Malaysia's official religion is Islam according to the federal constitution. The constitution also allows Malaysians to practice other religions through articles that protect freedom of religion. Islam was first established in Malaysia in the 14th century and saw the rise of sultanates, most prominently in Malacca. Malacca was the first Malay Muslim state and adopted Islam officially under the rule of Iskandar Shah in the 15th century. The constitution names Islam as the official religion and defines Malays as Muslim. States may create Islamic laws and Syariah courts to govern Muslims.

1. Lesson 9
6. Thoughts and Beliefs
6.1 Development of Religion in Malaysia
6.2 Islam in Malaysian Constitution
Malaysian Studies 2
1

2. • Malaysia's official religion is Islam. Federal
Constitution of putting Islam in the highest
place (Article 3).
• Meanwhile, through Article 11 (1) and 11 (5)
of the Constitution also allows Malaysians to
practice their religion.
• Malaysia as a country with people of different
races need to understand the moral values
contained within various religions.

3. • All religions practiced in Malaysia such as
Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity,
Sikhism and Taoism have the values that move
towards unity and prosperity.
• Emphasis is good value to be observed by the
public can help control the individual people
who behave well.

4. ISLAM
• Islam is a religion revealed by God (Allah) to
Adam to Prophet Muhammad. The word Islam
comes from the Arabic "salam" which means
"man surrendered to God, then they will be
rewarded with peace and prosperity. Thus, the
meaning of Islam say peace be upon you
(peace be upon you), when they meet each
other.

5. • Malay represents the ethno-religious set of
people who are Malaysian citizens born in
Malaysia, whose ancestors are Malays, and
who profess to be a Muslim, speaks the Malay
language, and follows the Malay customs.
• They form the largest ethnic group which
accounts for over half of the population and
are the oldest indigenous people known to be
on the Malaysian soil.

6. History / origin of Islam community in
Malaysia
• Originally Malaysia was occupied by the Proto
Malays which is known as the Orang asli,
Iban and the Dayak community.
• The origin of Malay race can be traced back to
the 15th century with the decline of the Srivijaya
empire and the rise of the Malacca sultanate.
• It was also due to the traffic of traders from
across the world that lead to inter-cultural
marriages which eventually contributed to the
amalgamation of Malay culture.

7. • During the 14th century Islam first established
itself in the Malaysian Peninsula.
• The adoption of Islam by the 15th century saw
the rise of sultanates which was most prominent
in Malacca.
• Ever since then the Malay Empire left a lasting
impression and a legacy that had a major impact
on the Malay culture and history in Malaysia.
• Malacca was the first Malay Muslim state that
achieved the status of a regional maritime power.

8. • It is believed that, Parameswara became a
Muslim after his marriage to the Princess of Pasai
and he took the Persian title ‘Shah’, calling
himself Iskandar Shah.
• Within a few years of its establishment and reign
by Iskandar Shah, Malacca officially adopted
Islam.
• The conversion of Malays to Islam increased in
the 15th century.
• It influenced the culture, culinary traditions,
politics, literature, architecture and royal court
traditions leading to the ethno religious group in
the region.

9. Malay Customs and Traditions
• The children of a Malay household are strictly bound by
custom to look upon their parents with respect and total
obedience.
• Friday (Jumaat) prayer is an important day for the Malays. It
is also an occasion for people to meet each other from the
same neighbourhood.
• hTe Malay formal dress for men is the Baju Melayu, a loose,
long-sleeved shirt which is worn over a pair of trousers. A
white cap known as Kopiah is worn while going to the
mosque for prayers. A velvet cap called as Songkok is also
worn along with the formal dress with a leather shoes.
• Women on the other hand wear Baju Kurung, a loose tunic
worn over a long skirt, which is usually made of batik, silk
or sungkit material. A shawl known as Selendang is used to
cover the head.

10. • Malay houses in the villages (kampung) are
constructed of wood( timber) and palm-leaves
(attap)
• During the festive celebration of Hari Raya, the
Muslims undertake a month long fasting known
as Ramadan.
• Malay weddings are a grand affair, the most
important part of Malay wedding is
the Bersanding where the couple sit next to each
other on a sofa called the Pelamin.

11. BUDDHIST
• Buddhism is a philosophy based on the
teachings of the Buddha, that Siddhartha
Gautama, who was born in 536 BC religion
focuses on aspects of ethics and morality that
are believed to help people spiritually aloof
from the suffering

12. Origin and history of Chinese in Malaysia
• The Chinese form the second largest ethnic
group comprising of 25% of the Malaysian
population after the Malays.
• During the 15th century, the Han Chinese was
the first settlers who came to the Malaccan
Empire
• Next the Fujian refugees from China resettled
on the northern part of the Malay peninsula.
• During the late 19th century, the immigrants
from China arrived in Malaysia as labors to
work in mining sector.

13. • The confluence of different Chinese
communities contributed to the rapid growth
in Malaysia
• Sub-cultures of Chinese is like Min people,
Hokkien, Fuzhou from Fujian province in
China, Hakka, Hainanese, Cantonese,
Guangfu, Peranakan, Baba Nyonya and the Wu
people.

14. Languages spoken by Chinese Malaysian people:
• The Min people form the largest dialect group in
Malaysia and speak the Min language.
• Other languages include Teochew, Hakka,
Mandarin, Cantonese.
Influence of Chinese culture on Malaysian land:
• The Chinese follow their rituals and rites
religiously and uphold their cultural values.
• For example the town of Penang where most of
the Chinese are found celebrates the harvest
festival.

15. Influence of Chinese culture on Cuisine
• Traditional Chinese dishes have been developed
using local ingredients and also thorough local
inventions.
• Bak Kut Teh, Loh Mee and street food such
as char kway teow and Hainanese chicken rice
commonly found in Malaysia.
• During Chinese New Year, Malaysian Chinese will
also eat Yusheng which was developed mainly in
Kuala Lumpur.
• The Malay-Chinese fusion cuisine is the food of
the Nonya or Peranakan which can be found in
dishes such as Laksa and Mee Siam.

16. Indian
• In 2015, there are around 2 million people
self-identifying as "Indian" who
hold Malaysian nationality (including
Malaysian-born and foreign-born people of
Indian descent)
• Most are descendants from those who
migrated from India during the British
colonisation of Malaya.

17. • The first wave of Indians are known to have migrated
to Malaysia during the reign of Asoka’s invasion
towards Kalinga and Samudragupta’s expedition and
the influential Tamil Chola dynasty of the 11th century.
• During the British rule, the Indians came to Malaysia as
labourers and worked on rubber and coffee plantations
and also to work in the palm groves to produce palm
oil.
• Some of them are also known to have come to work on
the construction of buildings, roads and bridges.

18. Languages spoken by Indians in Malaysia.
• Majority of Indians who live in Malaysia are mostly
from Tamil Nadu and Kerala and speak Tamil and
Malayalam while also speaking Telugu and Hindi.
Influence of Indian culture in Malaysia.
• Similar to Baba and Nyonyas the Chitty community
in Malacca is the result of an amalgamation between
the Indian immigrants and local culture.
• Though they remain Hindu, the Chitties speak Bahasa
Melayu and their women dress in sarong kebayas
instead of sarees.
• Another community which is an amalgamation is called
Indian Muslim Peranakans (Jawi Pekan) who live
in Penang.

19. Festivals celebrated by Indians
• The Indian community celebrates two main
festivals – Deepavali, the festival of lights
and Thaipusam, an annual fair of the Hindu deity
Murugan, held at Batu Caves along with many
other smaller religious events every year.

20. Influence of Indian Culture on
Malaysian Cuisine:
• The use of spices makes it unique and Indian
food is well received by Malaysians.
• The confluence of Indian and Malay cuisine is
called Mamak – the restaurants are found all
over in Malaysia.
• They sell Indian dishes like Roti canai, nasi
kandar, maggi goreng and pasembur (Mamak
rojak) unique to Malaysia.

21. The position
of Islam
in
Malaysian Constitution

22. The position of Islam in Malaysian
Constitution
• The draft Constitution of Malaysia did not
specify an official religion
• Justice Hakim Abdul Hamid of the Reid
Commission which drafted the Constitution
came out strongly in favour of making Islam
the official religion,
• As a result the final Constitution named Islam
as the official religion of Malaysia.
• All ethnic Malays are Muslim, as defined
by Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia.

23. • As defined by the Constitution of Malaysia,
Malays must be Muslim, regardless of their ethnic
heritage; otherwise, legally, they are not Malay.
• It is legally possible to become a Malay if a non-
Malay citizen with a Malaysian parent converts to
Islam and thus claims all the Bumiputra privileges
granted by Article 153 of the Constitution and
the New Economic Policy (NEP)

24. • The fact that Islam is the religion of Malaysia does not by
itself import Islamic principles into the Constitution but it
does contain a number of specific Islamic features:
• States may create their own laws to govern Muslims in
respect of Islamic law and personal and family law matter.
• States may create Syariah courts to adjudicate over Muslims
in respect of State Islamic laws.
• States may also create laws in relation to offences against
percepts of Islam but this is subject to a number of
limitations:
(i) such laws may only apply to Muslims,
(ii) such laws may not create criminal offences as only Parliament
has the power to create criminal laws and
(iii) the State Syariah Courts have no jurisdiction over Islamic
offences unless allowed by federal law