Cross-border Muslim Traders : Their Everyday Life Practices in the Padang Besar,Thai-Malay Borderlands

Abstract

The purposes of this investigation are fourfold: 1)  To study the social meaning of the Padang Besar, Thai-Malay borderlands.  2)  To study the Muslim traders’ trading networks with respect particularly to the relations on the Padang Besar borderlands.  3) To study the Muslim traders’ performances carrying on their sole trading.  4) To determine the Malaysians’ tastes and appetites of apparel as appealing consumer’s goods in enhancing and upgrading their social identity. This is an anthropological research in which the researcher embedded in the field work. The data collection methods employed were participatory observations, key informants interviews and case studies. The subjects of the study consisted of 15 Muslim traders, labor force/laborers, goods porters, chauffeurs, public carrier chauffeurs, truck drivers, government officers and local people, and those involved with trading transaction on the borderland, the total of these later groups 22 subjects. The data obtained were categorized, decoded and interpreted. And then, examined by means of triangulation- a technique of physical measurement- a powerful way of demonstrating concurrent validity. In other words, the use of triangular techniques will help to overcome the problem of ‘method- boundedness’. The research found that 1)  The period before the demarcation or exact boundary would be officially delineated.2)  With respect to the relationships among the trading networks undertaken by the Muslim traders moving across the frontier to Thai-Malay Padang Besar ; they had complicated and a wide variety of relationship patterns. 3)  Merchandizing management undertaken by Muslim traders across the frontier has been confronted with the forbidden Muslim religious principles (teaching).4)  Malaysians are in favor of goods, especially clothes produced and exported from Thailand. They regard those wearing clothes made from Thailand as a marker of modernity, showing higher social and economic status. When compared to the Malaysians wearing in accordance with Muslim culture which focuses on simple and delicate patterns. And also they have slightly adapted and adjusted the clothing to suit the social contexts and appropriate to varying opportunities.