Anti-Malay sentiment

Anti-Malay sentiment or Malayophobia refers to feelings of hostility, prejudice, discrimination or disdain towards Malay people, Malay culture, the Malay language or anything perceived as Malay.

It is notable in Singapore, where there is a large Malay community, and in Malaysia, where the Malay people form the majority of the population. Anti-Malay sentiment has also been observed in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Incidents by country

Indonesia

In October 2021, Sri Wahyuni, a financial bureau employee of the Nahdlatul Ulama University of North Sumatra, remarked that "the toilets are dirty because the janitors are Malays" during a complementary study at an elementary school at Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra. Her statement caused protests by the Students' Reform Fighters Front of North Sumatra on 29 October.

Malaysia

The Malays are one of the major ethnic groups in multiracial Malaysia. In the May 13 Incident on May 13, 1969, a major racial riot broke out between the Malays and Chinese in Kuala Lumpur that suspended the Malaysian parliament for 22 months. UMNO Politician Tunku Abdul Rahman alleged the cause of the riots as parades organised by Chinese Democratic Action Party and Gerakan supporters celebrating anticipated general election victory, chanting provocative anti-Malay slogans such as: "Semua Melayu kasi habis" (Finish off all the Malays), "Kuala Lumpur sekarang Cina punya" (Kuala Lumpur now belongs to the Chinese). Worse still, as the parades passed through Malay communities such as Kampung Baru, the attendees began chanting: "Melayu mati" (death to Malays) and calling the Malays stupid. Some of them carried brooms, allegedly to symbolise the sweeping out of the Malays from Kuala Lumpur, while others chanted inflammatory slogans about the "sinking" of the Alliance boat — the coalition's logo.