Encyclopedia of Islam

Bumiputra

  

117  J

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ally included under it. The use of the designation 

Bumiputra was part of an effort to form a new 

national Malaysian identity in the wake of inde-

pendence from British colonial rule in 1957. Also, 

this usage seems to have been influenced by the 

Islamic resurgence in the country. For a Malay to 

convert from i

slam

 to another religion not only 

entails being accused of 

apostasy

, it also means 

giving up one’s national identity. According to the 

1957 Malaysian Federal Constitution, a Malay 

(Bumiputra) is defined as a follower of Islam who 

“habitually speaks the Malay language” and “con-

forms to Malay custom.” Malay Muslims, there-

fore, not only stand apart from the Hindu and 

Chinese Buddhist immigrant communities, they 

are also distinct from immigrant Muslims.

In the 1970s, laws were passed to give Malay 

Bumiputras special advantages. The king of the 

country, for example, was charged with safeguard-

ing their privileges with regard to 

edUcation

 and 

employment. The result has been discriminatory 

(some say racist) government policies that give 

Malays more access to subsidized housing, state 

universities, and government-contracted projects. 

In a practice known as Ali Baba, a non-Bumipu-

tra company (Baba) must join in a partnership 

with one owned by a Bumiputra (Ali) in order to 

receive government business. Since 2000, under 

pressure from non-Bumiputra groups, the govern-

ment has taken steps to allow for a more egalitar-

ian treatment of members of these groups.

See also 

reneWal

 

and

 

reForm

 

movements

.