Chinese Muslims in Malaysia: origin, history, identity crisis and problems

• Main Authors: Chuah, Osman, Mahmud, Mek Wok, Fatah Yasin, Raudlotul Firdaus
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Pustaka Yamien Sdn Bhd 2020
• Subjects: B69 History and systems; BP62 By race, ethnic group, tribe, etc.; HT Communities. Classes. Races
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/85589/1/85589_Chinese%20Muslims%20in%20Malaysia%20origin%2C%20history.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/85589/

The population of Chinese Muslim in Malaysia is 57111 according to the census of 2000 (Census 2000). Most of them were originally non-Muslims Chinese who have embraced Islam in Malaysia with their children . In fact, the Chinese is the biggest ethnic group who has embraced Islam this country (JAKIM ). The state religious departments of Malaysia have registered the Chinese in Malaysia who has embraced Islam as Chinese Muslims. The followers of Islam are known as Muslims though there are other terms mentioned in Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah to describe them. All the followers of Islam in the South East Asian region, the Indian Sub-Continent, Middle East, Africa and others never used any other terms other than “muslim”. However, in the Chinese terminology, there is a specific word refer to non-Chinese muslims and Chinese muslims which is Hui Chiaw Tu. The Chinese also used a word Hui Chiao refer to Islam which means the true and pure religion and it is also known as Ching chen chiaw. Besides, the chinese word of Hui also represents one out of ten of minority muslim ethnic group population recognised in China. The ten Muslim ethnic groups in China are Hui, Uigur, Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kirgiz, Dongxiang, Salar, and Baoán. (Yang Su Na Asiah 2003). As the Hui in China is the biggest Muslim ethnic group in China, the non-Muslim Chinese or Han and other non-Muslim ethnic groups who had embraced Islam are known as entering hui way. When the non-Muslim Chinese came to Nusantara, the Chinese this including Chinese Muslims in Malaysia called those embracing Islam as entering Hui. The converted Chinese Muslims are from the various sub-ethnic groups of Chinese from South China who migrated to Malaysia, namely Cantonese, Hockien, Hakka and others. Besides, there were also born Muslims who migrated from China to Malaysia. The total number of Malaysian Chinese Muslims is 57221, which makes up just 1% of the total Chinese population of 5691908 in Malaysia. Selangor, with 17246, has the highest number of Chinese Muslims, followed by Sabah (8589), Kuala Lumpur (7991), and Sarawak (7287). There are more women than men, numbering 32271 and 21850 respectively (National Census 2000).