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A Comparative Study of Malay/Chinese and Malay/Indian Ethnic Conflicts and Relations in Malaysia's Multi-Ethnic Society
- 1 School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University
- 2 School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Since Malaysia's independence, the relationship between the Malay and Chinese ethnic groups (Malay/Chinese) and the relationship between the Malay and Indian ethnic groups (Malay/Indian) have been two of the most significant political issues in the country. While both belong to the category of indigenous groups and immigrant relations in Malaysia, there are fundamental differences between these two relationships. This paper argues that the Malay/Chinese relationship is a long-standing ethnic conflict caused by social class disputes, characterized by economic disparities, cultural clashes, and structural factors such as colonial history. In contrast, the Malay/Indian relationship is primarily a short-term regional conflict triggered by unexpected events. The ethnic stratification in the Malay/Chinese relationship, formed on the basis of economic differences, has become a structural condition, and the historical friction since the British and Japanese colonial periods has further exacerbated the situation. For Malaysia to build a truly equal and mutually respectful multicultural society, many areas still require significant efforts.
Keywords
Malaysia, Malays, Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indians, Ethnic Conflict, Ethnic Relations
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Cite this article
Wang,L.;Ma,T. (2025). A Comparative Study of Malay/Chinese and Malay/Indian Ethnic Conflicts and Relations in Malaysia's Multi-Ethnic Society. Advances in Social Behavior Research,15,1-11.
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