INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

MGT 4810 : INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

GROUP PROJECT 2:
PROFILING THE MUSLIM MINORITY COMMUNITY IN CHINA

Adibah Binti Abd Aziz

(1118930)

Abdoul Nor Nisa

(1029576)

Sazatul Adillah Bt. Isa

(1113338)

Hasan Heng Bin Kamal Koh (1028819)

Saiful Imran Bin Ruslan

(1120831)

Section 1 : Group 1 INFINOS

PRESENTED FOR:
Dr. Azura Omar

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 2

BACKGROUND OF CHINA................................................................................................................. 3
COMMUNITY PROFILE ...................................................................................................................... 5
Demographic Data .............................................................................................................................. 5
Historical background Muslim in China ........................................................................................... 10
Cultural and Sub-Cultural Background............................................................................................. 11
Challenges of Muslim in China ........................................................................................................ 12
Trade interests vs. pan-Islamic solidarity ......................................................................................... 13
Education, Identity and Repression .................................................................................................. 13
ADVICES FOR MALAYSIAN BUSINESSES ................................................................................... 15
Halal Food Industry .......................................................................................................................... 15
Halal Products ................................................................................................................................... 15
Islamic Education.............................................................................................................................. 16
Islamic Banking Windows ................................................................................................................ 17
Expertise in Languages ..................................................................................................................... 17
CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 19
REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 20

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

China was well known as the biggest country in the world that has cheap labors and
doing excellent in many industries. The emerging market of China has opened the eyes of
other countries on their ability to conquer world market. Behind the success of China, there
are Muslims living and contributing to the country and the numbers are increasing day by
day. Among the Muslim minorities groups in China are Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik,
Tatar, Kirgiz, Salar, Dongxiang and Bonan that have their own differences.
Islam has once expanded into China through trade and diplomatic exchange. They
have their own identity and culture practices. Even though the country did not have any
restriction on religious belief, the Muslim minority in China have problems in having proper
Islamic teachings because they are always been informal in learning about Islam.
As they are only the minorities in China, there are a lot of other challenges that they
need to face in term of getting halal foods, to work in a non-Muslim societies and adapting
into political enforcement and legal system that did not consider religion as part of their
jurisdiction.
Looking up for business opportunity and capturing Chinas market by small
entrepreneur seems impossible. However, going into niche area and focusing on what the
societies there really need can be the main agenda for Malaysian businesses to invest and
making business in China. As Malaysia had become a Halal hub, it is convincing for Halal
industries to enter into China market bringing all the halal foods and products that surely
needed by the Muslims in China. Besides that, their limitation in learning about Islam would
be another gap that needs to be close up by Malaysian business. Providing Islamic education
seems possible as there are demands for that. Moreover, what would be more needed by them
was the practice of Shariah based banking system that involved in their daily consumption
and trading. Lastly, Muslim minorities in China do need Islamic sources of knowledge in
form of books that written in their local languages as their references in leaning about Islam.
Hence, there are a lot of opportunities that Malaysian businesses can capture in
serving the needs of Muslim societies in China. It is just about understanding their needs and
exploring their resources to be utilized in order to have good businesses and expanding Islam
in the land of China.

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BACKGROUND OF CHINA

China located at the east coast of the largest continent (Eurasia) as well as the western
margin of the largest ocean (Pacific). China has a land area of about 9.6 million square km,
occupying 6.5 percent of the total land area of the world. China is one of the world's oldest
civilized nations, which dates back to more than 10,000 years. The 5,000 years period is
commonly used as the date when China became unified under a large empire. China
alternated between periods of political unity and disunity at intervals, and was occasionally
conquered by external groups of people, some eventually being integrated into the Chinese
population.
Demography and Community in China
China was ranked the first for country that have highest population and covers about
19.30% of world population. The Peoples Republic of China is governed by the Communist
Party with it seats of government in Beijing which exercises jurisdiction over 5 autonomous
regions, 22 provinces, 4 direct-controlled municipalities and 2 primarily self-governing
special administrative regions which are Macau and Hong Kong. On the other hand, Taiwan
which is controlled by a separate political entity, called the Republic of China as it 23 rd
province. Overall, the population of China as in 2013 reached about 1.4 million of people.
There are 56 different ethnic groups recognized in China. The Han Chinese is the largest
ethnic group in China which covered about 91.59% of total population.
China has once before implemented the one child policy in the middle of 20th
century as the population in the country have increase very fast. Couples which agree with
the policy will be rewarded with cash bonuses and better access to housing. Rate of birth had
fall from 2.1 children per woman to 1.4 as the new rate which indicated that the policy had
successfully achieved its target to reduce population rate in China. As time goes, the
government realized that the policy will damage the countrys future economic development
as they will have less labor in the future because of aging factor. Interestingly, Chinas
population was dominated by male because of their preferences on boys among the Chinese
families as their culture.

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Religion and Belief

Currently, China was known as an atheist state and did not recognize every single
citizen by their religion. However, in the year of 2007, a survey has found out that about 31%
of its population consider themselves religious. Over the past 1000 years, Taoism, Buddhism
and Confucianism are considered as Chinas Three Religions as based on their cultural and
historical impact. Looking at the current view of China, about 2% of its population believes
in Islam, 4.1% practices Christianity, 14 % practices Buddhism and over 30% of them still
practicing the local folk religions.
Economy
Annual growth of Chinas economy was about more than 10% over the past 25 years
which have shown a significant economic expansion. A socialist republic since 1970s has
brought the economy of China into a capitalist power which then creates a strong economic
hub in products and services sector.
China used yuan renmindi currency in local transaction. Industry and agriculture
sector have contributed about 70% of Chinas GDP. The per capita GDP is $2000 and the
official poverty rate is 10% only. They export about $1.2 billion every year in consumer
electronics, office machinery, apparels and agricultural products using the current rate of
$1=6.126CNY as in March 2014.

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COMMUNITY PROFILE
Demographic Data
Chinese Muslims have been in China for the last 1,400 years of continuous interaction
with Chinese society. Northwest of China is where most of Muslim reside. The highest
concentrations are found in the northwest provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia and also
found throughout Yunnan province in southwest and Henan province in central China. In
2008, population of Chinese Muslim was estimated as 1.7 per cent according to (U.S. Census
Bureau, 2008). The 2030 Muslim data were obtained by multiplying the countrys 2030 total
population by its 2008 percentage. Muslim population was estimated by U.S. Census Bureau
22.8 million in 2008, and is estimated to grow to be over 31 million by 2030. However, the
true number of Chinese Muslims is not known.
Ten of Chinas minority nationalities are predominantly Muslim and comprise
roughly one-fifth of all of Chinas minorities (Poston and Luo, 2004).
The two numerically largest Muslim nationality groups in China are the Hui (over 9.8
million people in 2000, and 10.9 million in 2008) and the Uygur (almost 8.4 million in 2000,
and 9.5 million in 2008). They comprise 90 percent of all Chinese Muslims. The remaining
eight groups are the Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kirgiz, Salar, Dongxiang and Bonan,
ranging in size, in 2008, from almost 1.4 million (the Kazak) to almost 5,000 (the Tatar) .
However, on demographic and socioeconomic dimensions, they are more different
from one another than similar. We will look into the demographic and socioeconomic of each
of all ten groups.

1.

Hui

In 2000, the Hui people numbered over 9.8 million people, and an estimated 10.9 million in
2008. They are the third largest of all the minority nationalities in China (the Zhuang and the
Manchu are the two largest), they also are the largest Muslim group in China. The Hui reside
in all of China province and region. Their geographical diversification rate is by far the
highest of all the Muslim groups (L. Poston, Wadha Saeed and Zhang, 2008, p12). On
account of their extensive residential distribution around China, the Hui are the least isolated
of all the Muslim groups. The Hui are the least segregated from the Han of all the Muslim
and non-Muslim minorities. Unlike to other Muslim groups, the Hui are Chinese people who
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practice Islam. A very popular surname among the Hui is Ma, after Mohammad. They have
assimilated the Han culture more so than any of the other minorities. They wear Han style
clothing and indeed are often referred to as Chinese-speaking Muslims to distinguish them
from Uygurs, Kazaks and other Muslim communities who are clearly not Chinese by virtue
of their distinct cultures and languages (Dillon, 1999: xvii). The Hui have relatively high
levels of socioeconomic status compared with the other minorities (Poston and Shu, 1987;
Ma, 1989). Their ancestors date back to the Islamic peoples from Middle Asia who migrated
into China in the early periods of the 13th century.

2.

Uygur

Uygur among Chinas 55 minority nationalities, the Uygur are the fifth largest minority
group, and the second largest Muslim group, with a population in 2000 of almost 8.4 million,
and almost 9.5 million in 2008. The language of the Uygur belongs to the Turkic group of the
Altaic language family. The Uygur are mainly farmers, and their major products are wheat,
rice, corn and cotton (Zhang and Zeng, 1993). Over 99.3 percent of Uygur live in the
Xinjiang region. The Uygur are the most visible politically. Indeed among the Uygur, there is
a widespread separatist group known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM),
which was declared a terrorist group by the U.S. However, despite the existence of extensive
separatist activity among the Uygurs, most of them apparently do not seek their own Islamic
state. Wuer Kaixi has been quoted as stating that we dont ask for independence, but for
respect, and an end to forced assimilation [with the Chinese Han] (Schwartz, 2004).

3.

Kazak

Kazak are the third largest Muslim group in China with a population of over 1.2 million in
2000 and almost 1.4 million in 2008 (National Bureau of Statistics, 2001). The Kazak people
live mainly in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, and the Mori and Barkol Autonomous
Counties in Xinjiang, as well as in Qinghai and Gansu Provinces. Their residential areas in
Xinjiang border their ancestral country of Kazakhstan. Their ancestors were the Wusun
people, who, in the early 13th century, moved west with Genghis Khan. Different from The
Hui and Uygur, they are recognized for their expertise in horse-riding and wrestling (Kazak
Ethnic Minority, 2008)

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4.

Dongxiang.

The Dongxiang derive their name from the county where most of them live, namely,
Dongxiang County in Gansu Province. According to the report of National Bureau of
Statistics in 2001 Dongxiang is the fourth largest Muslim group in China with over 513
thousand people in 2000 and nearly 663 thousand in 2008. the Dongxiang language belongs
to the Mongolian family; and they have no formal written language. The Dongxiang are
strong believers of Islam, and their faith can be divided into Old, New, and Emerging sects
which have largely influenced their people's life and customs. The Dongxiang are poor and
socioeconomically and demographically disadvantaged (Poston, 1993, 1996).

5.

Kirgiz.

The Kirgiz minority numbered almost 161 thousand in 2000 and 178 thousand in 2008,
making them the fifth largest of Chinas Muslim groups (National Bureau of Statistics, 2001).
Most of them live in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in the southwestern part of
the Xinjiang Region, bordering the country of their ancestors, Kyrgyzstan. Their language
belongs to the Turkic subdivision of the Altaic family of languages (Kirgiz Ethnic
Minority, 2008).

6.

Salar

Over 80 percent of the Salar people lives in Qinghai Province, with most of the others in
Gansu and Xinjiang. In 2000 they numbered over 100 thousand, and 120 thousand in 2008.
The ancestors of the Salar came from Central Asia during the Yuan Dynasty (1271- 1368).
The salar use the language similar to the Uygur and Ozbek., belonging to the Turkic branch
of the Altaic language family. Today, most young and middle-aged Salar speak Mandarin
Chinese. Their population is mainly engaged in agriculture, handicrafts and horticulture
(Salar Ethnic Minority, 2008).

7.

Tajik.

The Tajik had a population in 2000 of just over 41 thousand, and over 48 thousand in 2008.
More than 90 percent of them live in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in
southwestern Xinjiang, bordering their ancestral country, Tajikistan. In the 11th century,
there was Central Asian people spoke Persian, believed in Islam, and were referred to by the
nomadic Turkic tribes as "Tajik. They also have a higher percentage living in rural areas
(90.8 percent) of any of the other Chinese Muslim groups except for the Dongxiang (95.7
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percent) (Table 3). As noted earlier, the Tajik are the only of Chinas Muslim groups who
may be classified as Shiite. They are Ismaili Shia (not Twelver, allied with Iran) who revere
the Aga Khan (Tajik Ethnic Minority, 2008).

8.

Bonan

The Bonan are one of Chinas smaller minority groups, with only 16 thousand people in 2000
and 21 thousand in 2008. Almost 92 percent of them reside in Gansu Province. Many of their
legends, customs and language features derive from those of the Mongolians and their
language was descended from Mongolian. Besides, most Bonan speak and write Mandarin
Chinese as well as the Han people (Bonan Ethnic Minority, 2008).

9.

Ozbek

The Ozbek minority group numbered just over 12,000 people in 2000 and less than 11
thousand in 2008; they are the only Muslim group in China to have declined in size between
1990 and 2000. They reside mainly in the far western part of the Xinjiang Region. Their
ancestral homelands are in the country of Uzbekistan. The name Ozbek may be traced to
the Ozbek Khan, one of the local rulers during the Mongol Empire in the 14th century during
the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Compared to most Muslim groups in Northwest China, most
of the Ozbek people are city dwellers. Their rural population of just over 31 percent is the
lowest of all the Chinese Muslim groups. The Ozbek language belongs to the Turkic branch
of the Altaic language family (Ozbek Ethnic Minority, 2008).

10.

Tatar

The Tatar are the smallest Chinese Muslim group, numbering just under 5,000 people in 2000
and in 2008. Their history may be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when the
nomadic Turkic Khanate in Northern China ruled the Tatar tribe. When the Khanates power
declined, that of the Tatars increased. Their homeland was then annexed by the Mongols
when the Mongols migrated west. The language of the Tatars may be placed in the Turkic
subgroup (Tatar Ethnic Minority, 2008). In 2000, almost 31 percent of the Tatar labor force
was comprised of government heads or professionals, a percentage higher than that of any of
the other Chinese Muslim groups. Especially, their socioeconomic is status is the highest.

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Regarding to fertility, all of the Muslim groups, except for the Tatar, have a total
fertility rate that is higher than the 1.3 of the Han people, the fertility figure reported in the
2000 census. These could well be underestimates given the possibility that census counts may
not completely represent levels of true fertility (Guo, 2000; Liang, 2003; Ren, 2005;
Retherford et al., 2004). Tajik women, on average, reportedly have 2 children each, and
Uygur, Kirgiz and Bonan women have 1.9 children each. One would expect the Muslim
groups to have higher fertility than the Han if only because the Chinese government does not
enforce the one-child policy as stringently among the minorities (Poston, 1993).
Occupation and education are two important dimensions of socioeconomic status.
Less than eight percent of the Han are in professional and leadership jobs. Some of the
Muslim groups have even lower percentages of workers in these high status jobs (the Uygur,
Dongxiang, Salar and Bonan), and other Muslim groups have higher percentages. Almost
one-third of the Tatar labor force is in professional/leader jobs. Similarly, the Muslim groups
vary tremendously with regard to their percentages completing one or more year of college.
Just over one percent of the Bonan and the Salar have some college completed, versus 11
percent for the Osbek and 14 percent for the Tatar.
About 20 percent of the Han people aged 15 years and over are not married. All the
Chinese Muslim groups have higher nonmarital percentages, ranging from 18 percent for the
Bonan to over 35 percent for the Kazak. Most of China is rural. Over 63 percent of China and
over 60 percent of the Han people live in rural areas. The Muslim groups vary tremendously
on this characteristic, from a low of 32 percent of the Ozbek people living in rural areas to a
high of almost 96 percent of the Dongxiang. The two largest Muslim groups have rural
percentages above and below that of China as a whole, namely, the Hui at 55 percent rural
and the Uygur at 81 percent rural.

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Historical background Muslim in China

China is one of a big country in the world. Moreover, it has a large population.
Nevertheless, Chinese Muslim also included in the population even though they are just
minority. Last 1,400 years, Islam was first brought to China. From 7th and the 10th century,
Islam was expanded gradually across the maritime and inland silk whereby through trade and
diplomatic exchanges.
In 616-18 AD, Islam was brought to China by sahaba which is companion of Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W that known as Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas. First of all, the sahabahs were
concerning with writing of verse of Quran as reveals to Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, hadith
and also sunnah. On the other side, it is believed by modern secular historian that muslim
diplomat are started to came to Tang, China from the beginning of Muslim Era. This is
because they said that there is no evidence for Waqqas himself are long to China.
Muslims in China are not native to the land of the country whereby the first major Muslim
are the Arab and also Persian merchants. Moreover, Muslim communities are not in one
particular state. Nevertheless, first existed was in the part of Guangzhou, Quanzho and
Hangzho on Chinas southeastern seaboard.
Furthermore, Saad Ibn abi Waqqas was believed to have been building the famous
Huaisheng mosque. Indeed, there are four mosques in Guangzhou. In another extent, Tang
dynasty were exploited by Arab traders that brought Islam to that city when at first concerned
with trading and commerce whereby not concerning at all with spreading Islam.
In the first of Song dynasty, impoert and export industry was played a significant role by
Muslim. Indeed, the Song emperor Shenzong invited 5,300 Muslim men from Bukhari to
settle in China. Therefore, Muslim in China was migration and come from Arab country and
also from west Asia.
Moreover, huge number of muslim settled in China during Mongol founded Yuan
Dynasty in 1271 to 1368 whereby it gave foreign immigrants consisted hundreds or
thousands of muslim immigrant were recruited from western and central Asia. The idea was
to help in administer rapidly expanding empire. Persian, Arab and Budhist used by Mongols
to administer or else act officer of taxation and finance. Furthermore, Muslim in Ming
Dynasty Beijing were given freedom by the Chinese whereby no restriction placed in
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practicing the religion instead of worship. The building of mosque through of China in many
location decreed by the Ming Emperor Hongzhu whereby a Nanjing mosque was built by the
Xuan Zong Emperor.

Cultural and Sub-Cultural Background

Islam played an essential role in the lifestyle of the minority Muslims in China. Islam
portrays the way of life, ranging from their customs, values, diet, to marriages and even
funerals.
Muslims as a minority group are known as Hui Min by the Muslim and Non-Muslim
in China. They speak, read and write in Mandarin, it is very few of Muslim in China that can
speak and read in Arabic or English; this is due to the official education system in China
which does not include Islamic values and practices. Although there are few Islamic schools
available known as madrasah, it is very far apart in between and they only provide the
foundation level of Islamic and Arabic syllabus. Thus most Muslim in China would go to
normal Chinese school where there is no Islamic teaching provided.
Nevertheless, the Muslim minority in China are free to practice their religion except
in certain government institute like military or police where facilities and halal food are not
provided. Besides from that, there are a lot of mosques in China and Muslims workers are
given privilege to take days off during religious festivals like marriage, Qurban, Eid, Hajj and
others. The Muslims woman wears headscarves and in certain community with majority of
Muslims group they greet each other with Islamic greetings Assalamualaikum which
means Peace be upon you.
Muslims in China are not excused from the Chinas one-child policy, but since the
Muslims community is not significant, they are allowed to have two children. Similar with
Muslims in other nation, Muslims in China are not encouraged or not allowed to get married
with non-Muslims unless the non-Muslims converts to Muslims and learn its culture and
customs. Interestingly, Muslims in China have a marriages feast where there would be 8 to 12
(even number) of dishes served as a symbolic that the spouses would stay together
permanently.
Muslim cuisine in China varies from region to region, although lamb and mutton are
common among Chinese Muslims and it inherited cooking methods of custom Chinese
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cuisine but it complies strictly with the Islamic dietary guide where lawful meats are
slaughtered by Muslims butcher according to Islamic guidelines and can be found in
marketplace. Many Halal restaurants own by Muslim can be found in China, and there are
agencies that provide Halal certificated for commercially prepared food. Halal in China is
known as qngzhn ci which means "pure truth food." In addition to that, Muslims are
forbidden to consume pork and other unlawful meat. Plus, when there are appliances that are
used to eat or cook unlawful food like pork, Chinese Muslims would refuse to use the same
appliances for the cuisines. In certain region where Muslims are majority, pork is not allowed
to be breed. Basically, Chinese Muslims consume noodles with lamb and mutton and Chinese
tea is very common among them.
Muslims in China are very strict with regard to certain taboos or immoral activity.
They disapproved the act of smoking, drinking and gambling among them. The act of
predicting the future like fortune teller and magic are also prohibited. Funerals are carry out
in a simple way and they avoid many taboos such as grieve on the dead where such act
regarded as complaint to the dead.
Challenges of Muslim in China

The Chinese Constitution guarantees that, the state protects normal religious activities
without specifying further what is considered "normal" and what may be deemed "illegal". In
practice the essence of current Chinese policy is to tolerate only those religious beliefs and
practices that do not threaten the monopoly on power of the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP), but to closely regulate and where it is deemed necessary, aggressively repress beliefs
and practices perceived as a threat. The cardinal principle of separation of politics from
religion effectively prohibits critical commentary by religious figures or followers and
frequently is invoked to justify government crackdowns on religious expression or dissent.
For the present time, though, Islamic communities across China are still in the process of
reestablishing themselves in society: restoring mosques returned by the authorities, reviving
domestic and cross-border networks, and publishing and research about Chinese Islamic
scholarship, while staying within the parameters of what the Chinese political system allows.

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Trade interests vs. pan-Islamic solidarity

Despite ongoing repression, Islamic countries remain unwilling to challenge China on

the treatment of its Muslim minorities. One reason is of course the powerful trade interests
that China nurtures with the Middle East countries (from where it imports more and more oil
to fuel its rapid economic development). But this silence also reflects China's dexterous
showcasing of its Muslim minorities to advance its diplomatic interests, as well as its
successful self-portrayal as the champion of the developing world against Western, and
particularly U.S. domination.
As China emerges as a major power of the 21st century, Chinese Islam is undergoing
a process that will probably see it revitalized, but hollowed out, and deprived of the rich and
diverse traditions that had been its mark for centuries.
Education, Identity and Repression

It is no coincidence that the forces of modernization hit with such a sweeping force.
It can become a platform for expressing political demands for autonomy or selfdetermination, when the Chinese state tends to perceive the existence of a separate ethnic
identity as a political hazard. Much effort is being put into an attempt to refashion the identity
of ethnic groups through education and language policies.
The threat to the cultural heritage of Chinese Muslims coming from China's tightlycontrolled education system is real. China's restrictive religious laws prohibit religious
education for minors as well as in state schools and universities. Even though in many areas
of Ningxia, Gansu and Xinjiang provinces mosques are often allowed to run after-school
classes, their existence is only a tribute to the direct control that the Chinese authorities have
managed to impose. Islamic institutes are all operated by the State and hand out the official,
state-endorsed version of Islam. Anything that strays from this orthodoxy is labeled as
"illegal religious activity" and is subject to suppression. While these laws are implemented
throughout the country and for all religions, they are applied with particular severity in
Xinjiang, where there are strict controls to prevent minors from accessing mosques or
religious festivities.
In recent years the state has been steadily shifting toward a monolingual Mandarin
Chinese system of education, which has meant that entire national minorities such as the
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Uighurs, the Kazhak or the Dongxiang are being progressively cut off from their mother
culture, accelerating the process of assimilation. Once more, the alleged "backwardness" of
these non-Mandarin languages is the official reason why mother tongue education of many
ethnic minorities is being phased out. Cultural identity has thus become the new battleground.
Also, any attempt to deviate from the historical orthodoxy established by the Party
censors is considered seditious and met with the full force of the police state. Although often
invisible to the glance of visitors and tourists, political surveillance and repression remain an
integral part of the daily existence of China's ethnic minorities, as attested by the scores of
religious and political prisoners from these areas documented by human rights organizations
such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
The Nobel Peace Prize nominee Rebiya Kadeer is a case in point: long hailed by the
Chinese authorities as the most prominent successful Muslim businesswoman, she fell out of
favor once she became an advocate for greater autonomy for Uighurs. After a secret trial on
trumped-up charges, she was condemned to seven years in prison in 1999 for "leaking state
secrets," and was exiled in 2005 on medical parole only thanks to international pressure.
Despite her international stature, the Chinese authorities continue to label her a "terrorist" and
a "separatist." Thousands of people who remain anonymous are sent to prisons or labor
camps every year, under vague charges of "illegal religious activities" or "separatism."

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ADVICES FOR MALAYSIAN BUSINESSES

Halal Food Industry
Food is very important to human life and when we are talking about Muslim
consumers, first things need to be considered is halal. Seeking for halal food and halal
ingredients are important to Muslim, especially with those stay in non- Islamic country such
as China. Halal Food and ingredients includes halal meat such as chicken, beef, goat or
vegetable, oil, powder and so on.
The global Halal market value for trade in Halal foods is estimated at US$547 billion
a year. In this respect, Malaysia has the edge in being recognized internationally as a
progressive Muslim country, where it has the potential of becoming a major producer of
Halal food products. Malaysian companies in this industry can expand the business and seek
for the opportunities in China since there may not have a professional halal food and
ingredients suppliers. China is a potential market for Malaysian business. It will bring a big
opportunity for Malaysian Companies as well as an opportunity for Muslim customer in
China to have more alternatives in finding food and have safety halal food.

Halal Products

Being a Muslim, the concern on the Halal does not limit to only consumable products
but also other products such as garments, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and others.
The level of awareness towards Halal products is very high in Malaysia. Thus, Department
of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) had collaborated with the Standards and
Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) to increase the supply of halal products
line for Muslim consumers.
China on the other hand, has shortage of such halal products since the Muslims are
minority. China could be among the nations with high imports of halal products. Being a
hub-centre for halal products, various foreign manufacturers from China are pursuing to
venture into manufacturing Halal products for Muslim consumers in China. Malaysia could
take advantage of this opportunity to become one of the main exporters of its halal credentials
to China.

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In Addition, the driving forces and the greater demand for global halal products not
only due to the growth of Muslim population, but also affected by the belief of Muslim as
well as non-Muslim that halal products are high quality and environment friendly and more
safety products compared to non-halal products. Besides, few incidents of halal-products that
failed to meet the halal standards in China and some other countries also increase the demand
of more convincing halal products with well establish and strong halal accreditation such as
Malaysia.

Islamic Education
Muslims have been thought to seeking knowledge as started from early childhood. It
is mentioned in Al quran that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad S.A.W which that Read.
Prophet Muhammad asked all Muslims to seek knowledge as mentioned in his hadith,
seeking knowledge is mandatory for all Muslims. Therefore, Muslims have to take
responsibility and placed a huge emphasis in the educational system in order to fulfill
obligation place by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
As far as Muslims society concern about education especially Islamic education,
Malaysia educational institutional can collaborate with educational system in China to attract
Muslim minority in that country to further studies in Islamic course. On the other hand, it
helps to educate religious matter for minority Muslims in China. As education is important in
Islam, therefore, Muslim should seeking knowledge.
Malaysia educational institution also can open institution in China that offer program
such as Islamic finance, Islamic revealed knowledge and others. Muslim minority in China
need the education of religious matter as in their country have lack of exposure. If Malaysian
people opened an education institution there, it will attract them a lot. As for instant,
International Islamic University Malaysia can collaborate with university in China and offer
some course. Or else opened University so called International Islamic University of China to
attract muslim in China. To the other extent, it is not only to attract muslim but can also
attract other religion to know more about Islam. As far as it concern, muslim minority in
China can be majority in China one day.

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Islamic Banking Windows

Islamic financial thought mainly come from the warn of prohibiting on riba that
means regard interests as very important in Quran .In the long Middle Ages, from the warn
of prohibiting on riba, Islamic law make strict limits on the behaviours such as paying the
interests to borrow money, usury and being incorrect of barter. The contemporary Muslim
that has combined the system of modern bank and created the system of bank free of interest
explained a whole set of modern Islamic financial theory.
As far as Muslims society concern about financial especially Islamic financial system,
Malaysian Islamic financial institution can collaborate with financial system in China to
attract Muslim minority in that country to know, understand and implement Islamic financial
system. On the other hand, it helps for minority Muslim in China to avoid taking riba or
interest in their daily life.
Malaysian Islamic financial institution also can open institution in China that offer
product such as Wadiah, Murabahah, Mudharabah, Ijarah, Musharakah, Rahnu and others.
Muslim minorities in China need the information of Islamic financial advantages and benefits
as in their country have lack of exposure. If Malaysian people opened an Islamic financial
institution there, it will attract them a lot. To the other extent, it is not only to attract Muslim
but can also attract other religion to get the advantages and benefits from Islamic financial
system. As far as it concern, Islamic financial system can be larger institution in China in the
future.

Expertise in Languages
Malaysian business can capture the business in China by being an intermediary in
translating foreign books and reading materials into the local language or translating local
reading materials into universal languages. As the Muslims there are not really exposed to
foreign language and culture, it is a problem for them in gaining worldwide education
especially regarding Islam. They only learn Islam from the eldest teaching without having
proper references. Students that further their study in China also need books in English but
written by the local authors as their main references in study. Hence, books from different
area of the world can be brought there to be translated by their local community or Malaysian

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themselves that have the expertise in languages. Besides expanding beneficial knowledge, we
can also provide job opportunity for them. Apart from a hard copy books, Malaysian
entrepreneur can also going into e-book that have seen to be popular nowadays.

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CONCLUSION

China has a very unique population structure that was built up by different culture and
daily practices. From the historical background of the country, we would say that China has
emerged and developed from one stage to another without neglecting their cultural practices
and belief. The up and down of empires in China once before do give positive impacts on the
societies to stay together contribute and serve for the country. It also has a distinctive
structure of economic that has open opportunities for international business trading. However
it is not an easy move to be in China. Strong business based is needed in order to capture the
market there.
Looking at the emerging Muslim community in China had bring another chance for
Malaysian business to be there serving for their needs. Based on the problems faced by the
Muslim minorities in China, Malaysian businesses can take advantage over it by providing
what they need and capturing their market. Productivity and critical innovation are crucial in
serving them in China. A lot of improvement must be made by local business in Malaysia to
be competitive with the businesses in China. Therefore, the aim to serve the Muslim
minorities in China could be achieved.
Business opportunity is everywhere. It is just the mean of people doing it. Clear vision
and mission to be achieved must be fully understood in order to achieve the target. Doing
business in China is possible even the markets there are very huge and very competitive.
Thus, realizing the needs of Muslims in China, Malaysians must take steps to be there serving
for their betterment and also contributing for Islam.

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