Dignity and Political Expectation of the Malay Electorate in Malaysia
Malays as an ethnic group makes up the majority of Malaysia’s 32million population. However, the Malays continue to feel economically andsocially insecure with their position vis-à-vis other ethnicities such as theChinese, which have led to the continued support for conservative politicalfigures and...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2021
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| In: |
Intellectual discourse
Year: 2021, Volume: 29, Issue: 1, Pages: 149-174 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Malays as an ethnic group makes up the majority of Malaysia’s 32million population. However, the Malays continue to feel economically andsocially insecure with their position vis-à-vis other ethnicities such as theChinese, which have led to the continued support for conservative politicalfigures and parties. This study proposes that the Malays fear the loss of theirdignity in a multicultural world more than the fear of being left behind. Previousstudies have shown that the Malays are seeing the improvement of theirphysical and psychological well-being, and thus can be said to be living a lifewith dignity. Despite better conditions, the Malays are still reluctant to embraceinter-ethnic equality as it is perceived to threaten the community mindset ofthe Malays. Using a survey that was distributed to 458 respondents of adultMalays, this study seeks to discover the relationship between respondents’ viewon felt dignity and their political expectation. Based on a number of bivariatecorrelation analysis, it is found that while most of the Malay respondents expectit to be the government’s duty to empower and protect the Malay community,there is a modest relationship between those who feel dignified and secure to bemore liberal in their political expectation. The implication is that governmentpolicies should continue in uplifting the Malays as a pre-condition for a moreegalitarian Malaysia. |
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| ISSN: | 2289-5639 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Intellectual discourse
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