Malayness of Melayu-Muslim Thai Students in Malaysia
Keywords:
Student, Melayu, MalaysiaAbstract
Objectives: This research article this article aims to analyze and describe the meaning of Melayuness of Thai-Muslim students in Malaysia.
Methodology: The research was conducted in the form of qualitative research and carried out through interviews, document analysis, and participatory observation of the activities of the students who were studying in Malaysia at the tertiary level from August 2015 to March 2020. The involved-students consist of a group of ten students studying at University Utara Malaysia (UUM) and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) each university. Other related parties include two individuals from the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), two staffs from the Thai consulate/Thai Embassy in Malaysia, five Thai students from each university who are not Melayu-Muslim students from the three southern border provinces, and finally, four local academics who graduated from the mentioned universities.
Research Findings: The results of the study showed that the expressions of being Malayuness between IIUM and UUM students were markedly different. The findings suggest that IIUM has a Malay club that expresses the identity of being Malay distinctly through the language, dress, and other various activities. However, the students in UUM reflect more Thai-ness rather than Melayuness in every activity that purposely describes the identity of Thai students in Malaysia, such as Muay Thai.
Contribution: Research result utilize besides, another group of Melayu-Muslim Thai students who were studying in Malaysia who called themselves "Fatani people" or "Muvallad Student Group" would interact with other students through activities that communicate in the Arab and Malay language only. This showed that the adaptation in the living space of the Fatoni students is not only facing the language issues to adapt and bargain, but it also involves a matter of identity creation as Melayu that needed to be understood understandably.
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