Burmese history is a chronicle of wars and rebellions.
Ethnic divisions and political unrest have been common since the first Burman kingdom in the eleventh century. Consequently, the Burmese have lived in constant instability, fear, and bitterness. In the midst of such turmoil, some fled to the relative stability of other countries, such as Malaysia . Burma established diplomatic relations with Malaya in 1959, and those relations continued when the nation of Malaysia was formed in 1965. Despite differing political systems, the Burmese and Malay share commercial and economic interests.