Contesting Malayness: Malay Identity Across Boundaries

by Timothy P. Barnard (Editor)

People who call themselves Malay - Melayu - are found in many countries, united by a notional shared identity but divided by political boundaries, divergent histories, variant dialects and peculiarities of local experience. While the term 'Malay' is widely used and readily understood in Southeast Asia, it remains elusive and open to varying interpretations. "Malay" as an identity, or nationality, is one of the most challenging and perplexing concepts in the multi-ethnic world of Southeast Asia. This book assembles research on the theme of how Malays have identified themselves in time and place, developed by a wide range of scholars. The authors include Malaysian anthropologist Shamsul A.B., Indonesian poet Tenas Effendy, and linguists and historians based in Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore and the U.S.A. While the authors describe some of the historical and cultural patterns that make up the Malay world, taken as a whole their work demonstrates the impossibility of offering a definition or even a description of 'Melayu' that is not rife with omissions and contradictions.

Genres: Nonfiction

332 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ruby Jusoh · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Reflection) A book that literally forces me to confront the untruth about my history and identity. All my life, being a Malay has determined my identification, opportunities, privileges, access and limitations. It is such a big word – MALAY – and has so many connotations attached to it. The book examines the multiple contexts of the identity and actually, it could have been a mere construction of the colonialists. Are we Malays? Are we not? We can be so many different things. Yet, when the Malay identity leads to people being privileged or oppressed, therein lies the problem.
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📚 Contesting Malayness: Malay Identity Across Boundaries, edited by Timothy P. Barnard
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There are 12 chapters in the book, dealing with a range of discussions about Malayness. What is interesting is that Malay might have not been an identity per se. It could be a word used to describe a place or people or language or activities. And the root can be traced back to more than a thousand years ago. Lots of evidences point out that the lineage of Malayness came from Sumatra, Bukit Siguntang specifically. Then, the Sumatrans migrated all over, causing the Malays to intermarry and settled in other lands, Peninsular included. Hence, the discourse of being Malay MUST include both Malaysians, Indonesians, Singaporeans and Bruneians too.
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The scholars used A LOT OF sources. Stories, myths, researches, books, data and whatnot. What I find most upsetting is that Southeast Asians were so varied and diverse, we might have not the need to label ourselves as anything. Realistically, like Said said, no one is ever absolutely anything. But colonisation happened and the Brits, they loved to document and categorise things. So they felt the NEED to categorise people they colonised. For Malaysia, at least, that was how our perception of Malay came to be. We basically inherited the colonial construction of our identity. NOT GREAT. Especially when we utilise the label to marginalise and oppress others.
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Also, there is no East Coast discourse of Malayness in the book. I find it completely strange. And I am beginning to suspect that perhaps, we are not? Do I have to radically deconstruct myself? I have read somewhere that since the East Coast is kept separate from the West due to the Titiwangsa Range, we had always maintained a distinct identity. Did we become Malay for the privileges it brings? Maybe, yes? Lots to think about, everyone. In order to contribute to a better future, I must discover the truth about my past and see where things have gone wrong (or right, for that matter). Overall, a must read. MUST!

['Izzat Radzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku ini adalah kumpulan esei dari beberapa penulis, yang membahaskan semula aspek-aspek identiti Melayu, pensejarahan menurut faham kolonial dan isu-isu ketamadunan.

Bacaan kritis atas tafsiran sejarah.