Labelling Identity

Book excerpt: Over the last decade, Malay ethnic identity has taken on new life compared to religious identity in and outside Malaysia. This book explores key emblematic features of ethnic and religious identity and the idea of “Malayness” in Australia at a time when Islamic identity has gained prominence on the global stage. The author explores topics such as: • Religion as a powerful basis of personal and collective identification for Malay-Muslim postgraduate students in Western Australia; • Experiences of Malay-Muslim postgraduate students and their relation to Islamic values; • Islamic revivalism and the middle class; • Ethnic and religious factors related to interpersonal communication. Other studies on Malays in Australia tend to focus on the past instead of the problems that new Malays possibly going to face when they reach the continent. This book overcomes that limitation and makes headway in addressing cultural differences related to identity, ethnicity, and religion.