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We, the Malays, fight for national culture and traditions
As Malaysia sees a post-pandemic resurgence in the Malay ethno-nationalist movement, participants and activists need to engage in discussion to preempt and prevent its descent into nonviolent extremism and hate.
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A woman holds the Malaysian national flag during a rehearsal [on DATE] of the Independence Day parade in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s Independence Day falls on Aug. 31. (AFP/Getty Image/Saeed Khan)
I
t is becoming more apparent to my colleagues and me that the fight for nationalistic space in Malaysia is Malay ethno-nationalism cloaked in Islamist politics. As the pro-Malay voices on social media such as TikTok grow louder, demanding non-Malays to obey the Federal Constitution and recognize their position as pendatang (outsiders), what we really have today is a call to return to Malay-ness.
As I ventured into interviews and research for my upcoming book, Malayland (any publishers out there?), and met young and mature Malay nationalists, what had been once viewed as a fringe Malay community of conspiracy theorists and lovers of Malay traditional culture who were “loud” on Facebook and in cultural conferences has become a political movement of its own.
My informal study began in 2018 after the Anti ICERD Rally in Malaysia about protecting Malay rights and Islam, where I observed young men wearing tanjak, the Malay traditional headgear, participating in the protest. I realized that this was more than just a trend, but a spiritual journey of an identity that they felt was disappearing.
I wrote about this phenomenon in “Returning to Our Roots”, published on Stratsea.
As I spoke to more pro-Malay culture and traditions enthusiasts, even participating in a Malay traditional healing group during the COVID-19 pandemic (online, of course!), I observed the frenetic zeal of Malay men and women holding on to the vestiges of Malay culture and traditions.
If it was urgent during the pandemic, it is even more frenzied today. Social media shows this: More and more Malay nationalist and pro-Malay culture groups are popping up on these platforms.
Why is their cause more prominent now?
