Source: The Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, November 8, 2001: The number of Malays and other indigenous groups has gone up by 4.5% in the past ten years, a gain of 4 million people, according to the most recent census reports released November 6 by the government. The percentage of Hindus dropped from 7.9% to 7.7%, and the percentage of Chinese from 28.1% to 26%. In absolute numbers, Indians, who are 82% Hindus, increased from 1.45 million in 1991 to 1.79 million in 2000. In the same time period, the Bumiputera, or native Malays, increased from 11.13 million to 15.1 million. The government is actively working for population increase through the subsidy of large families of Bumiputera, and once set a goal of 70 million people by 2020. In 1957, The Chinese comprised 37% of the total population, and the Indians 10.3%. In 1991, Muslims were 58.6% of the population and in 2000, 60.4%. In 2000, Hindus were 6.3%, Christians 9.1% and Buddhists 19.2% of the total population.