Malays

(Malay: Melayu Jawi: )

Are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay
Peninsula, easternSumatra, southernmost parts of Thailand, south coast Burma, island
of Singapore, coastal Borneo including Brunei, West Kalimantan, and
coastal Sarawak and Sabah, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations -
that collectively known as the Alam Melayu. These locations today are part of the
modern nations of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Burma and Thailand.
Throughout their history, the Malays have been known as a coastal-trading community
with fluid cultural characteristics. Theyabsorbed numerous cultural features of other
local ethnic groups, such as those of Minang, Acehnese, and to some degree Javanese
culture; however Malay culture differs by being more overtly Islamic than the multi-
religious Javanese culture. Ethnic Malays are also the major source of the ethnocultural
development of the related Betawi, Banjar and Peranakan cultures, as well as the
development of Malay trade and creole languages like Ambonese Malay, Baba
Malay, Betawi Malay and Manado Malay.
Origin
Also known as Melayu asli (aboriginal Malays) or Melayu purba (ancient Malays),
the Proto-Malays are of Austronesian origin and thought to have migrated to the Malay
archipelago in a long series of migrations between 2500 and 1500 BC.
[30]
The
Encyclopedia of Malaysia: Early History, has pointed out a total of three theories of the
origin of Malays:
The Yunnan theory, Mekong river migration (published in 1889) - The theory of
Proto-Malays originating from Yunnan is supported by R.H Geldern, J.H.C Kern, J.R
Foster, J.R Logen, Slamet Muljana and Asmah Haji Omar. Other evidences that
support this theory include: stone tools found in Malay Archipelago are analogous to
Central Asian tools, similarity of Malay customs and Assam customs.
The New Guinea theory (published in 1965) - The proto-Malays are believed to be
seafarers knowledgeable in oceanography and possessing agricultural skills. They
moved around from island to island in great distances between modern day New
Zealand and Madagascar, and they served as navigation guides, crew and labour to
Indian, Arab, Persian and Chinese traders for nearly 2000 years. Over the years
they settled at various places and adopted various cultures and religions.
The Taiwan theory (published in 1997) - The migration of a certain group
of Southern Chinese occurred 6,000 years ago, some moved to Taiwan
(today's Taiwanese aborigines are their descendents), then to the Philippines and
later to Borneo (roughly 4,500 years ago) (today's Dayak and other groups). These
ancient people also split with some heading to Sulawesi and others progressing
into Java, and Sumatra, all of which now speaks languages that belongs to the
Austronesian Language family. The final migration was to the Malay Peninsula
roughly 3,000 years ago. A sub-group from Borneo moved to Champa in modern-
day Central and South Vietnam roughly 4,500 years ago. There are also traces of
the Dong Son and Hoabinhian migration from Vietnam and Cambodia. All these
groups share DNA and linguistic origins traceable to the island that is today Taiwan,
and the ancestors of these ancient people are traceable to southern China.
Way of Life
The people of Malaysia have a variety of lifestyles. Important among ethnic Malays are
respect and obedience toward parents and elders, community self-help, and, in rural
areas, the maintenance of law and order through cooperation and respect for the village
headman. Marriages, burial customs, and other aspects of Malay life conform to Islamic
law. In general, religion plays a major role in each groups way of life. Wedding
ceremonies of ethnic Indians, for example, follow Hindu traditions, whereby the wedding
takes place on a day and hour prescribed by a Hindu astrologer. Traditional Chinese
family structure is patrilineal and patriarchal; as in China, sons are preferred over
daughters in order to maintain the family surname through descent. Kinship ties among
the extended Chinese family are very strong and carry into the business environment.
Because ethnic Chinese own many Malaysian businesses, these ties hinder
occupational mobility among Malays.
Rural ways of life differ significantly from urban lifestyles. In East Malaysia, about three-
quarters of the population is rural. Many indigenous ethnic groups, including the Iban
(Sea Dayaks), Bidayuh (Land Dayaks), and Kadazan, practice shifting cultivation (also
known as slash-and-burn agriculture). In this type of agriculture, trees and grasses are
burned from an area so a crop may be planted; after several seasons, the land is
abandoned and a new area is burned for planting. These groups live mostly in single-
family housing units, but many indigenous people in East Malaysia live in longhouses, a
traditional dwelling of Borneo.







Literature
Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa inJawi text. Also known as the Kedah Annals, it is
an ancient Malay literature that chronicles the bloodline of Merong
Mahawangsaand the foundation of Kedah.
Main articles: Malay literature and Malay folklore
The rich oral literature and classical literature of the Malays contain a great
number of portraits of the people, from the servant to the minister, from the judge
to the Rajas, from the ancient to the very contemporary periods, which together
form the amorphous identity of the Malays.
Considering the softness and mellifluence of the Malay language, which lends
itself easily to the requirements of rhyme and rhythm, the originality and beauty in
Malay literature can be assessed in its poetical elements. Among the forms of
poetry in Malay literature are thePantun, Syair and Gurindam. The earliest form
of Malay literature was the oral literature and its central subjects are
traditional folklore relating to nature, animals and people. The folklore were
memorized and passed from one generation of storytellers to the next. Many of
these tales were also written down by penglipur lara (storytellers) for
example: Hikayat Malim Dewa, Hikayat Malim Deman, Hikayat Raja
Donan, Hikayat Anggun Cik Tunggal, and Hikayat Awang Sulung Merah Muda.
When Indian influences made their way to the Malay Archipelago around 2000
years ago, Malay literature began incorporating Indian elements. Literature of this
time is mostly translations of Sanskrit literature and romances, or at least some
productions inspired by such, and is full of allusions to Hindu mythology.
Probably to this early time may be traced such works as Hikayat Seri Rama (a
free translation of theRamayana), Hikayat Bayan Budiman (an adaptation
of ukasaptati) and Hikayat Panca Tanderan (an adaptation of Hitopadesha).
The era of classical Malay literature started after the arrival of Islam and the
invention of Jawi script (Arabic based Malay script). Since then, Islamic beliefs
and concepts began to make its mark on Malay literature. The Terengganu
Inscription Stone, which is dated to 1303, is the earliest known narrative Malay
writing. The stone is inscribed with an account of history, law, and romance in
Jawi script. At its height, Melaka sultanate was not only the center of
Islamisation, but also the center of Malay cultural expressions including literature.
During this era, notable Middle Eastern literary works were translated and
religious books were written in Malay language. Among famous translated works
areHikayat Muhammad Hanafiah and Hikayat Amir Hamzah. The rise of Malay
literature during the period was also penned by other homegrown literary
composition coloured by mystical Sufism of the middle-east, the notable works
of Hamzah Fansuri such as Asrar al-Arifin (Rahsia Orang yang Bijaksana; The
Secret of the Wise), Sharab al-Asyikin (Minuman Segala Orang yang Berahi; The
Drink of All the Passion) and Zinat al-Muwahidin (Perhiasan Sekalian Orang
yang Mengesakan; The Ornament of All the Devoted) can be seen as the magna
opera of the era.
The most important piece of Malay literary works is perhaps the famed Malay
Annals or Sulalatus Salatin. It was called "the most famous, distinctive and best
of all Malay literary works" by one of the most prominent scholars in Malay
studies, Sir Richard O. Winstedt. The exact date of its composition and the
identity of its original author are uncertain, but under the order of Sultan Alauddin
Riaayat Shah III of Johor in 1612, Tun Sri Lanang oversaw the editorial and
compilation process of the Malay Annals.
In the 19th century, the Malay literature received some notable additions through
writings of Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir, a famous Melaka-born munshi of Singapore.
Abdullah is regarded as the most cultured Malay who ever wrote, one of the
greatest innovators in Malay letters and the father of modern Malay literature. His
most important works are the Hikayat Abdullah (an autobiography), Kisah
Pelayaran Abdullah ke Kelantan (an account of his trip for the government
to Kelantan), and Kisah Pelayaran Abdullah ke Mekah (a narrative of
his pilgrimage to Mecca 1854). His work was an inspiration to future generations
of writers and marks an early stage in the transition from classical Malay
literature to modern Malay literature.
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Beliefs
Religion
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Bruneion the eve of Ramadhan. The
wealthy kingdom adopted Melayu Islam Beraja (Malay Islamic Monarchy) as the
national philosophy since its independence in 1984.
Main article: Malay Islamic identity
The early Malay communities were largely animists, believing in the existence
of semangat (spirits) in everything.
[43]
Around the opening of the common
era, Hinduism and Buddhism were introduced by Indian traders to the Malay
Archipelago, where they flourished until the 13th century, just before the arrival of
Islam brought by Arab, Indian and Chinese Muslim traders.
In the 15th century, Islam of the orthodox Sunni sect flourished in the Malay
world under the Melaka Sultanate. In contrast with Hinduism, which transformed
early Malay society only superficially, Islam can be said to have really taken root
in the hearts and minds of the Malays. Since this era, the Malays have
traditionally had a close identification with Islam and they have not changed their
religion since. This identity is so strong that it is said to become Muslim was
to masuk Melayu (to enter Malayness).
Nevertheless, the earlier beliefs having deeper roots, they have maintained
themselves against the anathemas of Islam and indeed Sufism or
the mysticism of Shia Islam have become intertwined among the Malays, with the
spirits of the earlier animistic world and some elements of Hinduism. Following
the 1970s, Islamic revival (also referred as re-Islamisation throughout theMuslim
world, many traditions that contravene the teaching of Islam and contain
elements of shirk were abandoned by the Malays. Among these traditions was
the mandi safar festival (Safar bath), a bathing festival to achieve spiritual purity,
in which can be discerned features similar to some of those of the Durga Puja of
India.
Approximately 100% of modern ethnic Malays are the adherents
of Sunni Islamand the most important Malay festivals are those of Islamic origin -
Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Awal Muharram, and Maulidur Rasul. It
is considered "apostasy" for Malays to convert out of Islam in Malaysia.