CELEBRATING ASEAN'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY
This year, we celebrate Malaysia’s 68th Independence Day and 62nd Malaysia Day alongside our neighbours, as we mark 58 years as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) family. We are honoured to host the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia once again, marking ten years since it was last held in Kuala Lumpur in 2015.
Though we come from different cultures, speak different languages and practise different traditions,
together we create a region rich in colour, flavour, and harmony.
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STANDING STRONG SIDE-BY-SIDE
Just like Malaysians, each of us brings something unique to the table - adding a little more magic to the mix!
Let’s take a closer look at our neighbours and learn how they each earned their unique monikers.
🇰🇭 Land of Peace and Prosperity
🇮🇩 Emerald of the Equator
🇱🇦 Land of a Million Elephants
It stems from Brunei’s full name - Brunei Darussalam, in which the latter name means ‘Abode of Peace’. It reflects the country’s history, social harmony and a focus on peace and prosperity.
The country is formerly known by its people as Kampuchea in the Khmer language. Its history dates back to 802 AD, when the Khmer Empire was founded and grew in wealth, power and religious influence.
Also known as ‘Zamrud Khatulistiwa’ in Indonesian. The name reflects the country’s geographic location along the equator and its lush, green tropical rainforests that look like emeralds when seen from above.
In 1353, King Fa Ngum founded the Lan Xang Kingdom, which translates to ‘Land of a Million Elephants’. Its name reflected the abundance of wild elephants that lived in the area. Elephants symbolise strength, power, and royal might in Lao culture.
🇵🇭 Pearl of the Orient Seas
Home to a diverse ethnic and cultural landscape, our country is home to Malays, Chinese, Indians and indigenous cultures contributing to a unique blend of traditions, religions and cuisines!
From the skies, glittering golden stupas and pagodas can be easily seen dotting the country. On the ground, you won’t go far without encountering one - and there are many throughout the country!
Its name refers to the country’s natural beauty and its abundant resources of pearls that were valued for their beauty and rarity. It was a moniker given by Spanish colonisers as far back as 1751!
According to legend, a Palembang prince named Sang Nila Utama was shipwrecked and washed ashore on an island where he saw a creature believed to be a lion. He then named the island “Singa Pura”, meaning “Lion City” in Sanskrit.
🇻🇳 Land of the Ascending Dragon
A nation known for its friendly and hospitable nature. The Thai people are celebrated for their warmth, kindness, and the many cultural practices and festivities that foster a strong sense of community.
It was nicknamed after the country’s geographical shape on the world map, which resembles a dragon rising from the sea, with its head in the north and tail in the south. In Vietnamese folklore, the dragon is a symbol of strength and power.
Though we may not always share the same geography, language or culture, it’s comforting to know that we have such unique and interesting neighbours - people we can count on and grow alongside. After all, a truly inclusive and sustainable future begins when we stand beside each other as neighbours, as partners, as one.
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