the process of integration before cultural assimilation

Segregation

"Racial segregation is characterized by separation of people of different races in daily life when both are doing equal tasks, such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a restroom, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home. Segregation may be de jure (Latin, meaning "by law")—mandated by law—or de facto (also Latin, meaning "in fact"); de facto segregation may even exist illegally. De facto segregation can occur when members of different races strongly prefer to associate and do business with members of their own race, though a segregationist regime may be maintained by means ranging from racial discrimination in hiring and in the rental and sale of housing, to vigilante violence such as lynchings."

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Racial_segregation

In my opinion, this process has happen to Malaysia too. This can be prove it by refering to the history of Malaysia, when the British has come to Tanah Melayu. They have bring the imigrant from China and India to build up economy of Tanah Melayu. However, British has doing racial segregation to the Tanah Melayu with "pecah" and "perintah". In this racial segregation, British has let the imigrant from China at the town, imigrant from India at estet, and malay at the village.