Malay Race - Indonesian Context

Indonesian Context

In Indonesia, the term "Malay" (Indonesian: Melayu) is more associated with ethnic Malay than 'Malay race'. It is mostly because Indonesia has other native Indonesian ethnicities that already consolidated and established their culture and identity, and believed they have traditions and dialects that differ to coastal Malay people. Despite sharing some similarities with ethnic Malay; Minang and Javanese do not identify themself as Malay. Thus Malay is considered just as one of myriad Indonesian ethnicities sharing common status with Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, Batak tribes, Bugis, Dayak, Acehnese, Balinese, Torajan, etc. Today the more acceptable umbrella term to describe these commonality is Austronesian, and in Indonesian nationhood perspective as Native Indonesians (Pribumi).

The term 'Malay race' was first coined by foreign scientist during colonial times. During Dutch East Indies era, the natives were grouped under the category inladers or pribumi to describe native Indonesians in contrast to Eurasian Indo people and Asian immigrant (Chinese, Arab and Indian origin). Malay race concept shared in Malaysia and to some degree, the Philippines, also influenced and might be shared by some Indonesians in spirit of inclusivity and solidarity, commonly coined as puak Melayu or rumpun Melayu. The later Indonesian anthropologist used the term 'Malay-Austronesian' to describe Austronesian people to reconcile the Malay race concept with Austronesian language group. However the idea and the degree of 'Malayness' is also vary in Indonesia, from covering the vast area of Austronesian people to confined only in Jambi area where the name 'Malayu' were first recorded. Today, the common identity that binds Malay people together is their language (with variant of dialects exist among them), Islam and their culture.