Being Malays and Mohammadans: The Discourse of British Colonials during the Age of Imperialism
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Abstract
This article analyses how British colonial discourse during the age of imperialism depicted the Malays—frequently labelled as “Mohammadans”—and the lasting influence of such portrayals. A review of existing scholarship reveals limited critical engagement with the origins and functions of these depictions, despite their deep roots in Orientalist and Eurocentric thought. Drawing on colonial writings, administrative records, and literary works, the study employs qualitative textual analysis to trace how such narratives conflated Malay identity with Islam and framed it as a cause of moral and intellectual decline. These stereotypes legitimised political domination, economic exploitation, and cultural hierarchy. While some British authors offered more nuanced portrayals, others perpetuated negative images that persisted post-independence. Malay resistance to “Mohammedan” signified enduring cultural and religious self-definition.
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