Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis
Thesis (PhD (Religious Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
Saved in:
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Pretoria
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613678664155136 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Sukdaven, Maniraj |
| author_browse | Sukdaven, Maniraj |
| author_facet | Sukdaven, Maniraj |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Religious Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101356 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:58.102Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101356 The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis Sukdaven, Maniraj wongksing@yahoo.com Bekele, Anna Wong, Kee Sing UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Malay religious identity Malays Public roles Social identity theory Non-Muslims Theology theses SDG-10 Thesis (PhD (Religious Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Malay-Muslims have a typical understanding of themselves: as Malays and as Muslims. However, Malays are increasingly referring to themselves as Muslims (religious identity) rather than Malay (ethnic identity) due to Islamisation. Despite the importance of their religious identity for understanding themselves, it is also significant in intergroup relations with others in Malaysia, a democratic and pluralistic society. This study identified and examined the components of Malay-Muslim identity, socially and psychologically as well as examining the influences they have on non-Muslim public roles. The impacts of Malay-Muslim identity in Malaysia were understudied and overshadowed by Malay ethnic identity. Previous studies have not considered Malay-Muslim identity from a perspective of socio-religious psychology. The study involved questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews. The data collected were analysed using statistical and content analysis. The results indicate that the salient identity of Malay is Malay-Muslim, and the Malay religious identity displays substantial bias towards non-Muslims, especially when perceiving that non-Muslims should not participate in government employment and typically hold prominent positions. These responses, from the perspective of social identity, are due to in-group identification as land owner, and special position granted by the Federal Constitution, which created differentiation or boundary between Muslims and non-Muslims. The Quran does not explicitly advocate for the exclusion of non-Muslims from positions of public authority. Nonetheless, Quranic verses that encourage a sense of superiority and set boundaries between believers and non-believers are where prejudice and discrimination against non-Muslims rest. This study suggests that the social (religious) identity’s psychological reaction is more than religious teachings, and the dimensions involved are strong self-identification and a sense of superiority as ummah, a differentiation and comparison between Muslims and non-Muslims. Hence, this study contributes to a broader knowledge concerning Islam (Muslim identity) from a perspective of socio-religious psychology. The study concludes that prejudicial acts towards non-Muslims are mainly due to religious identity’s psychological reaction, and that represented one of the main influences for the exclusion of non-Muslims in public roles. The study proposes that the communities should emphasise and promote Malaysian identity instead of religious identity because religious identity demonstrates prejudice and bias. Biblical and Religious Studies PhD (Religious Studies) Unrestricted Faculty of Theology and Religion SDG-10: Reduces inequalities 2025-03-06T02:47:19Z 2025-03-06T02:47:19Z 2025-04 2024-08 Thesis * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101356 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28129853 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Malay religious identity Malays Public roles Social identity theory Non-Muslims Theology theses SDG-10 The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis |
| title | The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis |
| title_full | The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis |
| title_fullStr | The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis |
| title_short | The influence of the Malay religious identity on non-Muslim public roles : a socio-religious analysis |
| title_sort | influence of the malay religious identity on non muslim public roles a socio religious analysis |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Malay religious identity Malays Public roles Social identity theory Non-Muslims Theology theses SDG-10 |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101356 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28129853 |