The Question of the Future of Indian Muslims in Malaysia: The Post-Mahathir Legacy Era

Abstract

Abstract Abstract The Malays, Chinese and Indian community in Malaysia have been homogenized since British colonialism. The existence of Indian Muslims’ identity caused a new paradigm shift in Malaysia involving the racial discussion. This paper traces the difference in Indian Muslims’ identities from Indian and the Hindus. I argued that Indian Muslims share Islam as their religion and faith, while maintaining a Malay way of life and custom in their daily practices. In Malaysia, the Indian Muslim community struggled to place their future in terms of social, economic allocation and political justification among the other communities. However, the strength of ethnic politics clearly charted out their involvement in the political base and moved them to fight for their cause and rights. Hence, today’s Indian Muslim community has caused an Islamic resurgence, which has brought a new Indian dimension as a whole.