Malaysian Identity in 2015, Malay Sources

Abstract

Based on an interpretive discourse analysis of elite and mass texts, the six most salient identity categories of Malaysian identity in 2015 are: “Bumiputera sovereignty”, “peaceful leader”, “developed country”, “nationalistic”, “Britain, Japan and neighbouring countries as significant others”, and “responsible leader”. Malaysia’s predominant discourse of national identity is the sovereignty of the Bumiputeras, which refer to the Malays and indigenous populations of Sabah and Sarawak. Constitutionally, these groups would have access to the privileges that are not extended to non-Bumiputeras. This discourse is featured in both positive and neutral terms in the texts. With the exception of “Britain, Japan and some neighbouring countries”, the category of which is discussed negatively, all the other categories carry a positive valence. Overall, there are no challenger discourses for the top 20 identity categories. Instead, elite-mass consensus emerges for categories such as “development”, “peace”, “safety” and “multiracialism”.