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All of the world's major
religions have substantial representation in Malaysia, the
main adherents of each largely reflecting the multi-ethnic
character of the population. The variety of religions found
in Malaysia is a direct reflection of the diversity of races
living there. Although Islam is the state religion of
Malaysia, freedom of religion is guaranteed. The Malays are
almost all Muslims. The Chinese embrace an eclectic brew of
Taoism, Buddhism and ancestor worship, though some are
Christians. Although Christianity has made no great inroads
into Peninsular Malaysia it has had a much greater impact
upon East Malaysia, where many indigenous people have
converted to Christianity , although others still follow
their animist traditions.
Islam
Islam came to Malaysia with the Indian traders from South
India and was not of the more orthodox Islamic tradition of
Arabia. Islam was adopted peacefully by the coastal trading
ports people of Malaysia and Indonesia, absorbing rather
than conquering existing beliefs. As in many Muslim
countries, Islam in Malaysia has seen a significant revival
over the past 10 years or so. It is wise for visitors to be
appropriately discreet in dress and behaviour, particularly
on the more strictly Muslim east coast of the peninsula.
Malay ceremonies and beliefs still exhibit pre-Islamic
traditions, but most Malays are ardent Muslims and to
suggest otherwise to a Malay would cause great offence. With
the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, the calls to introduce
Islamic law and purify the practices of Islam have
increased, but while the Government is keen to espouse
Muslim ideals, it is wary of religious extremism. The Koran
is the main source of religious law for Malays, and though
few are proficient in Arabic, all Malay children are sent to
learn to read the Koran. Malaysia has an annual
Koran-reading competition, and passages of the Koran are
read in Arabic at many Malay ceremonies.
Chinese
The Chinese religion is a mix of Taoism, Confucianism and
Buddhism. Taoism combines with old animistic harmony with
the universe. Confucianism takes care of the political and
moral aspects of life, while Buddhism takes care of the
afterlife. But to say that the Chinese have three religions
- Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism - is too simple a view
of their traditional religious life. At the first level,
Chinese religion is animistic, with a belief in the innate
vital energy in rocks, trees, rivers and springs. At the
second level, people from the distant past, both real and
mythological, are worshipped as gods. Overlaid on this are
popular Taoist, Mahayana Buddhist and Confucian beliefs.
Hinduism
There have been Hindu influences in Malaysia since the dawn
of history, but the Hinduism of the Hindu period in
Malaysian history has title connection with the Hinduism
practiced in the country today. Brahmanical Hinduism which
flourished at the courts of petty Malaysian states before
the coming of Islam in the 15th century was an aristocratic
used to bolster the authority of the ruling class, which was
carried across the Indian Ocean by early Hindu traders.
Relics and remains from this period have also been found,
principally in Kedah.
Sikhism
While The Sikh community in Malaysia owes its beginnings in
the country to the British connection and in particular with
the recruitment of Sikhs for the paramilitary and police
units which formed the nucleus from which the modern police
and military forces of the nation derived. The first of
these units was the Perak Sikhs. The Sikhs believe and
worship the one and only God who is formless. Hence, idol
worship is denounced by the Sikh scriptures. The Sikhs'
place of worship is known as a 'Gurdwara' which is open to
all irrespective of race, religion, colour or sex. The Sikhs
celebrate the principal festival which is also the Sikh New
Year that is called Vasakhi , each April and the birthdays
and martyrdom of Sikh Gurus and the installation of the Holy
Guru Granth Sahib as the 'living Guru of the Sikhs for all
times', amongst others.
Christianity
International trade in early times played a key role in
bringing Christianity to this part of the world. Some
Persian traders were Nestorian Christians. Later, in the
middle ages, Catholic diplomats, travellers and priests
travelled through the Straits enroute to China. Among the
traders residing in Melaka during the Melaka Sultanate in
the 15th century were Nestorians and also Armenian
Christians from what is today Eastern Turkey. Churches were
established in the area with the coming of the Portuguese in
1511, the Dutch in 1641 and the British in 1786. However, in
this early period, the Christian community was still largely
an expatriate community. Chinese Christians sometimes
migrated as communities as in the case of Basel Mission
Hakkas to Sabah and Methodist Foochows to Sibu, Sarawak and
Sitiawan, Perak. Christian missionaries played a key role in
the field of education and medical services by establishing
schools and hospitals in various parts of the country. |
