Malaysian Malay
Encyclopedia
In Malaysia, the Malay population is defined by Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution
as someone born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim
, habitually speaks the Malay language
, adheres to Malay customs and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore
. This definition is loose enough to include people of a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and it therefore differs from the anthropological understanding of what constitutes an ethnic Malay.
This understanding of the meaning of "Malay" in Malaysia has led to the creation of an ethnoreligious
identity, where it has been suggested that a Malay cannot convert out of Islam as illustrated in the Federal Court
decision in the case of Lina Joy
. As of 2010 census, Malays made up 51% of the population of Malaysia. It is predicted that this proportion will rise due to birth rates higher than other ethnic groups under several encouragement programs by the federal government.
, habitually speaks the Malay language
, adheres to Malay customs, and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore
. As a result, Malay citizens who convert out of Islam are no longer considered Malay under the law. Likewise, a non-Malay Malaysian who converts to Islam can claim to be a Malay, provided they meet the other conditions. An example of this is Jeanne Abdullah
the wife of former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
, who is ethnically Portuguese-Eurasian
.
A higher education textbook conforming to the government Malaysian studies syllabus states: "The non-Malay thought that is when a non-Malay embraces Islam, he is said to masuk Melayu, or become a Malay, due to the ethnoreligious identity of the Malay-Muslim . That person is automatically assumed to be fluent in the Malay language and to be living like a Malay as a result of his close association with the Malays." Hari Singh similarly observes that "[to] convert to Islam" means "assuming [a] Malay identity (masuk Melayu). In essence, it requires the non-Malay to renounce his cultural heritage and adopt Malay ways and customs."
Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia
Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia defines various terms used in the Constitution. It has an important impact on Islam in Malaysia and the Malay people due to its definition of a Malay person under clause 2...
as someone born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, habitually speaks the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
, adheres to Malay customs and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. This definition is loose enough to include people of a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and it therefore differs from the anthropological understanding of what constitutes an ethnic Malay.
This understanding of the meaning of "Malay" in Malaysia has led to the creation of an ethnoreligious
Ethnoreligious
An ethnoreligious group is an ethnic group of people whose members are also unified by a common religious background...
identity, where it has been suggested that a Malay cannot convert out of Islam as illustrated in the Federal Court
Federal Court of Malaysia
The Federal Court of Malaysia is the highest court and the final appellate court in Malaysia. It is housed in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya...
decision in the case of Lina Joy
Lina Joy
Lina Joy is a Malay convert from Islam to Christianity. Born Azlina Jailani in 1964 in Malaysia to Muslim parents of Javanese descent, she converted at age 26. In 1998, she was baptized, and applied to have her conversion legally recognized by the Malaysian courts...
. As of 2010 census, Malays made up 51% of the population of Malaysia. It is predicted that this proportion will rise due to birth rates higher than other ethnic groups under several encouragement programs by the federal government.
Definition of a Malay
The article defines a Malay as a Malaysian citizen born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, habitually speaks the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
, adheres to Malay customs, and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. As a result, Malay citizens who convert out of Islam are no longer considered Malay under the law. Likewise, a non-Malay Malaysian who converts to Islam can claim to be a Malay, provided they meet the other conditions. An example of this is Jeanne Abdullah
Jeanne Abdullah
Tun Jeanne Abdullah née Danker is the current wife of former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. She married Abdullah Badawi while he was in office. She was his second wife after the death of the Badawi's first wife, Endon Mahmood....
the wife of former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
, who is ethnically Portuguese-Eurasian
Kristang people
The Kristang are a creole ethnic group of people of mixed Portuguese and Malaccan descent based in Malaysia and Singapore. People of this ethnicity have strong Dutch heritage, some British as well as Chinese and Indian heritage due to intermarriage, which was common among the Kristang...
.
A higher education textbook conforming to the government Malaysian studies syllabus states: "The non-Malay thought that is when a non-Malay embraces Islam, he is said to masuk Melayu, or become a Malay, due to the ethnoreligious identity of the Malay-Muslim . That person is automatically assumed to be fluent in the Malay language and to be living like a Malay as a result of his close association with the Malays." Hari Singh similarly observes that "[to] convert to Islam" means "assuming [a] Malay identity (masuk Melayu). In essence, it requires the non-Malay to renounce his cultural heritage and adopt Malay ways and customs."