Malaysia’s heady ethnic brew

THE recent polemics on the ancestry of certain Malaysians show a lack of understanding of the history of our country and the surrounding region. Malays of Indian Muslim ancestry, as well as descendants of Indians, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Arabs have all contributed to the wellbeing and prosperity of this country. In fact, our ethnic brew has shaped our national ethos and aspirations.

Documented evidence shows that people of Indian ancestry had a great impact on Tanah Melayu even before the British era. It was Indian Muslims from the Coromandel Coast in India who, in addition to the Arabs, brought Islam to South-East Asia. Melaka was the centre of commerce when Indians and Arabs traded with the Malays and among themselves.