NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a personal reflection by me over the nature of Islam in South East Asia,and especially how it affects me and my nation,the observations of its nature.

For anybody out there,I'm basically an 18 year old Asian of mixed heritage(Chinese,Indian+Portueguese blood ties) serving in the military next year.Still an overseas student based in Sydney though.

My country on the globe is the red dot you see between two Muslim nations,Malaysia and Indonesia.That's right,a non-Muslim island right between the largest Muslim nation on the Earth and another one which is a traditional rival in nearly every area.We're kind of like Israel,except we don't occupy anybody's land or attack our neighbours or slaughter innocent civilians outright.Of course,our countries are close allies.I'm not going to go into the politics of the situation because it is often complex,but it's enough to say that militarily,we match both nations,and diplomatically we are allies.

Anyway,on to the meat.Growing up,I have had to straddle several cultures,given my mixed heritage.I have encountered few instances of racism,mostly from fellow Chinese(trust me,people of European descent and Chinese can be very racist),mostly ignored it.I grew up in a country where Islam was the 2nd largest religion and had a lot of contact with Muslims in school,outside school and socially.

The strain of Islam that is present in SEA(South East Asia) is mostly benign as peaceful,as it has had traditional Malay influence,Hindu influence,Buddhist influence and tribal influences,changed over time since the Arab traders first brought it to SEA.The vast majority of Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia are from a culture which has adapted to coexisting with people of various backgrounds,due to the colonisation by the French,Dutch,British and Americans in the early years(Philippines was a colony of America after the Spanish-American War).

This was the Islam I was exposed to throughout my childhood,a religion that preached compassion and tolerance,in fact very similar to the Catholic religion I used to follow(I'm a former Catholic,former agnostic,currently a deist philosophy with theistic elements).Where else in the world would you find a mixed blooder like me going clubbing with a Pakistani Muslim,a half-Swiss half-Maldivian student and a Sikh police recruit,in a taxi driven by a Chinese convert to Islam?Possibly no where but Singapore or Malaysia.

The similarties and differences are both astonishing and vast.For example,in the Koran,they have Jesus,but reduce him to the status of a Prophet of Allah(basically meaning the one which should be worshipped),while Muhammad is the important figure in their theology.Similarly,they accord the Jews respect and special status as the "People of the Book",essetially being that Islam as well as Christianity are 2 religions that sprung from Judaism.When you think Jewish 'kosher',you are as good as thinking Islamic 'halal'.

Similarly,I have had a Muslim (ex)girlfriend(trust me on this,Muslim girls are definitely quite wild).So I have been exposed to Islam on many levels.

Many times,when the terrorist attacks occured worldwide,Muslim religious leaders would condemn those attacks.Of course,American media never really pay attention to them as they deem them not newsworthy.

I spent time in Malaysia(father's country) listening to the sounds of the muezzin calling all Muslims to prayer in a sonorous voice.I have been in mosques before and have felt a peace and serenity there that equalled that found in those rare moments in a Christian church.

The Islam I know is an Islam tempered by coexistence with Christianity,influenced by tribal cultures throughout Indonesia and Malaysia,with mystic leanings from ancient Hindu and Buddhist influences from China and India.

Only recently have certain Arabs started to export the teaching of Salafism and Wahhabism to SEA and it is these schools of Islam that are the real enemies of the world,as they preach intolerance and 'killing the infidel'.


Westerners have nothing to fear from South East Asia,either from Malaysia or Indonesia.Learn more and the truth and knowledge will set your free.Of course,remember that the truth has many faces.

So how does that prove Asutralia will never be invaded by indonesia? [/FB]

This is a personal reflection by me over the nature of Islam in South East Asia,and especially how it affects me and my nation,the observations of its nature.

For anybody out there,I'm basically an 18 year old Asian of mixed heritage(Chinese,Indian+Portueguese blood ties) serving in the military next year.Still an overseas student based in Sydney though.

My country on the globe is the red dot you see between two Muslim nations,Malaysia and Indonesia.That's right,a non-Muslim island right between the largest Muslim nation on the Earth and another one which is a traditional rival in nearly every area.We're kind of like Israel,except we don't occupy anybody's land or attack our neighbours or slaughter innocent civilians outright.Of course,our countries are close allies.I'm not going to go into the politics of the situation because it is often complex,but it's enough to say that militarily,we match both nations,and diplomatically we are allies.

Anyway,on to the meat.Growing up,I have had to straddle several cultures,given my mixed heritage.I have encountered few instances of racism,mostly from fellow Chinese(trust me,people of European descent and Chinese can be very racist),mostly ignored it.I grew up in a country where Islam was the 2nd largest religion and had a lot of contact with Muslims in school,outside school and socially.

The strain of Islam that is present in SEA(South East Asia) is mostly benign as peaceful,as it has had traditional Malay influence,Hindu influence,Buddhist influence and tribal influences,changed over time since the Arab traders first brought it to SEA.The vast majority of Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia are from a culture which has adapted to coexisting with people of various backgrounds,due to the colonisation by the French,Dutch,British and Americans in the early years(Philippines was a colony of America after the Spanish-American War).

This was the Islam I was exposed to throughout my childhood,a religion that preached compassion and tolerance,in fact very similar to the Catholic religion I used to follow(I'm a former Catholic,former agnostic,currently a deist philosophy with theistic elements).Where else in the world would you find a mixed blooder like me going clubbing with a Pakistani Muslim,a half-Swiss half-Maldivian student and a Sikh police recruit,in a taxi driven by a Chinese convert to Islam?Possibly no where but Singapore or Malaysia.

The similarties and differences are both astonishing and vast.For example,in the Koran,they have Jesus,but reduce him to the status of a Prophet of Allah(basically meaning the one which should be worshipped),while Muhammad is the important figure in their theology.Similarly,they accord the Jews respect and special status as the "People of the Book",essetially being that Islam as well as Christianity are 2 religions that sprung from Judaism.When you think Jewish 'kosher',you are as good as thinking Islamic 'halal'.

Similarly,I have had a Muslim (ex)girlfriend(trust me on this,Muslim girls are definitely quite wild).So I have been exposed to Islam on many levels.

Many times,when the terrorist attacks occured worldwide,Muslim religious leaders would condemn those attacks.Of course,American media never really pay attention to them as they deem them not newsworthy.

I spent time in Malaysia(father's country) listening to the sounds of the muezzin calling all Muslims to prayer in a sonorous voice.I have been in mosques before and have felt a peace and serenity there that equalled that found in those rare moments in a Christian church.

The Islam I know is an Islam tempered by coexistence with Christianity,influenced by tribal cultures throughout Indonesia and Malaysia,with mystic leanings from ancient Hindu and Buddhist influences from China and India.

Only recently have certain Arabs started to export the teaching of Salafism and Wahhabism to SEA and it is these schools of Islam that are the real enemies of the world,as they preach intolerance and 'killing the infidel'.


Westerners have nothing to fear from South East Asia,either from Malaysia or Indonesia.Learn more and the truth and knowledge will set your free.Of course,remember that the truth has many faces.

Outstanding post! I wish more had your multi-national, multi-faith, multi-race experience. I suspect the world would be a much better, much more peaceful place. :)

A very interesting account Ilham.

Speaking of half-Chinese half-Eurpoean people, one of my friend's mothers is a Chinese Malaysian, and his dad is of European descent.

I'm not concerned about Indonesia because it's the biggest muslim nation but because how it deals with problems inside it's own borders. Like Aceh. They're constantly killing civilians, the elections just kept Aceh from the news for a while.

Nice post but this:


Similarly,I have had a Muslim (ex)girlfriend(trust me on this,Muslim girls are definitely quite wild).

:rolleyes: Excuse while my eyes roll back into my eye sockets.

That's an excellent post :)
It's wonderful to see the positive side of Islam exposed. The media seems only to concentrate on the negative side (actions carried out by a minority, mind you) and it's quite depressing.
So, thanks for that.