Islamic University (IIU) on Tuesday. 2 2001 New Straits Times 1 Oct. The winners received their prizes from the Sultan of Pahang at the closing ceremony .... 3 2001 The Star 2 Oct. Sultan Azlan Shah said although a conducive working environment and an effective administrative system were already in place a long time ago in the state, he hoped it could be enhanced from time to time.
surau n. Pl. same, -s. [Malay] A small mosque.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Aug. I don’t believe in having kindergartens in suraus and houses.
syair n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] A poem comprising successive verses of four rhyming lines.
2001 New Straits Times 7 Sept. ... they were encouraged to express themselves “the Malaysian way” – sing a patriotic number accompanied by a skit, which could also include some poetry – syair, gurindam, puisi, sajak or pantun – recitals.
syariah n. & a. [Malay, orig. Arabic] A n. Islamic principles. B a. That which is based on Islamic principles.
A 2001 New Straits Times 18 Aug. Adat, in the Middle East, represents the unwritten customary laws and practices that have the force of social laws and the syariah. As long as the customs do not contradict the syariah, it is acceptable. B 2001 The Star 17 Nov. He said Syariah laws constituted three main areas – qisas (discretion by bereaved families to either pardon an accused or allow the process of law to punish him), hudud (Allah’s law) and ta’zir (enforcement of punishment).
Syawal n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] The tenth month of the Islamic calendar. The first day of Syawal signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is celebrated by Muslims all over the world.
2001 New Straits Times 27 Oct. “We will buy as many coconuts as we can so that we will have enough stock for Ramadan and Syawal,” he told reporters...
Tan Sri n. [Malay] The second highest honorary, non-royal, non-hereditary title granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
2001 The Star 8 Oct. Mentri Besar Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad said he had advised developers to drop prices to enable them to sell their properties.
tapai n. [Malay] 1 Fermented glutinous rice or tapioca, usually eaten as a sweet. 2 Sweet rice wine.
2001 New Straits Times 20 Nov. Appetisers include dates, pisang emas, tapai, pickles, cencaluk and tempoyak.
Comb.: tapai pulut fermented glutinous rice; tapai ubi fermented tapioca.
teh tarik n. [Malay] Hot tea which is aerated and made frothy by pouring it back and forth from one mug to another.
2001 New Straits Times 1 Sept. The informal chats, over a glass of teh tarik and mee goreng, have proven to be an invaluable source of information.
tempe n. [Malay] Fermented soy bean cakes.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Sept. The spread includes nasi minyak jawa timur, daging dendeng berlado, sotong Kalimantan, salad ayam jawa, rojak bandung, begedil tempe, mee goreng jawa, traditional desserts and complimentary teh or kopi tarik.
tempoyak n. [Malay] Fermented durian.
Comb.: gulai tempoyak tempoyak-flavoured gravy; sambal tempoyak condiment of chilli paste and tempoyak.
terawih prayer (tautology) n. Pl. terawih prayers. [Malay sembahyang terawih, orig. Arabic] Evening prayer performed by the Muslims during the fasting month.
2001 The Star 5 Dec. … the Prime Minister told reporters after breaking fast and performing terawih prayers at the residence of Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is also a former finance minister.
Terengganu n. [Malay] A state situated on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
2001 The Star 20 Oct. Two years ago, a Singaporean female diver also lost her life under unclear circumstances in Terengganu.
thanksgiving kenduri n. [Malay kenduri kesyukuran] A feast held to give thanks to Allah, usually when one has recovered from a serious illness or when one has achieved success in an endeavour.
2001 The Star 13 Dec. “Sometimes he delivers it in person and sometimes a police personnel would deliver the cheque,” she said, adding that she hoped to organise a thanksgiving kenduri for the Ruler.
tidak apa a. [Malay, lit. “does not matter”] Lackadaisical or apathetic. Often used in a disparaging sense.
2001 New Straits Times 16 Nov. I think there are two types – the ones who don’t care (about their looks) and the ones who really DO. The vain ones and the tidak apa types.
Comb.: tidak apa attitude [Malay sikap tidak apa] an indifferent attitude.
2001 The Star 21 Nov. All I can assume is that, as Telekom Malaysia is monopolising fixed line services, it is too rich to bother about another subscriber, hence its tidak apa attitude.
tudung n. [Malay] A headscarf worn by Muslim women.
2001 The Star 23 Aug. Dr Lo’Lo’ said a recent photograph in the Sunday Star, which depicted a woman scuba diver wearing the tudung, showed that she held to the Islamic requirement for women to cover their hair.
ulam n. [Malay] A selection of raw leaves and vegetables, usually eaten with sambal.
2001 New Straits Times 26 Nov. Break fast with dates and whet your appetite with kerabu, ulam and sambal such as gado-gado, ulam raja, pegaga, kacang botol, sambal mangga and sambal belacan.
Comb.: nasi ulam rice mixed with herbs, grated coconut, salted fish, etc.
ulama n. Also ulamak. Pl. same, -s. [Malay, orig. Arabic] A man or a group of men with Islamic education and Islam-related professions.
2001 The Star 13 Nov. He said the main cause of weaknesses among the Muslims was the misunderstanding perpetrated by the ulama, who misinterpret the Quran according to their own personal and political agenda, causing many to reject knowledge and education except for those pertaining to the religion.
ulu n. [Malay ulu, hulu hinterland] A rural back-country or up-country area which is associated with a lack of worldliness. Often used in a disparaging sense.
2002 The Star 20 Jan. When former Secretary of State Warren Christopher finally sat down, I remembered thinking to myself: “Life is strange. Here am I, a two-bit hack and lawyer from the ulu addressing a guy presidential hopeful Al Gore enlisted in his desperate battle to seize the Oval office.”
umrah n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] A secondary Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
2001 New Straits Times 27 Sept. Abdullah said the special passport would enable the Saudi Government to differentiate between Malaysians in the kingdom to perform umrah and others who came for other reasons.
ustaz n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] 1 A male Islamic teacher. 2 Title of a male Islamic teacher (with an initial capital).
1 2001 New Straits Times 20 Aug. Even mosque officials and ustaz are seen on the golf course now. 2 2002 The Star 5 Dec. The other two party officials were Penang PAS deputy commissioner Khalid Man and Ustaz Othman Ibrahim from Kedah.
ustazah n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] 1 A female Islamic teacher. 2 Title of a female Islamic teacher (with an initial capital).
2 2001 The Star 30 Oct. ... Training Division assistant director Ustazah Norliah Sajuri, ....
wakil rakyat n. [Malay] A member of Parliament or State Legislative Assembly.
2001 New Straits Times 25 Oct. As the designation of the job implies, the wakil rakyat represents all the people in his constituency whether they voted for him or not.
wali n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] In Islam, the mediator for women seeking marriage.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Oct. Although Semelai people are not Muslims, they still practise the nikah ceremony where a kadi marries the couple and the wali functions as a witness.
wau n. [Malay, orig. Dutch wouw]. A large local kite, usually flown (by adults) after the rice harvesting season, between May and July.
Comb.: wau bulan wau with a crescent-shaped tail.
2001 New Straits Times 19 Sept. Although “wau bulan” is the most popular, they come in all shapes and sizes – hence in a variety of names. Some are called wau katak, wau kucing, wau ikan, wau puyuh and wau bayan.
wayang n. [Malay, orig. Javanese Malay] A local theatrical performance.
Comb.: wayang kulit shadow play, theatrical performance where shadow images are projected before a backlit screen; wayang peranakan theatrical performance where the characters speak the Peranakan language.
2001 The Star 2 Oct. A cultural theatre showcasing Chinese operas, wayang kulit and traditional music is more appropriate and so much more tasteful.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri n. Also Yang di-Pertua Negri. [Malay, lit. “Ruler of State”] 1 The title of the State Governors of the Malaysian states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. 2 One of the four largely symbolic heads of state or Governors of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak.
1 2001 New Straits Times 17 Sept. About 3,000 people thronged Padang Merdeka here today to watch a parade which was held to commemorate the 71st official birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Sakaran Dandai and Malaysia Day. 2 2001 The Star 2 Sept. Once dissolution is consented to by the Yang di-Pertua Negri, he said a writ could be issued within four days and the required minimum of seven clear days given for campaigning immediately followed by a day’s polling during the two-week school holidays.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong n. [Malay, lit. “Supreme Ruler”] 1 The official title of the head of state of Malaysia. 2 The head of state of Malaysia: since Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is largely ceremonial. The position is sometimes glossed as King in English.
1 2001 New Straits Times 24 Nov. Sultan Sharafuddin was proclaimed the ninth Sultan of Selangor On Thursday following the demise of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah on Wednesday. 2 2001 New Straits Times 22 Nov. AS the nation mourns the passing of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah al-Haj, his subjects will always remember him as “the Ruler with the soul of the people”. He was installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1999. The King, who celebrated his 75th birthday in June, performed his duties outstandingly with dignity and honour.
Yang di-Pertuan Besar n. [Malay, lit. “Great Ruler”] 1 The official title of the ruler of the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. 2 The ruler of the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
1 2001 The Star 15 Nov. When asked why none of the assemblymen had taken part in debating the budget, Isa said it was because all of them had participated in debating the opening speech by Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, which covered many aspects. 3 Nov. 2 2001 The Star As eldest son of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, he wears a number of hats with ease and flair.
zapin n. [Malay] Malay folk dance and music with Islamic influence.
2001 New Straits Times 9 Oct. The dance infuses elements of zapin, silat and modern and traditional elements that are quick and funny.
zina n. [Malay, orig. Arabic] Illicit sexual intercourse, an offence under the Syariah law of Malaysia.
2001 New Straits Times 23 Sept. Zina (unlawful sexual intercourse): punishable by stoning to death.