May
2003
World
View
The Malay of Malaysia
Malaysia, land of exotic beauty and charm, covered
with tropical rain forests and dense jungles, supports
an abundant diversity of plant and animal life. Like
the land that sustains them, the Malay people are
both gracious and hospitable. Essentially, 100% of
the Malay are Muslims, yet true to their culture,
they present a gentle face of Islam. While most Malay
children receive a basic education in a public school,
many also spend part of the day in religious schools
where they learn to pray and read the Koran.
“We think it’s important to let the
children know what Islam is all about from a very
young age, tell[ing] them what the meaning of life
is from an Islamic point of view so that they will
be better people when they grow up,” an Islamic
Elementary School teacher advocates.
The Malaysian government increasingly supports efforts
to advance Islam in all aspects of society. They
carefully wash their bodies before they pray, believing
the water will cleanse them and make them more acceptable
to Allah.
Malays, for the most part, have successfully blended
their faith with modern ways. Malay women experience
greater freedom than women in other Islamic countries.
They can participate in government, pursue higher
education or work in offices, factories or shops.
Though numerous families live in modern homes and
drive expensive cars, they strive to preserve their
cultural roots.
A growing phenomenon in Malaysia is the emergence
of strong evangelical church. While churches are
overflowing with new believers, these Christians
are primarily from Chinese and Indian backgrounds.
Only a handful of Malays have chosen to follow Jesus
Christ. One reason could be that there are Islamic
laws that keep people from reaching the Malays, imposing
jail sentences or fines on those who attempt to reach
them. With so few telling them, Malays know little
about true Christianity. In general, they are content
with life, identifying with Islam to the point that
they believe that a Malay who gives up his religion
will cease to be a Malay.
Islam came peacefully to the people of Malaysia,
through Arab and Indian merchants in the 8th and
9th centuries. The Malay absorbed the teachings of
Islam into their existing beliefs and practices.
Today, from remote rural villages to busy urban centers,
streams of men pour in to the local mosques for Friday
prayers. Some Malays still believe that illness can
be caused by spells and evil spirits and will seek
treatment from a spiritual healer.
Malaysia is a peninsula reaching from the Asian
continent into the waters of the Indian Ocean. It’s
strategic location on one of the world’s major
trade routes, made it a choice acquisition for colonial
powers: first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and
finally the British. Malaysia won it’s independence
in 1957.
Despite of 500 years of domination, though, these
foreign powers barely touched the heart and soul
of the Malay. Modern Malaysia is a rich tapestry
of peoples and cultures where Muslim mosques, Hindu
temples and Buddhist shrines stand side by side.
Ethnic Chinese Malaysians steer the economy while
the Malay hold tightly to the political reigns. Malaysia’s
government is a democracy, led by a ceremonial monarch
and sultans who rule most of the states.
According to the constitution, a Malay is one who
speaks the Malay language and conforms to Malay custom.
The 23 million Malay people spread throughout Southeast
Asia, from Thailand to Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei,
and Malaysia. A majority of the Malay, 12 million,
live in Malaysia, where they constitute just over
half of its population. Ethnic Chinese and Indians
represent significant minorities.
Traditionally, the Malay are fishermen and farmers.
They proudly refer to themselves as “sons of
the soil”. Life in the village is simple, slow
and easy. Traditions and the arts play an important
part in every day life, especially in the village.
A Malay places great emphasis on family and community
and less on the individual. Malays are well-known
for their production of batik cloth. The most popular
Malay tradition, however, is eating. Food is abundant,
exquisitely seasoned, and best of all, inexpensive.
Malays greet each other with “Have you eaten
yet?”
Despite the agricultural heritage, the cities in
Malaysia are exploding. Foreign investments have
made the country one of the fastest developing in
Southeast Asia. Many Malay are drawn to the cities,
enticed by material prosperity and a desire for a
better life. This economic prosperity has fostered
an enormous sense of pride. From the world’s
tallest building, seen in the Sean Connery movie,
Entrapment, to the world’s highest flagpole,
Malaysia strives to have the biggest and be the best.
Source:
Adapted from Caleb Project's The Unreached Peoples
video series, “The Malay of Malaysia”
Copyright 1999 Caleb Project. Internet: info@cproject.com,
web: http://www.goshen.net/calebproject
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