The Malays in Singapore (Malay : Orang Melayu Singapura) constitute 13.9% of the country's population.

Origin and identity

The Malays in Singapore are largely of mixed descent. The local Malays, originally from the aboriginal Orang Laut and other coastal Malay groups from the Malay Peninsula or Riau Archipelago, have largely intermarried with non-Malays. Intermarriages prior to the British colonial period are largely restricted to people from maritime Southeast Asia, notably the Javanese, Boyanese, Minangkabau and Bugis, as well as some Chinese and Indian traders. Such intermarriages become more widely practised during and after the British colonial times (particularly after World War II), and intermarriages are extended to Arab traders, and to a much lesser extent, Europeans and Thai. Of late, some Malays may take in Filipino spouses in part due to racial proximity.

Such intermarriages are made possible in two main ways; firstly, marrying a Malay Muslim individual, regardless of sex and age, simply requires the bride or groom to be Muslim or to convert to Islam which is relatively simple as it does not involve any elaborate rites. Secondly, the Malays traditionally stress religious as opposed to racial affiliation between individuals although acceptance and adoption of the Malay language and culture is viewed much more favorably.

Many modern Malay Singaporeans strongly identify with their Malay ancestry, and tend to abhor or understate whatever other ancestry the individual himself may have. This is evidenced in their speech, customs, language, and self-identity, although Malays may incorporate elements of foreign culture into Malay culture, especially Arab and Indian.

Linguistically, most Malays in Singapore learn the Riau variant of Malay similar to that spoken in Malaysia and Brunei (as opposed to Indonesian) as their mother tongue in addition to English. Malay Muslims also tend to learn some degree of Arabic in their Islamic religious classes.

Religion

An overwhelming majority of Malays in Singapore are Sunni Muslims, and most are practising believers who adhere to Islamic principles. A small community of Christian Malays do exist in Singapore.

The government has strongly discouraged the publication of the Christian bible in Malay, and strongly discourages missionaries from attempts to convert the local Malay populace. Such missionaries are especially concentrated on more unorthodox Protestant sects, notably Charismatic and Baptist, who are noted for their zealous attempts to convert non-Christians. So far, the Christian missionaries have not made a significant dent in a strong Muslim society who are also protected by the Muslim Act.

Malay Muslim men would attend Friday prayers at the communal mosque every week and Malay Muslims observe Ramadan yearly, which involves fasting during daytime daily for a month before the Muslim month of Syawal during which the Malay Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Puasa.

Culture

The majority of Malays in Singapore generally share a similar culture with those in Peninsula Malaysia.

Status of Malays in Singapore

Although many Malays in Singapore are generally of mixed descent, they are still recognised as indigenous people of Singapore by the Singapore Constitution, Part XIII, General Provisions, Minorities and special position of Malays, section 152:

The Government shall exercise its functions in such manner as to recognise the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interests and the Malay language.

Malay Contributions to National Life

Politics

• Encik Yusof Ishak - Singapore's first President
• Mr Ahmad Ibrahim - an early PAP cabinet minister
• Mr Othman Wok - former Minister for Social Affairs - credited with securing inter-racial unity and Malay support during PAP conflict with UMNO
• Dr Ahmad Mattar - former Minister for the Environmnt - credited with cleaning up the Singapore River and other waterways
• Mr Abdullah Tarmugi - Speaker of the Singapore Parliament, former Minister for Community Development
• Prof Yaacob Ibrahim - Minister for Environment and Water Resources - credited with developing alternative water sources for Singapore and reducing dependance on Malaysian water
• Mr Sha'ari Tadin - former Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture, Member of Parliament and first Malay graduate PAP MP, 1968

Arts & Media

• Alfian Sa'at - acclaimed poet and playwright in English and Malay
• Hady Mirza - winner of the second Singapore Idol (2006) competition
• Iskandar Jalil - world renowned pottery artist
• Najip Ali - musician and TV personality
• Norleena Salim - popular TV actress
• Suhaimi Subandie - musician and founder of hardcore band Stompin' Ground
• Taufik Batisah - winner of the first Singapore Idol (2004) competition
• Wandly Yazid - composer and arranger of Malay film music (40's to 60's)
• Zubir Said - musician and composer of the Singapore National Anthem 'Majulah Singapura'
• Zul Othman - Senior reporter for Today
• Zuraidah Ibrahim - Political editor for the Straits Times
• Mazlan Ahmad aka Phyreman - Pioneer graffiti/streetsartist, founder of renowned graffiti crew Operation Art Core Singapore/Worldwide

Academia

• Lily Zubaidah Rahim - scholar of the Malay community in Singapore
• Hussein Mutalib - NUS political science lecturer

References

• http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/c2000/religion.pdf
• http://www.exploitz.com/Singapore-Religious-Change-cg.php

External links

• The Malays of Singapore
• The Singapore Constitution