Kuala Lumpur - a vibrant and diverse city
Visit any city for the first time, and within minutes you’ll get a feel for its pulse just by walking its streets and watching its people go about their day-to-day lives. Upon arriving in Kuala Lumpur, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the people of all different races and nationalities living and working together. Malaysia has a population of 28.3 million people, and its capital Kuala Lumpur is its largest city with approximately 1.8 million people.
In Kuala Lumpur, you’re likely to hear a mix of different Asian languages being spoken, such as Malay (the national language), Chinese and Tamil. This is because the city’s population is made up of several dominant races including Malays, Chinese and Indians. While the local dialects are often used, there’s no need to worry if you need to ask for directions in Kuala Lumpur as most people living there also speaks English well and are very friendly and helpful to tourists. Many public and commercial signs throughout Kuala Lumpur are also written in English.The Malay population forms the majority race in Malaysia, and it has the strongest influence on the country’s cultural, social and political aspects. The Chinese are the second-largest race, and form the country’s commercial and business backbone. Because of this, many Chinese reside in Kuala Lumpur—as it is Malaysia’s financial and commercial centre. The Indians are the third-largest race and as many are also involved in Malaysia’s business sector, there is a significant Indian population living in Kuala Lumpur. One of the best things about Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is really something which the local population takes for granted—that it is a melting pot of different races living together in relative peace and religious harmony.
While Islam is Malaysia’s official religion and counts the most number of followers among its population, the country is really a multi-religious one with several other religions being widely practiced. These include Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Chinese religions such as Confucianism and Taoism.
This diverse population that call Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia home also celebrate their own religious and cultural festivals in a big way—and over the years, these colorful and vibrant festivals have grown to become regular tourist attractions on their own.
Among the major festivals celebrated in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia are Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Thaipusam, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Christmas. Do note that the dates for some religious festivals vary slightly each year, so it’s a good idea to check the latest official information before planning your trip to Kuala Lumpur. Also be sure to pack a good camera as some of the sights you’ll see—such as the vel kavadi during Thaipusam—are so unique you’ll want to capture them forever.