Sunday 28 July 2013

History Of Penang: Malay Race


Malay race consists of many ethnic group. The Malay are the one of the three main ethnic groups in Penang. According to the Malaysia constitution, the Malays are the native people who are Muslims. Therefore, non-Malay who embraced Islam, or Muallaf are known as someone who converted to Malay (masuk melayu).

The Malay conduct their daily lives following the set of rules, rituals and customs. They eat the staple food of rice, together with spicy dishes, cooked with plenty of herbs and also coconut milk. Malay traditional food uses a lot of natural ingredients and elaborate ways of cooking. 


Anthropologists determined that the origin of the Malay race started from people who migrated from South China thousands of years ago settled in Malay Peninsula. 


Over the mellinnia, their features and skin color changed to suit the local climate. Those who lived by the sea become expert sailors and fishermans. Those who lived inland, cultivated the land to harvest staple foods. 


Before the influence of Islam, the religions practiced were mainly Hinduism and animism. The old beliefs of customs were deeply ingratiated into their daily lives. When Islam took hold of the region, during the heyday of the Malaccan empire, a lot of this customs were abolished as they were against the Islamic teaching. 


In Penang, it was recorded there were Malay settlements scattered throughout the Island before Francis Light took over in the late 18th century. These places were notably at Batu Uban and Dato' Keramat. There is now a very village left at Batu Uban (literally means 'Stone of Grey Hair".)


The only building that is still standing from the old days is mosque, which have been repaired many many times over the years. Dato' Keramat have also become part of Georgetown and therefore is losing its identity as a Malaysia settlement. By the way, Dato' Keramat literally means "Mystical Grandfather". 


Later, in the late of 19th century, a lot of Malays from Acheh royal families, together with their entourage immigrated from Indonesia fleeing from the warth of government who especially wanted to terminate them. Their made their homes in Penang. P.Ramlee who was the famous actors from Penang, was a descendant from this community. 


Another group of people who make up the Malay race in Penang are the Indian Muslims. They came from Southern India, thus they speak Tamil and Malay. 

There are sometimes called Jawi Peranakan. Those who live in the city were called Jawi Pekan. Normally it is a mixed marriage with native Malay with Indian immigrant.


                                

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