Malaysian immigrants
Malaysian immigrants are individuals who have moved from Malaysia, often seeking better economic opportunities and stability. The historical context of Malaysian immigration, particularly to the United States, began in the late 1950s following Malaysia's independence, which was marked by political instability and economic challenges. Emigration was driven largely by economic factors, including frustration with limited investment opportunities in Malaysia. Many Malaysians sought to establish small businesses in the U.S., attracted by the potential for greater financial success and security. The revaluation of Malaysia's currency in 2005 further incentivized immigration, as individuals believed that investing in American dollars would yield better returns.
Throughout the late twentieth century and into the early twenty-first century, the number of Malaysian immigrants fluctuated, particularly in response to economic conditions in both Malaysia and the U.S. By 2010, approximately 26,179 individuals of Malaysian descent resided in the United States, a figure that grew to around 38,000 by 2019. This increase has led to the formation of vibrant Malaysian communities in major urban centers like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston, reflecting the cultural diversity and contributions of Malaysian immigrants to American society.
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Malaysian immigrants
Significance:Immigrants from the Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia began entering the United States in significant numbers after Malaysia (called Malaya until 1963) became independent in 1957. Malaysian immigration to the United States has never been large, but Malaysian immigrants have established significant communities in a number of western American cities. Malaysian immigration has tended to rise and fall with economic fluctuations in Southeast Asia.
When the British-ruled Federation of Malaya became independent in 1957, it was beset with political instability because its much larger neighbor Indonesia initially objected to its creation as an independent state. Internal strife, combined with the outbreak of armed hostilities between the new government and various groups of Chinese communist guerrillas, prompted many Malayan citizens to emigrate to the United States.
American business interests in Malaysia go back to the era of British rule. Numerous large American corporations have large investments in Malaysia; these have included General Electric, Chevron, and Coca-Cola. During the late twentieth century, the United States became Malaysia’s primary trading partner, and the two countries have generally had friendly relations.
Since the 1960s, Malaysian immigration to the United States has generally fluctuated with economic ups and downs in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. In fact, economic forces have been the primary factor drawing Malaysians to the United States. Frustrated by limited investment opportunities in Malaysia, many immigrants come to the United States to invest in small businesses. Emigration to the United States became even more appealing after Malaysia’s currency was revalued in 2005. Many Malaysians believed they would be better off in the long run by investing their capital in American dollars.
During the last decade of the twentieth century, the number of Malaysians who immigrated to the United States was three times greater than it had been during the previous decade. The global recession of the early twenty-first century prompted even greater levels of immigration as unemployment and inflation rates in Malaysia rose. By the 2010 census, 26,179 people of Malaysian descent were living in the United States. By 2019, that number had risen to 38,000. Evidence of the growing numbers of Malaysians in the United States could be seen in the development of sizable Malaysian enclaves in such cities as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston.
Bibliography
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