Revised: 5/12/2017

COURSE STRUCTURE

Programme: All Certificate programmes

1. NAME OF COURSE/MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO MALAYSIAN CULTURE

2. COURSE CODE: MPU1313

3. NAME(S) OF ACADEMIC STAFF : Muhammad Remy Bin Othman

4. RATIONALE FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE COURSE/MODULE IN THE PROGRAMME:

As a U3 module (expansion of knowledge about Malaysia) under the Mata Pelajaran Umum (MPU).

5.
SEMESTER AND YEAR OFFERED : Year 1
6. Total Student
Total Face to Face
Independent Learning
STUDENT LEARNING TIME (SLT) Time
L T P O A OL IL
L = Lecture 14 14 0 0 3 14 75
T = Tutorial
P = Practical
O= Others
A= Assessment
OL=Online Learning
IL= Independent Learning

7. CREDIT VALUE: 3

8. PREREQUISITE (if any): None

9. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. to identify and compare the differences of languages, religions and beliefs among the main ethnic groups in
Malaysia.
2. to identify and appreciate Malaysian traditional arts and craft.
3. to research and analyse the main features such as food, leisure, lifestyle, festive celebration, customs, tradition
and etc. that relate to the culture of a particular local community in Malaysia.
4. to apply the appropriate customary code of polite behaviour in the multicultural society of Malaysia.
10. TRANSFERABLE SKILLS :
Transferable skills such as communication skills, problem solving skills, decision making skills, team work skills
are some of the skills developed through oral presentations, project reports, tutorial sessions, individual and group –
based coursework.

11. TEACHING-LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGY :

The learning outcomes of the course are achieved through a combination of lectures, tutorials, field trips, learning
materials posted on our learning management system. Assessment would comprise of a combination of formative
and summative assessment.

12. SYNOPSIS:
This course enables students to gain understanding of the diversity of local cultures through field observation and
analysis. Students will be able to study the differences between the local community in terms of their language,
lifestyle, customs and tradition, architecture, religious beliefs and practices. Students will have the opportunity to
work in a group project to research on festive celebrations of a particular ethnic group and present the findings. In
addition, the module also allows students to gain a brief understanding and general insights of Malaysian etiquette.

13. MODE OF DELIVERY: Lectures, Tutorial, Practical/Laboratory work, delivered in a combination of Face to Face
and Online mode.

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14. ASSESSMENT METHODS AND TYPES:

Method Types** Weightage (%)

Assignment 1 15
Assignment 2 15
Continuous Assessment Test 1 10
Project 20
Presentation 10
Summative Assessment Final Examination 30

15. MAPPING OF THE COURSE / MODULE TO THE PROGRAMME AIMS :

Programme Aims (Programme Educational Objectives)

COURSE
PEO 1 PEO 2 PEO 3 PEO 4
MPU1313 √ √

16. MAPPING OF THE COURSE / MODULE TO THE PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES :

Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

No. Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
To identify and compare the
differences of languages,
1 religions and beliefs among √ √ √ √
the main ethnic groups in
Malaysia.
To identify and appreciate
2 Malaysian traditional arts and √ √ √ √
craft.
To research and analyse the
main features such as food,
leisure, lifestyle, festive
3 celebration, customs, tradition √ √ √ √
and etc. that relate to the
culture of a particular local
community in Malaysia.
To apply the appropriate
customary code of polite
4 behaviour in the multicultural √ √ √ √
society of Malaysia.

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17. CONTENT OUTLINE OF THE COURSE/MODULE AND THE SLT PER TOPIC:

Total
Sessions Topics LO L T P OL
O A IL
1–2 Module briefing 2 1 1 0 1 0 3 75
Introduction to Malaysia Culture
Background:
• Ethnics Group
• Policies and controversies

3–4 Multi-ethnic, Multicultural, 3 1 1 0 1

Multilingual Society
• Language: Malay, Chinese,
Tamil, etc.
• Religion and Beliefs: Islam;
Chinese Religions;
Hinduism; Sikhism;
Christianity

Assignment 1 briefing: Cultural

research of a particular local
community.

5–6 Malaysia Art and Culture 1 1 1 0 1

• Music, dance and drama:
Gendang, Rebab, Serunai,
Seruling, Mak Yong, Zapin,
Dondang Sayang, Kertok,
Ghazal, etc.
7–8 Field Trip: Explore into the local 4 1 1 0 1
social culture
Tutorial of Assignment 1

9 – 12 Presentation of Assignment 1: 2 2 0 0 2
• Getting to know the cultural
differences of local
communities through
findings and presentations
from different assignment
groups

13 – 14 Malaysia Art and Craft 1 1 1 0 1

• Batik and Songket
• Weaving
• Pewter Making
• Silver and Brass Works

Assignment 2 briefing (Group):

Students will be assigned to research
on festival or celebration of a
particular ethnic group.

15 – 16 Malaysia Architecture 1 1 1 0 1
• Ethnic Influences
• Foreign influences

17 – 18 Taste and Flavours of Malaysia 1 1 1 0 1

• The popular cuisine
• Ethnic influences: Malaysian
Indian cuisine; Malaysian
Chinese cuisine; Malay
cuisine; Nyonya cuisine
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17. CONTENT OUTLINE OF THE COURSE/MODULE AND THE SLT PER TOPIC:

Total
Sessions Topics LO L T P OL
O A IL
19 – 20 Festivals and Holidays 1 1 1 0 1
• Types of Holidays
• Religion and ethnic holidays

21 – 24 Presentation of Assignment 2 2 2 2 0 2
(Group):
Each group will present how different
ethnic groups in Malaysia celebrates
the following festivals:
• Hari Raya Puasa/Haji
• Chinese New Year
• Hungry Ghost Festival
• Mid-Autumn Festival
• Dumpling Festival
• Thaipusam
• Deepavali
• Vesak Day
• Gawai Dayak
• Tadau Kaamatan
• Christmas Day

25 – 26 Malaysian Etiquette – Part 1 1 1 1 0 1

• The Concept of Face
• Meeting and Greeting
• Honorifics
• Body Language

27 – 28 Malaysian Etiquette – Part 2 1 1 1 0 1

• Dressed for Success
• Before entering a
home/mosque
• Handy Behaviour
• Gift giving etiquette
• Business etiquette

TOTAL 14 14 0 14 0 3 75

Lecture (L), Tutorial (T), Practical (P), O (Others), Assessment (A), OL (Online learning); Independent Learning
(IL); Learning Outcome (LO)

18. MAIN REFERENCE(S) SUPPORTING COURSE:

 Norliza Rofli, Dato’ & Khoo, Eddin. (2009) Malaysian Culture: An Introduction, Jabatan Kebudayaan dan
Kesenian Negara, Kuala Lumpur.
 King, Victor. (2008) Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. Kuperard.
 Yeoh, Seng Guan. (2011) Media, Culture and Society in Malaysia. Taylor & Francis.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
 Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara 2015, Official Website. Available from:
http://www.jkkn.gov.my/en

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19. Other Additional Information (If Any):

Final Examination Format:

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Section A: 50 Multiple Choice Questions
Section B: 10 True and False questions

Grading Scale:
A+ (90-100), A (80-89), A- (75-79), B+ (70-74), B (65-69), B- (60-64), C+ (55-59), C (50-54), C- (45-49), D
(40-44), F (0-39), RP (Resit Pass)(50-100), RF (Resit Fail)(0-49)

Note:
1. A student must get a combined total of 50 %from the coursework and final exam components to pass.
2. The student has also to obtain at least a 20 % in the final exam component to pass.
3. A re-sit is allowed when the combined mark of both the coursework and final exams is between 45-
49% ( or a grade C-).

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