Art
Malaysia has attempted to preserve its traditional art forms despite the influence of the outside world. Mak yong is a traditional form of Malay drama in which the performers sing, dance, and act out heroic tales about sultans and princesses. It's followed by an orchestra called a ' Gamelan' with every performances consisting mainly of metal percussion instruments including gongs, xylophones, and drums.
Other artistic forms include Wayang kulit - a traditional theater art-form using puppets and shadow-play to tell the epic tales of the Ramayana. Bunga Malai or Garland Making is an integral part of the cultural heritage of Malaysian Indians for religious occasions like weddings, moving house, or welcoming an important guest. Silat - the stylized Malay Art of Self defense combines a sequence of supple movements, which enables a person to defend himself under provocation. The use of Blow Pipe or Sumpit , used by the tribal people with their magnificent hunting skills, is an integral part of martial art. Crafts such as batik, weaving and silver and brass work are also quite popular.