'Malays are not immigrants', says academic

 

Malays should not be labelled immigrants in the Malay Archipelago, particularly in Tanah Melayu, as their history is closely linked to the centuries-old merantau tradition, said International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation, International Islamic University Malaysia (ISTAC-IIUM) director Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican. - PIC CREDIT: FB/zahidhamidi.fanpage

MELAKA: Malays should not be labelled immigrants in the Malay Archipelago, particularly in Tanah Melayu, as their history is closely linked to the centuries-old merantau tradition, said International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation, International Islamic University Malaysia (ISTAC-IIUM) director Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican.

He said describing Malays as immigrants was inaccurate as it failed to take into account the history, culture and geographical ties of communities across the region.

He said the movement of Malay communities between regions in the Malay Archipelago should be understood as part of the merantau tradition, rather than migration viewed solely through the lens of modern political borders.

"Malays in Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo are not an immigrant phenomenon but a merantau phenomenon. Among the groups that also have a merantau tradition are the Cham people. We must not be constrained by political borders, by false borders," he said.

He said the merantau tradition also connected Malay communities from various regions, including Luzon, Sumatra and Sulawesi, which share historical, cultural and linguistic ties, as well as the concept of balik kampung, referring to returning to one's place of origin and community networks.

Ahmad Murad said this when he appeared as a panellist at a session discussing 'Unravelling the Polemic of Tanah Melayu' at Musyawarah Nasional 3.0 at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC), Ayer Keroh, here today.

Musyawarah Nasional 3.0 was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Musyawarah Nasional founder Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and was also attended by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Meanwhile, constitutional and public law expert Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu A. Aziz said the term and status of Tanah Melayu had never disappeared as claimed by some parties, but remained enshrined in the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the country.

"The Constitution is the law that created our country, formed and built our country, and guides how we live as a nation.

"Therefore, the name Tanah Melayu is not an issue that needs to be polemicised. We also do not know why, or the intention or motive, for saying that Tanah Melayu has disappeared," she said.

She said Tanah Melayu was referred to in the Constitution through two main terms, namely the 'States of Malaya' (Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu) and the 'Malay Peninsula' (Semenanjung Tanah Melayu).

She said appreciating and understanding all provisions enshrined in the Constitution could increase understanding of the country's foundations and help defend the country's position. - NST