In this 21st century world, cultures have changed and so youth culture all over the world. In Malaysia, our youth cultures have made changes as the world’s culture change goes. Since Malaysia is a multi-cultural country so the culture of our youth today obviously has its varieties. From fashion to music and to the characteristics of Malaysian youth. Based on today’s fashion world, the young generations of today obviously have it ways to channel the influence of fashion into the youth culture. Seeing Malaysian youth, a lot of them are very trend following or some may say casual.
Since Malaysia is a country of many races, fashion for the youth culture has its variations. If you were to step into a shopping mall today, you can see the both guys and girls wearing skinny jeans, tank tops, h
...ot pants, checked shirts, converses and etc. Most fashion among our youth today is very globalize, taking from western countries like America, Britain and also from eastern countries like Taiwan, Japan or Korean. Besides being fashion globalize, Malaysian youth are also tradition based when it comes to clothing.
Being in a Muslim country like Malaysian, we still have our limits of expose sure of clothes. Unlike western country where people can just wear a bikini top and walk out to the street. According to Malaysian law, the clothes that the people wear can’t be too exposed. Till today, you can still see Malaysian youth wearing traditional clothes like the “baju kurung” for the Malays, “sari” for the Indians. But not for the Chinese youngsters, they don’t really wear their traditional clothes much, except for
special occasions. This shows how the youth of Malaysia still embrace their tradition and culture.
Traditional wears aren’t just seen out in the streets, but also in works places, example: on every Thursday, government school teachers are compulsory to wear “batik” clothes. Even now, school uniform have the “baju kurung” version. From casual wears to traditional wears are seen on Malaysian youths today, but not just that. Malaysian youth still have their kind/style of different street wears. Which also based on western culture. Not just fashion have impacted Malaysian youth culture, music plays a big part of this culture too. Music has and still a big influence into many youths lives.
Like I have mention above Malaysia is a multi-culture country, for so music has its way into the Malaysian youth culture today. From the very famous K-Pop to Malay pop and not forgetting Bollywood music. Even from pop-rock to indie and jazz. In Malaysia, with races of Malays, Chinese and Indian Malaysian still listen to their root music like Malay songs, Chinese songs and Indian songs. Malaysian youth not just listens to modern pop or rock music; they are those that like different genre of music, for example: indie, jazz, soul, R&B, new age rock and Golden Oldies.
From a small observation and research, most Malaysian Chinese youth are very into the popular K-Pop music, not just K-pop that they enjoy they also enjoy songs from a group called LMFAO, which is categorized as a kind of ‘techno’ music or some known as ‘trans’ music, where by people get addicted to it easily. Other popular music or singers from the western
scene that Malaysian youth enjoy are: Adele, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, etc. From this varieties of different taste of music among Malaysian youth, its obvious that it’s a big influence by other country and culture.
Characteristics play a big part in Malaysian youth culture. Unlike other countries, we’re the kind that is more laid-back people, take things slow, relaxingly just let things flow. Comparing to other country, our youth is submissive. This is because Malaysia has a conservative education, and also that most youth that grow up in the 90’s are educated to be honorable in the family. In Malaysia, there is a certain infamous culture that is called “Mamak Culture”. This culture is known because Malaysian youth are known to stay up till late night, some even till dawn.
This is the so-called “Mamak Culture”. What we see in our Malaysian youth today is definitely influence by the world culture from other countries, and also influenced by our own root traditions. What makes Malaysian youth special is our multi-cultural background. Even if the world culture changes along with Malaysian youth culture, its proud to see Malaysian youth to embrace tradition too. Hoping to see how the Malaysian youth culture will change in time but without changing tradition.
