Klate, Buddhist Temples, and the Meaning of Belonging

In parts of Kelantan, fluent Kelantan Malay—locally known as Klate—can often be heard alongside Chehe, the Siamese community’s local variant of Southern Thai, in villages and Theravada Buddhist temple grounds. For generations, this community in northern Malaysia has lived at the intersection of cultural preservation and national belonging, quietly challenging the assumption that a strong ethnic identity undermines national unity.

At a time when identity debates are increasingly politicised across many societies, the Siamese minority in Kelantan serves as a crucial example of how diversity and national belonging can coexist harmoniously.