Hindu and Muslim inter-religious relations in Malaysia

This study focuses on the minority Hindus and their interaction with the majority Malay-Muslim community. The Hindus of Malaysia since indepndance from colonial rule have been seriously marginalised owing to their lack of demographic, economic and political power. Islamic resurgance and strident calls for Islamisation of the state have adversely affected the Hindus and created apprehension in the community. This has resulted in auguementing Hindu religiousity and sense of identity. The alienation, ghettoisation and economic decline of the Hindus are pressing problems for the Malaysian nation.

Author Notes

Dr. Theodore Gabriel is a Senior Lecturer of Religious Studies at the Cheltenham and Glouscester College of Higher Education in England.

Foreword	p. vii
Acknowledgements	p. ix
Chapter 1 Introduction	p. 1
Chapter 2 Hinduism in Malaysia	p. 17
Early Contacts	p. 17
Modern Indian Immigration	p. 18
Other Hindu Communities	p. 25
The Malacca Chettiars	p. 25
The Chettiars	p. 26
The Jaffna Tamils	p. 27
Northern Indian Hindus	p. 27
Hindu Religious Practice in Malaysia	p. 27
The Thaipusam Festival	p. 29
Hindu Revival in Malaysia	p. 32
Hindu Caste in Malaysia	p. 35
Chapter 3 The Malay-Muslim Equation: Issues of Religion and Identity in Malaysia	p. 41
Issues Relating to National Culture and National Unity	p. 45
ALIRAN	p. 52
Department of National Unity	p. 53
Chapter 4 The Hindu Dilemma: Problems Faced by the Hindu Diaspora	p. 63
Economic Issues	p. 63
The National Economic Policy (NEP)	p. 68
Educational Issues	p. 78
Chapter 5 The Hindu Dilemma: Political and Religious Issues	p. 85
Political Issues	p. 85
Religious Issues	p. 94
Chapter 6 The Impact of Islamic Resurgence on Malaysian Hindus	p. 109
Chapter 7 Conclusion	p. 135
Bibliography	p. 149
Map of West Malaysia	p. 157
Table I Immigration of Indian Labour into Malaysia (1841 to 1941)	p. 159
Table II Indian Population 1970	p. 160
Table III Indian Population 1970 by Religion	p. 161
Table IV Indian Population 1983	p. 162
Table V Population of Kuala Lumpur Major Ethnic Groups 1970-1990	p. 163
Appendix Malaysia: Political Parties	p. 164
Index	p. 165

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