Islam and Ethnicity in Malay Politics

• Main Author: Hussin Mutalib 1949- (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press Pte Ltd 1990
• Series: South-East Asian Social Science Monographs
• Subjects: Islam and politics > Malaysia; Ethnicity > Malaysia; Ethnicity > Religious aspects > Islam; Malaysia > Politics and goverment
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Item Description: I
• Physical Description: xv, 211 pages 25cm
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical reference and index
• ISBN: 0195889355 (hardback)

Covering the period 1963 to 1986, this study demonstrates the degree of influence that Islam exerts on Malay identity. Islam is not only a focal point in relations between Malays and non-Malays, but also in the Malay ethnic community since Islam is integral to its culture and identity and is involved in a tense, dialectical relationship with Malay ethnicity. The Malay tendency to opt for ethnic Malay-based solutions instead of an Islamic alternative results in an upsurge of Malay ethnic nationalism, and is here explored against the backdrop of the current Islamic resurgence in Malaysia.