Thammasat University students interested in ASEAN studies, Malaysia, China, comparative religion, Islam, Confucianism, interfaith dialogue, and related subjects may find it useful to participate in a free 27 August Zoom webinar on Anwar Ibrahim’s Role in Islamic-Confucian Dialogue and its Impact on Malaysia, China and Beyond.

The event, on Tuesday, 27 August 2024 at 9am Bangkok time, is presented by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore.

The TU Library collection includes several books about different aspects of religion in Malaysia.

Students are welcome to register for the event at this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3017206712653/WN_-lNm-mM6Tbyi5slNGWC2FQ#/registration

As explained on the event website,

The ongoing dialogue between Islam and Confucianism in Malaysia, a country characterized by its multi-religious population, holds profound significance for fostering racial harmony. This dialogue has found an influential advocate in Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, whose commitment to inter-civilizational engagement plays a significant role in promoting understanding between the Islamic and Confucian worlds.

This seminar delves into Anwar’s pivotal role in promoting interreligious dialogue within Malaysia and beyond. It will examine the impact of Anwar’s efforts to foster connections among Malaysia’s diverse communities and discuss how these interfaith initiatives advance his quest for an inclusive, pluralistic Malaysia Madani. Additionally, the seminar will explore Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Xi Jinping’s recent commitment to collaborate on Xi’s newly launched the Global Civilization Initiative, examining its implications for Malaysia, China, and global exigencies such as the Gaza crisis.

About the Speaker

Dr. Peter Chang is currently a Research Associate at the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, and a Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. His research explores how a rejuvenated Confucianism could shape the evolving character of the Chinese milieu and impact the global community through soft power, traditional and popular culture, particularly in Malaysia. […]

 In June, Dr. Chang published an article, Chinese in Malaysia: Proud of China’s rise, yet fiercely Malaysian.

The article begins:

Chinese Malaysians are proud of China’s rise as a great power. But they have also forged a separate cultural identity quite apart from China’s efforts.

China’s rise has rekindled civilisational pride among some overseas Chinese communities, including those in Malaysia. However, Malaysian Chinese have also forged a distinctive localised cultural identity, intertwined with an unmistakable sense of national belonging as Malaysians.

Beijing has long recognised overseas Chinese as an essential bridge linking China to the outside world. In recent years, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council has intensified its efforts to strengthen ties with the Chinese diaspora. Some within the Southeast Asian Chinese community have emerged as intermediaries facilitating connections between China and the international community, especially in trade and commerce.

More broadly, Beijing’s outreach efforts, like the recently launched Global Civilisation Initiative, have sparked a resurgence of cultural connections. Platforms such as CCTV, WeChat and TikTok serve as channels through which overseas Chinese are rekindling their fascination with China’s history and traditions.

Re-sinicisation taking place among the Malaysian Chinese

In Malaysia, the Chinese community, especially among the English-educated, is undergoing a phenomenon some refer to as re-sinicisation. This is broadly defined as a renewed interest and enthusiasm for embracing their Chinese cultural roots. Mandarin, for example, is gradually replacing English as the predominant working language within the Malaysian Chinese community, alongside Malay, the national language.

The re-sinicisation process has emerged as a contentious issue, particularly concerning the cultural identity of the Malaysian Chinese. Recently, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad reignited the discourse by questioning the loyalty of the Chinese community, citing perceived hesitance on their part in fully embracing other cultures. The increasing influence of China adds another layer of complexity to this issue.

Nonetheless, the crisis of Chinese cultural identity in Malaysia is intricately linked to the nation’s complicated experiment with multiculturalism. Unlike countries like Indonesia, Malaysia chose accommodation over assimilation in dealing with its minority population. Chinese in Malaysia, for instance, are allowed to retain their Chinese names, whereas in Indonesia, they are required to adopt Indonesian names. This policy has proven to be a double-edged sword. The celebration of diversity is done at the expense of the country’s aspiration for unity. This has led to a lack of a unified Malaysian cultural identity.

The Malaysian education system encapsulates this challenge. In addition to national schools, Malaysia offers minorities the option to attend vernacular schools. However, the perceived shortcomings of the public school system have led most Chinese families to opt for vernacular schools. This has resulted in segregation, undermining efforts to cultivate a shared national identity. The government’s efforts to foster a common identity are perceived by minorities as attempts to erode the country’s diversity. Thus, sinicisation is foremost driven by this struggle to safeguard what Malaysian Chinese believe are their constitutional rights.

A diverse community

To be sure, the Malaysian Chinese community is a culturally diverse group, encompassing Malay-speaking Peranakans, as well as those educated in English and Chinese. While there is a collective effort to preserve the country’s pluralism, it is noteworthy that the Chinese-educated segment takes a leading role in advocating for it, thereby elevating the profile of the Mandarin language. Nevertheless, the Malaysian Chinese community remains richly diverse, with Peranakans and the English-educated maintaining their multicultural, multilingual way of life.

The culturally diverse Malaysian Chinese also exhibit distinct differences from their counterparts on the mainland. One contributing factor is that the Malaysian Chinese community was spared the Cultural Revolution. Unlike their mainland counterparts, they have preserved many traditional norms, particularly those related to religious beliefs.

Furthermore, interaction with the Malay and Indian community has enriched Malaysian Chinese culture, infusing it with unique Malaysian characteristics. Peranakan cuisine exemplifies how Malay and Indian-style cooking have embellished the Malaysian Chinese culinary tradition. This cultural synergy extends across various domains, including linguistic fusion, architecture designs, fashion and musical expression. While Malaysian Chinese acknowledge their ancestral ties to China, their cultural identity has primarily been shaped by domestic influences. This has resulted in the development of traits that are distinctly Malaysian, setting them apart from their fellow Chinese on the mainland.

Undoubtedly, citizenship stands as the defining factor that differentiates Malaysian Chinese from their counterparts in China. In 1955, Premier Zhou Enlai encouraged overseas Chinese to embrace local citizenship and integrate into the societies they found themselves in. However, some have raised concerns that China’s present leadership is blurring this distinction, with stronger appeals by Beijing to Chinese overseas to support China. […]

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)