Singapore Malays, 1819-1994: A Bibliographic Survey

Abstract

The culture & history of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore are examined using the Singapore Malay/Muslim Community, 1819-1994: A Bibliography (1996, Mutalib et al [Eds]). Analyzed are the themes dealt with both before & after Singapore's emergence as an independent state in 1965; the period & extent of coverage; the nature & form of writing employed; the background of the writers, local & foreign; & other observations, eg, article language in comparison to the subjects being discussed. An examination of post-1970 materials, when there were more substantive studies written by better-educated authors, reveals that the writings reflect the different stages of the Malay community's development. It is suggested that future research is needed to address the developments & challenges facing this community. C. Haywood.