Competing Identities in a Plural Society 9789814376778

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I~~~~"K~!i!~~~. ?a!ir~~~heast AsianT~t~~~~~ Singapore 0511. Republic of Singapore

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!SEAS

The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies was established as an autonomous organization in May 1968. It is a regional research centre for scholars and other specialists concerned with modern Southeast Asia. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, the members of which include appointees from universities and government, as well as representatives from a broad range of professional and civic organizations and groups. An Executive Committee oversees day-to-day operations; it is chaired by the Director, the Institute's chief academic and administrative officer. The Institute's research interest is focused on the multi-faceted problems of development and modernization , and political and social change in Southeast Asia. The results of such research are disseminated widely through a number of channels, involving several series of papers, monographs and books. The Institute's Occasional Papers is its first and oldest series of publications. It represents professional contributions on a variety of topics of regional interest.

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!SEAS Occ..ionel Peper No. 63

COMPETING IDENTITIES IN A PLURAL SOCIETY

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

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COMPETING IDENTITIES IN A PLURAL SOCIETY The Case of PeninsuJar Malaysia

IBRA HIM SAAD

INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUD IES

Copyright subsists in this publication under the United Kingdom Copyright Act, 1911, and the Singapore Copyright Act (Cap. 1.87). No person shall reproduce a copy of this publication, or extracts therefrom. without the written permission of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Pasir Panjang. Singapore 05 11 .

LSBN 997 1-902-00- 1

Distribwed by

Maruzen Asia Pte. Ltd. Pasir Panjang P.O. Box 67 Singapore 9 1 II

Prin ted in Singapore by Eurasia Press

CONTENTS

Page LIST OF TABLES

VL

LIST OF FIGURES

vi

INTRODUCflON

II

THE PROBLEM Of NATIONAL I DENTITY

3

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

7

III

BACKGROUND I NFORMATION

13

IV

SAMPLE DESCRIPTION AND DESIGN

17

Tbe Sample V

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF D ATA

19

23

The Parameter of National Identity

23

National Identity and Attitudes Towards tbe Nation

26

National Identity and Political Information

28

Ethnicity and Attitudes Towards the Nation

31

VI SuMMARY

AND CoNCLUSION

35

APPENDIXES

A

Who Am I? (English Translation)

37

B

Codes: National and Racial Identity

38

c

Questions on Political Information

39

D

Questions on Attitudes Towards Nation

42

E

Emigrating to Another Country and Celebrating National Day

43

LIST OF TABLES Tabk Population of Malaysia. 3 1 December 19S7· 3 1 December 1975

13

Popula tio n by State and R ace. 3 1 December 1975

14

Estimated Rural and Urban Distribution by Percentage in I975

15

4

Number of Students by School Location a nd Form

19

5

N umber of Students by Form and Sex

19

6

Number of Students by Form and Race

20

7

Number of Students by Race and School Locatio n

20

8

Number of Students by Race and Sex

21

9

Percentage of Respondents According to National Identity

23

10

National Identity a nd Region by Percentage

II

Nat ional Identity a nd A ge I Form

12

Natio nal Ide ntity and Sex

13

National Identity and R ace

24 25 25 25

14

Sense of Duty Towards the Natio n

26

15

Sho uld Malaysia Surre nder to Another Country?

16

Are Yo u Willing to Defe nd the Nation ?

27 27

17

Nat10na l Ide ntity a nd Political Info rmation

31

18

National Identity and Sociocultural Variables

29

19

Ar ~

31

20

liens< of Duty Towards the Natio n

32

21

A re Yo u W illing to Defend the Na tio n '?

32

22

Should Ma la y,ia Surre nde r to Ano ther Country''

))

Wo uld Yo u Emig rate to Ano the r Country·)

))

2

Yo u Pro ud Whe n Cdebrating National D-ay ?

LIST OF F IG U RES Figure The Developme nt of the: Term " Piuralil.m " It

Natio nal

l in Th(li/and (Ithaca : Co rnell Universi ty Press, 1958).

28

III. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Malaysia is made up of two major segments: (i) Peninsular Malaysia, formerly known as Malaya. consisting of the land form known as the Malay Peninsula and (ii) Sabah and Sarawak, situated along the northern rim of the island of Borneo and formerly known as British North Borneo. For the purpose of this study. all references are to Peninsular Malaysia. British colonial rule had brought some changes to Malaysia (Malaya at that time) and the most significant is the transformation of the Malaysian population. Between 1880-1959 Malaysia's population multiplied fivefold from less than a million to seven and three quarter million. In 1880, Malays made up about 90% of the population of Malaya and in 1890 two-thirds. By 1911. when the first census was held they made up only 5 1% . By 1931, it was only 49.2% and by 1957 (the year of independence) the Malays made TABL£

I : POPULAnON OF MALA YSIA, 31 0£.CEMII£R 1957 • 31 DECEMBER 1975

Yar

Malays

Ollnese

lodiu

Othen

Total

1957'

3. 125.474 49.8 %

2.333,756 37.2%

707,108 11.3 %

112.,420 1.7 %

6,278,758

1962

3.706,869 51.2 %

2,640,452 36.5%

784,407 10.8 %

108,750 1.5 %

7,240,453

1966

4,184,766 52.1%

2.890,5 17 36.0%

853,576 10.8 %

103,428 1.3%

8,032,287

197()1

4.652,869 53.0 %

3. 11 9, 165 35.6 %

904,718 10.3%

97,8 14

8,774.564

5,423,260 53.6 %

355,677 35.2 %

1,058, 171• 10.4 %

76,855 0.8 %

10,114,854

2,297,786 42.3%

I ,223,U I 5 34. 3%

35 J,