Some observations

Malaysia has 3 main ethnic groups; Malays (originally from Thailand and Indonesia), Chinese and Indian. There are others of course, including the indigenous Orang Asli, but these 3 make up the bulk of the population.  I find it really interesting that although they have been in Malaysia for centuries and, generally speaking, tolerate each other and get on ok, there has been very little assimilation.   People from Indian or Chinese backgrounds regard themselves as Indians or Chinese who happen to live in Malaysia and be Malaysian citizens,  rather than Malaysian. And they stick together.  As you walk down the street it is obvious which group the people around you are from. They look different, dress differently and speak different languages. There appears to be very few marriages between the ethnic groups.

Our driver in Ipoh, Mr Viswa, was a 4th generation person of Indian descent but he still regarded himself as Indian. He was as bigotted as anyone I have met. In his opinion Malays are lazy, Chinese are smart and Indians work hard.

This is the result of over 500 hundred years of multiculturalism.  Is it, or will it, be any different in Australia?