ABSTRACT
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia comprising Peninsula Malaysia and the northern part of Borneo Island. By Asian standards, it has a relatively small population of 28.3 million that breaks down to three main ethnic groups: the indigenous Malays who are dominant (two-thirds of the population) and Islamic, the Chinese, and the Indians. The latter two are migrants or the posterity of former migrants to Malaysia. Maintaining peace among ethnicities and promoting economic prosperity are two overarching, intertwined, and sometimes con½icting goals of Malaysia to which all policies must contribute. Striking an appropriate balance between the two goals is a great challenge for the country, with each administration adjusting its position on this delicate question.
