Some Indicators of Living Space Adaptation of Thai Malay Muslim Students in Malaysia

Abstract

This study indicated that geographical features play an integral part in leading the relationship among individuals of different areas to the state of great complexity. This complexity of the relationship among the individuals was evident in the Malay world as its geographical feature is called ‘borderland’ where the complexity of the relationship between ethnicities was embedded, particularly when it comes to the levels of the relationship among the individuals of different ethnicities. With regard to the context of the Deep South provinces of Thailand, the study noted that the academic sphere in the three southern border provinces of Thailand attached more importance to the unrest which occurred than the individuals. Therefore, it can be assumed that this may give rise to a significant gap in research on Malayness in the three southern border provinces. Additionally, the study also disclosed that Thai Malay Muslim students in Malaysia had adapted themselves. As a minority group living in Malaysia, the students needed to struggle to successfully survive living their lives abroad where they experienced several dimensions of various challenges in this country. These issues were illustrated and discussed based on a case study of Thai Muslim students studying in Malaysia.