Book explores cultural diversity of Malaysia

Source: ISEAS website.

The ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute has published Yearning to Belong: Malaysia's Indian Muslims, Chitties, Portuguese Eurasians, Peranakan Chinese and Baweanese (ISBN: 978-981-4519-67-0), by Patrick Pillai.

Although Malaysia is among the most ethnically diverse and culturally rich nations on earth, much of its cultural wealth remains largely unexplored. This book uncovers some of the diversity through the stories of five little-known acculturated ethnic groups in Peninsula Malaysia, including Indian Muslims. 

The book traces the acculturation journey of these communities and draws lessons for ethnic relations in one of the most complex multiethnic nations in the world.

Author Patrick Pillai, a sociologist, is a former New Straits Times journalist who later became a researcher at Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies, delivers a study of these groups, with some surprising findings. Each community illustrates how much more cross-cultural mingling, sharing and co-dependence there is within Malaysian society than many realise. 

Interested? A soft cover copy costs US$29.90. A PDF is available; and can be purchased by the chapter