Cocos Malays

Cocos Malays are a community that form the predominant group of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which is now part of Australia. The Cocos Malays are originated from the descendants of Malay settlers from the British colonies of British Malaya, Singapore, Brunei and the Riau Archipelago of Dutch East Indies.

The first Malays are believed to have arrived and settled in the Islands in 1826 "when Alexander Hare, an English adventurer brought his Malay harem and slaves there." In 1827 John Clunies-Ross changed the lives of the Malay slaves when he settled the Islands with his family. The existing Malays and large number of newly arrived Malay immigrants that Clunies-Ross brought with him were employed to assist with the harvesting of coconuts for copra. In September 1978, the Clunies-Ross family sold Cocos Islands to the Australian government. Since then, the Chief of State has been Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the current Governor-General, Administrator Brian Lacy. The Chairman of the Islands is Council Haji Wahin bin Bynie.