Malay Singaporeans
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Malay Singaporeans
Orang Melayu Singapura
A Malay Singaporean wedding
Total population
Malay as per
545,498
13.5% of the Singapore resident
population (2020)
Regions with significant populations
Languages
(official)
Religion
Predominantly
98.8%
Minority:
0.6% •
0.4% • Others 0.2%
Related ethnic groups
(
)
Part of a series on
Malay Singaporeans
(
:
Orang Melayu Singapura
) are
of
ancestry, including those from the
. As of the 2020 census,
they constitute approximately 13.5% of the country's residents, making them
the second largest ethnic group in
.
Under the
, they are recognised by the government as the
of
the country, with
as the
and
of Singapore.
At the time of the arrival of British colonial official
in
1819, the estimated population of Malays on the island was approximately
1,000.
Another estimate suggests that at the time of Raffles' arrival, the
population comprised around 120 Malays, 30 Chinese and some local indigenous
tribes.
From the nineteenth century until
, the
Malays generally enjoyed favourable treatment, as they were not resettled for
labour and their traditional lifestyles were largely left undisturbed.
However, as the British required coolies
to support their colonial
enterprises, immigration rates among Malays remained relatively low compared
to Indians and Chinese immigrants. The latter group notably became the
majority ethnic population by the mid-nineteenth century.
A significant portion of Malay Singaporeans trace their roots to nearby
regions throughout
, such as the
,
,
,
and the
. Many Malay Singaporeans originally
belonged to different ethnic groups before assimilating into the Malay
community. This migration has contributed to the rich cultural heritage of
Malays in Singapore. These groups share common culture, customs, language and
religion with the wider Singaporean society. They actively participate in all
aspects of Singaporean life, with independent representation in areas such as
media, politics and sports.
History of the Malay kings of Singapore
[
]
A group of Malay women seated,
, circa 1900.
The seventeenth-century Malay chronicle, the
or
,
tells of the founding of a great trading city on the island of
in
1299 AD by a prince from
. Palembang was then the capital of the
diminishing
. The prince, Sri Tri Buana, (also known as
) was said to be a descendant of
and an Indian
princess called Shahru Al-Bariyah. Legend states that he renamed the city
("lion city") after sighting a strange beast that he took to be a
lion, although there is no real historical evidence of this.
In the mid-14th century, Singapura suffered raids by the expanding Javanese
to the south and the emerging Thai kingdom of
to
the north, both claiming the island as a vassal state at several points in
time. Around 1388, the ruler of
,
, came to Singapore to
flee from Majapahit control. He murdered the king and seized power, but it was
a futile act. The Srivijaya Empire, already in decline, finally met its end
when Majapahit attacked its capital Palembang in 1391. In 1396, Majapahit or
Ayutthaya forces drove out Parameswara, who fled northward and founded kingdom
of
in 1400.
When the
, the last Malaccan sultan,
, fled to
, where he established the new
. Singapura became
part of this sultanate. In 1613, however, the Portuguese reportedly burning down a trading outpost at the mouth of the
and Singapura passed into history.
In 1718, Raja Kecil of
who claimed he was the posthumous son of Sultan Mahmud II, took control of the
Johor Sultanate. Four years later, Raja Kecil was dethroned by Raja Sulaiman's supporters with the assistance of the
. The territory controlled by the
in the late eighteenth century still included Singapore as
part of its territory. The sultanate had become increasingly weakened by a division into a Malay faction, which
controlled the Malay peninsula and Singapore vis a vis a Bugis faction which controlled the
. When
Sultan
died in 1811, the Bugis had proclaimed the younger of his two sons,
, as
sultan instead of the elder son,
. While the sultan was the nominal ruler of his domain, senior officials
actually governed the sultanate. In control of Singapore and the neighbouring islands was
,
Tengku Long's father-in-law. In 1818, he and some of his followers left Riau for Singapore shortly after the Dutch
signed a treaty with the Sultan Abdul Rahman, allowing the Dutch to station a garrison at Riau.
In 1819, Tengku Long signed a treaty with the British led by Sir
. In exchange for British protection
and recognising him as Sultan of Johor, Tengku Long agreed to allow the British to establish a trading post in
Singapore. Proclaimed as Sultan Hussein Shah, he became the Sultan of Johor. Hussein Shah's claim to be Sultan of
Johor and Singapore was by all accounts not recognised by the Malay rulers and was only a nominal title. Sultan Hussein
on his part, did not pursue any active claim to his sovereignty rights over Johor, spent much of his time at his
residence in
until he moved to Malacca in 1834.
In 1835, Sultan Hussein Shah died and was succeeded by his eldest son,
. In 1855, due to his debts caused by
his extravagant lifestyle, Sultan Ali formally ceded his sovereignty rights of Johor to
with
the exception of the
territory in
, plus an annual stipend for his family. Thus, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim
was made the de facto Maharajah of Johor until his death in 1862. He was succeeded by his son
, who
eventually went on to become the Sultan of modern Johor in 1886.
After Sultan Ali's death in 1877, disputes broke out among his descendants. In the late 1890s, they went to court,
where it was decided that no one in the family had the rights as the successor to the sultanate and the land at
Kampong Glam should revert to the state [
Tengku Mahmud vs. Tengku Ali, Straits Settlements Laws Report 1897
(Vol. 5)
].
in
. Built in 1819, the building
was formerly a
of
Sultan
.
Malay kings of Singapore (1299–1396 AD)
[
]
Sri Tri Buana (
) (1299–1347)
Raja Kecil Besar (
) (1348–1362 (?) )
Raja Muda (
) (1363–1374 (?) )
Damia Raja (
) (1375–1386 (?) )
Parameswara (
) (1388 or 1390 (?) –1397)
Malay kings of Singapore (1699–1835 AD)
[
]
(Sultan of Riau-Lingga-Pahang) (1699–1718)
(Raja Kecil) (Sultan of Riau-Lingga-Pahang) (1718–1722)
Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Al-Alam Shah (Sultan of Johor-Riau-Lingga-Pahang) (1722–1760)
Sultan Mahmud Riayat Shah III (Sultan of Johor-Pahang) (1761–1812)
Sultan Abdul Rahman (Sultan of Lingga) (1812–1832) (Placed on the throne instead of his older brother Hussein,
supported by Bugis)
Sultan Hussein Shah (Sultan of Johor) (1819–1835) (Recognised by the British as the rightful Sultan of Johor.)
Migration of Malays to Singapore after 1819
[
]
This clickable map depicts the homelands of the majority of
Malay Singaporeans. Click on the regional subdivisions to see
the name of a state, province, or region.
When Raffles arrived in Singapore, thousands of Malays were
estimated living in the surrounding areas.
The
waters of
, the
and other rivers
had long been home to the
or
Sea Nomads
. There
were also Malay settlements along the Kallang River Basin
and the
. Turnbull reported that about 1,000 people lived in Singapore, including approximately 500
Orang Kallang, 200 Orang Seletar, 150 Orang Gelam, 100 Orang Laut and 20 to 30 Malays who were followers of
.
The first census taken in 1824 revealed that Malays (including the
) comprised 60.9 per cent of the total
population of 10,683.
The 1826 census recorded 4,790 Malays, 1,242 Bugis, and 267 Javanese out of a total
population of 13,750.
Resident population of early
Singapore
Ethnic Group
Population
1824
1826
Europeans
74
87
Armenians
16
19
Arabs
15
26
Malays
4,580
4,790
Bugis
1,925
1,242
Javanese
188
267
Indians
756
1,021
Others
12
Total
10,683
13,750
Malay subgroups
[
]
A Malay woman in
Singapore circa 1890.
Most Singaporean Malays are descended from different ethnic groups that are found
throughout the
. Most notable are the indigenous tribes of the
,
Local
,
,
,
,
,
,
, and
.
Orang Laut (Sea Nomads)
[
]
Further information:
According to Sopher (1977), the Orang Kallang,
, Orang Selat and Orang Gelam were the
that
lived in Singapore. The Orang Kallang (also called the Orang Biduanda Kallang) lived in the swampy areas in the
Kallang River. They lived on boats and sustained their lives by fishing and collecting other materials from the
forests. After 1819, they were relocated by Temenggong Abdul Rahman to the northern Singapore Straits at Sungai Pulau.
In 1847 most of the Orang Kallang were wiped out by a smallpox epidemic.
The Orang Seletar lived in the river swamps and the small islands surrounding mainland Singapore. They would often
gather in the coastal areas, especially on the estuary of the Seletar River. They lived a nomadic lifestyle until the
1850s when they started living on land and followed the lifestyles of others living in Singapore.
The Orang Selat lived in the harbour waters of Keppel Singapore. They were believed to have traversed the waters of
Keppel Harbour since the early 16th century, making them one of the earliest settlers of the island. They sold fish
and fruits to the trading vessels that passed the area.
The Orang Gelam came from a tribe in
. They were brought by the Temenggong of Johor together with a group
of his followers to establish a settlement in the first decade of the 19th century. Many of the Orang Gelam who lived
along the Singapore River served as boatmen for merchant ships while their womenfolk were fruit sellers on boats.
The Orang Laut differed from the Malays in that they lived a nomadic lifestyle and lived at sea in their boats whereas
the Malays lived in settlements in the villages on the land. One example of an Orang Laut is Mohammed Abdul Rahmah.
Malays proper (Johor–Riau)
[
]
A traditional Malay
or
village in Singapore. 1907.
When Raffles came to Singapore, there were already hundreds of
and
orang laut living there.
They were made up of the nobility that was headed by
the Temenggong, the palace officials and his followers as well as the Orang Laut.
Subsequently, the numbers increased with the arrivals of other Malays from
and the
.
In a matter of several months, hundreds of Malays from
came to Singapore, encouraged by the British who wanted
to develop Singapore as a centre for trade and administration.
When Singapore became more developed and there were
better economic opportunities, many Malays from
,
,
,
and
came to
Singapore.
Many of these Malays lived in the towns and worked there.
The census for 1931 showed that the total
number of Malay men working here were as many as 11,290. Out of this number, 18% worked as fishermen and as many as
12% lived by farming the land.
In the 1930s and 1950s, many Malay residents from Malaya were working in the British uniformed services. In 1957
alone, there were more than 10,000 Malays working in the uniform services because the British preferred them to the
Javanese or
(Betts, 1975:41; Djamour, 1959:5). However, during the period 1957–1970, most of
them returned to Malaysia when their terms of services ended.
Javanese
[
]
The largest Malay sub-group in Singapore are the
. They came from
in the
(modern
Indonesia). In the 1931 Population Census, the number of Javanese in Singapore was 16,063. The 1981 Population Census,
however, showed that they made up 6% of the Malay population. However, many Javanese had actually registered
themselves as 'Malay'. It is likely that the actual percentage of the Javanese within the Malay population was much
higher. An ethnographic study in 1990 estimated that approximately 50–60% of Singaporean Malays have at least some
degree of Javanese ancestry.
The Javanese came to Singapore in stages. In the mid-19th century, they came and
worked as ironsmiths, leather makers as well as spice merchants and religious books dealers. There were also a group
of Javanese printers and publishers in the Arab Street area. There were also a community of pilgrim brokers that
played an important role in encouraging the migration of the Javanese to Singapore. There are many Singapore's area
and neighborhoods that has Javanese names such as
,
, Kampong Pachitan, Kampong Wak Hassan,
Kampong Kembangan, and others.
A
being served in
Singapore. Quintessentially
Javanese in origin, the dish is now
known as part and parcel of
Singaporean Malay cuisine,
reflecting the visible Javanese
ancestry of many Malays in the
republic.
The political situation in the Dutch East Indies created by the Dutch government
caused many Javanese to go through Singapore to travel to
to perform the
. From the mid-19th century until 1910, between 2,000 and 7,000 Javanese
travelled to Mecca through Singapore until the regulations were eased (Roff
1967:39). Usually, these pilgrims would work in Singapore for several months or
years before or after performing the hajj to earn money or pay their debts to their
pilgrim brokers. Many of them stayed in Singapore and became part of the Muslim
community in the city (Roff, 1967:43).
A number of Javanese also came to Singapore with the help of the pilgrim brokers.
They came voluntarily and a majority of them were young men who stayed in the lodgings of the pilgrim brokers until
they found work. They worked as food sellers, gardeners and provided labour for the pilgrim brokers to build lodging
homes for them. The pilgrim brokers also took in bonded labourers who worked for Malay or Javanese employers to clear
forests to set up settlements in
, Malaya (Roff, 1967:37). The activities with these bonded labourers continued
until the 1920s. From 1886 till 1890, as many as 21,000 Javanese became bonded labourers with the Singapore Chinese
Protectorate, an organisation formed by the British in 1877 to monitor the Chinese population. They performed manual
labour in the rubber plantations. After their bond ended, they continued to open up the land and stayed on in Johor.
After the Second World War, the total number of Javanese coming to Singapore continued to increase. The first wave
consisted of conscript labour that was brought by the Japanese and their numbers were estimated to be about 10,000
(Turnbull, 1976:216). The second wave were those who moved to Singapore through Malaya. The 1970 Population Census
showed that a total of 21,324 Malays who were born in Malaya (later Malaysia) had moved to Singapore in the years
1946–1955, and as many as 29,679 moved to Singapore from 1956–1970 (Census 1970:262-3). Interviews conducted showed
that a majority of them were young men of Javanese descent from Johor who wanted to find a better life in Singapore.
Most of them were not educated and not highly skilled and worked as manual labourers in the post-war years.
In the 2010 census, Malays of Javanese descent numbered 89,000.
Sundanese
[
]
Main article:
A Sundanese large family in the
"Sunda Padjajaran" cultural
community in Singapore, 2022.
Just like their more populous Javanese neighbors, the
also have a
. However, their numbers are limited, even small. Most of them prefer
to identify as Malays of Javanese descent, due to the Javanese dominance there.
Their original territory came from the western part of
in
which
currently includes
,
,
and a western part of
(
and
).
The number was around 500 to 600 people in 2003. However, most of them are no longer of pure Sundanese descent many are
mixed with other Malay races. Most of the Sundanese people come from East Priangan, such as
,
,
, and
, mainly working as traders. There are also some from West Priangan and
, such as from
,
,
and
, most of whom previously worked as government employees during the colonial era.
Boyanese
[
]
See also:
The
originally came from the
in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day
). They built the
Kampung Boyan (Boyanese Village) by the banks of the Rochor River, between Jalan Besar and Syed Alwi Road since the
time of
. Most of them came to Singapore in the late 19th century until the end of Second World War.
The majority of them worked as horse cart drivers and later as motorcar drivers. They could not be considered poor as
their lands in Bawean were fertile; they had come in search of cash earnings. They wanted to purchase jewellery made
of gold and goods that they could bring back to their villages. Some also wanted to build a better life for themselves
in Singapore.
Most of them were young men who came and supported themselves, living in communal houses. There were several such
houses built in Singapore. They were found in places like Adam Communal House in Ann Siang Hill, Teluk Dalam Communal
House in Dixon Road and Dedawang Communal House in Sophie Road. There was also a village within the town area that was
inhabited by the Baweanese called Kampung Kapur (literally 'Lime Village') in the western part of Kampung Boyan (Boyan
Village). A mosque called the Masjid Bawean Kampung Kapur (Bawean Mosque of Lime Village) located at Weld Road was
built in 1932. There was also a communal house that became the gathering point for writers and their friends from the
literary group called Jejak Kembara (literally 'Wanderers' Steps') in the late 1970s.
Due to the fact that they shared the same religion and were closely related racially, both the Baweanese and the
Javanese were able to mix freely and even intermarried with the Malays. In time, this caused the differences between
them to be less obvious and more Baweanese and Javanese began identifying themselves as Malays.
Bugis
[
]
Main article:
Replica of a typical
or
Perahu Bugis
(lit Bugis vessel),
the ancestors of many Malay
Singaporeans of Bugis extraction
arrived to the shores of Singapore
by the Pinisi.
The
came from
Island in
. They were well known for a long
time as maritime traders. In the mid-seventeenth century, the Bugis were spreading
out from Celebes to set up trading centres throughout the region. Often they had to
sail to distant lands and fight indigenous tribes. They rarely lost and acquired a
reputation as fierce warriors.
The Dutch control of the Dutch East Indies and their blockades cut off the Bugis
from their traditional spice trade routes from Celebes to Java. This forced them to
migrate to other areas to continue trading. Their migration to what is today Malaysia and
began
around the 18th century or even earlier. Their influence in Riau was strong. Among the Bugis traders were also members
of the nobility like Engku Karaeng Talibak who married the daughter of Raja Ali Haji. According to Raja Ali Haji in
his work,
Tuhfat al-Nafis
, the presence of Karaeng Talibak brought more Bugis traders to Riau.
In 1819, conflicts between the Dutch and Bugis result in a number of Bugis leaving Riau, and soon after Raffles arrival
to Singapore, a group of 500 Bugis led by Chieftain Arong Bilawa fled to Singapore.
By the time of the first census
in 1824, there were 1,951 Bugis recorded in Singapore, over 18% of the island's population of 10,683.
The
establishment of a free port in Singapore allowed the Bugis to expand their network in the archipelago. Sailing from
Sumatra to north Australia, the Bugis ships brought cargoes of cotton cloth, gold dust, birds-of-paradise feathers,
pepper, trepang (sea cucumbers), sandalwood, tortoiseshell, coffee, and rice to Singapore. Most of these goods were
very much in demand by the Chinese merchants in Singapore. The Bugis also traded in slaves.
James Cameron gave a description in 1865 of the various ships that would visit Singapore's harbour. According to him,
each year during October and November, the Bugis ships would come from
and the Celebes.
By the 1830s, the Bugis had established themselves in Singapore and formed the majority of the pioneer communities in
the Kampung Gelam area. By 1831, the Census of Population reported over 2,000 Bugis in Singapore. The Bugis gradually
formed kampongs and settlements in places like Kampung Bugis (around the Kallang River), Kampung Soopoo, Jalan Pelatok
and Jalan Pergam. The number of Bugis however would decline as they lost their dominance in the sea trade, and by
1860, there were only about 900 Bugis left in Singapore.
Many of them also became assimilated into the larger Malay
community.
Many Bugis pioneers and historical figures are buried in
.
Minangkabau
[
]
The
came from Western
. The Minangkabau people are known for their matrilineal social system
and their tradition for travelling. They would leave their homes and travel in search of work, knowledge and
experience. They would usually return home once they had fulfilled their objective. This tradition of travelling was a
rite of passage for the young Minangkabau men and was considered a way for them to be in touch with the outside world.
The Minangkabau people have been migrating to Malaysia and Singapore since long ago. In the 19th century, the cross-
strait traders from
and
of
brought agricultural products from the interior
of Sumatra to be sold at the port of Singapore.
In the first half of 20th century, the majority of Minangkabau
people who came to Singapore came from Pariaman and Agam in Western Sumatra. This only stopped when Malaya achieved
independence from the British in 1957, when the immigration laws were tightened. The majority of they were engaged in
business, apart as religious teachers and politician. They sold religious items, toys and clothes in Arab Street and
Geylang. Another
that is quite well-known in Singapore is the Padang restaurant that sells
.
The Minangkabau people even formed an association at one time but this was subsequently banned during the
1962–66
. Then in 1995, they established the Singapore Minangkabau Association with a
mission to preserve and promote the Minangkabau culture in Singapore.
After Singapore became an independent state in 1965, the majority of Minangkabau people either migrated to Malaysia or
returned to Sumatra. Those who stayed in Singapore assimilated into the Malay community. Not many Minangkabaus brought
their wives or women with them to Singapore. As such, many married the local Malay women and did not maintain strong
ties with the other Minangkabau communities. By 1973, it was estimated that there were 200 Minangkabau families in
Singapore and almost all of them were Singaporean residents.
Banjarese
[
]
The
originated from the southern and eastern coast of
in Borneo. Most came from
in
the area surrounding the Barito basin. These areas were used for the cultivation of paddy. The Banjarese who migrated
to the Malay Peninsula were farmers who were experienced in paddy cultivation. They also migrated to spread Islam to
the region, to escape poverty and the oppressive Dutch rule of their homeland. Some also wanted to escape the presence
of wild animals that threatened their farms in Kalimantan.
The Banjarese generally did not like to be employees. They preferred to be self-employed, working as either farmers or
businessmen. The Banjar were also well known as jewel cutters and dealers in the region. Many came to Singapore to
deal in the jewellery trade and had their shops in Arab Street. They even formed a Kalimantan Association in
Singapore.
The Banjarese made up a very small percentage of the Malay population in Singapore. In 1931, they numbered 445 out of
a total Malay population of 65,104 (0.7%). In 1947, they formed only 0.3% of the population. This dropped to 0.2% in
1957 and 0.1% in 1970. By 1980 and 1990, the total numbers could not be determined, probably because the Banjarese
have effectively assimilated into the Malay community.
Bataks
[
]
The
are the smallest Malay group in
. Up to 1978, there were fewer than 350 Bataks in Singapore.
Unlike other Malay groups that are predominantly Muslim, the Bataks are largely
, including
and
. The Bataks had been coming to Singapore before the twentieth century, though little is known
about those who arrived in the 19th century and before World War II. Most were young men in their twenties from the
,
and
groups.
The Bataks came to Singapore for economic, educational and social reasons. Many who arrived before the War had
received their primary education in Batak and Malay. Some continued their studies in private and Christian schools,
such as those supported by the Seventh-day Adventist organisation, which in 1915 encouraged Batak families from
Sipirok, Angkola and Pematang Siantar in Sumatra to send their children to Singapore. English education was especially
prized as it provided access to white-collar jobs on plantations in Eastern Sumatra owned by the Dutch and Americans.
After completing their education, many returned home, while some married and brought their wives to Singapore. The
Batak Christians were the first to introduce this practice.
Most Bataks who arrived before World War II worked as gardeners, peons and manual labourers. During the Japanese
Occupation, they were conscripted as foot soldiers or forced labourers, and some received military training in
Singapore. After the War, many returned home, while others came from places such as
,
and the
. Some found work as clerks, storekeepers or business partners with non-Bataks, while others joined the British
army in roles such as soldiers, technicians and electricians. Some adopted Malay identity to gain access to military
service or employment. In 1947, Bataks in Singapore formed the welfare organisation
Saroha
("one heart"), which aimed
to support the community. The organisation lasted until 1954 and was briefly revived in 1958 but ultimately disbanded.
Since then, most Bataks and their descendants have assimilated into the Malay community and identify as Malays.
Ethnic composition of Malay population 1931–1990
[
]
The following figures show the composition of the various Malay ethnic population in Singapore for the past 60 years.
The great increase shown in the other Malay groups, especially the Javanese, in 1990 is likely due to the increase in
the employment of Indonesian domestic workers in Singapore.
Ethnic Composition of Malay population in Singapore 1931–2020
Malay Ethnic Group
1931
1947
1957
1970
1980
1990
Population (2020)
Percentage (2020)
Total
65,104
113,803
197,059
311,379
351,508
384,338
545,498
100%
57.5%
61.8%
68.8%
86.1%
89.0%
68.3%
370,445
67.9%
24.5%
21.7%
18.3%
7.7%
6.0%
17.2%
94,584
17.3%
(Boyanese)
14.4%
13.5%
11.3%
5.5%
4.1%
11.3%
60,285
11.1%
1.2%
0.6%
0.6%
0.2%
0.1%
0.4%
N.A.
N.A.
0.7%
0.3%
0.2%
0.1%
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
Other
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
20,184
3.7%
(Reference: Arumainathan 1973, Vol 1:254; Pang, 1984, Appendix m; Sunday Times, 28 June 1992)
Culture
[
]
Many aspects of Singaporean Malay culture includes:
Cuisine
[
]
, a dessert created
by the Singaporean Malay community
and commonly associated with
Singaporean cuisine in general.
There is several major local Singaporean Malay foods that was famous among the
community. It includes, among others,:
Sup Tulang Merah
Mee Rebus
Mee Siam
Bihun Singapura
Epok-Epok (Curry Puff)
Nasi Lemak
Ayam masak merah
Putu piring
Beef rendang
At the same time, there is also several major non-Malay cuisines that is predominantly popular among the Malay/Muslim
community as it is not only delicious, but also certified as Halal. Most of the cuisines are predominantly refers to
(
) cuisine, (
)
cuisine, South
etc.
(Mandi Rice)
Rojak India
(Layer Cake)
(beef and/or chicken only)
Dialects, languages and pronunciations
[
]
Main article:
is the national language of Singapore and one of its official languages. It is written in a
known
as
.
It is the home language of 15% of the Singaporean population.
Malay is also the ceremonial national
language and used in the
, in citations for
and military
foot drill commands,
of several organisations and is the variety taught in
as a
.
Linguistically, the Malay spoken in Singapore is similar to that of in southern
of the
and the
; though the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in the early 20th century noted that the
variety is "much influenced by [Singapore's] proximity to
.
The now-relocated
of the
were recorded to have spoken a variety of Malay that velarises its
(as /
/) in contrast to
the flap (/
/) in the variety heard in the main island.
Some of the old generations of people now identified as
"Malay" in Singapore can also converse in languages belonging to their original
immigrant groups such
as
,
,
,
,
and
; the native lands of these subgroups are now part of
modern-day
.
Differences between Singaporean Malay and other forms
[
]
A sign at the
uses
pengunjung
to refer
to visitors instead of
pelawat
,
which aligns more with the
Indonesian standard than the
Malaysian one.
Prior to independence, Singapore was a historical centre for Malay literature,
culture and cinema, led by the
at
. However,
after independence, this cultural role declined. Singapore participates as an
observer in the
(MABBIM), which
coordinates
Malay standards, though it is not formally a member.
Nevertheless, Singapore occasionally follows the standardisations agreed upon in
this forum and adheres to them in cases of disagreements.
Within Singapore,
standards are set by the Malay Language Council of Singapore (MLCS). Some
differences remain between the official standard and colloquial usage. While the historical standard was the Johor–
Riau dialect, a cultivated
known as
Sebutan Baku
(standard pronunciation) or
Bahasa Baku
(standard language)
was adopted in 1956 by the Third Malay Language and Literary Congress to create consistency between written and spoken
forms. Implementation was gradual, with Malaysia fully adopting it in education in 1988, and Singapore introducing it
at the primary school level in 1993. Despite its expanded use in formal education, Johor–Riau pronunciation remains
dominant for most speakers.
The artificial creation of
Bahasa Baku
means there were initially no truly native speakers, and its pronunciation is
closer to
than the traditional Johor–Riau standard. Cultural resistance has emerged, as accent differences
between older and younger generations have raised questions about Malay cultural identity. These issues were further
heightened when Malaysia abandoned
Bahasa Baku
in 2000 whereas Singapore has continued to retain the standard.
As a
result, this led to a gradual divergence of Malay in both written and spoken forms between Malaysia and Singapore. In
practice, the Malay language in Singapore tends to adhere to a more traditional and formal register compared to
Malaysia. This resulted in a linguistic style in Singapore that often maintains classical vocabulary and structures,
particularly in education, media and official communication when compared to Malaysia, which may view it as
archaic.
Examples include the use of
pemerintah
for
, aligning with Indonesian terminology rather than
the Malaysian
kerajaan
. Another example is for the verb
bilang
to mean "to say," whereas Malaysian Malay typically
favours
cakap
or
beritahu
.
Holidays and festivities
[
]
See also:
The
at Kampong
Glam, Singapore. An overwhelming
majority of Malays in Singapore
are adherents of the
school of thought.
Some of the major Muslim festivals celebrated every year among the Singapore's
Malay/Muslim community include
,
,
and
, with the minor festivals includes
,
,
and
. It is just as similar as their Muslim neighbour
countries that was celebrated in
,
and
. However,
only
and
is recognised and gazetted as Muslim
religious public holiday in Singapore despite the significant presence of
Malay/Muslim community as indigenous in the country. Previously,
(birthday of Prophet Mohamed) has been
recognised as public holiday prior to 1968 amendment of the 1966 Holidays Act, where since that two public holidays
were designated each for both Muslim and Christian as well as one for Hindu community. It is implemented in purpose to
improve business competitiveness and valid until now.
Prior to the fasting month of Ramadan and Syawal, most Malay/Muslim settlements and streets will decorated with green-
based or colourful decoration of Eid such as lights,
,
pelita api
(fire lamp) and many more, with most of them
centered in
as the main Malay settlement area in Singapore. During the fasting month,
Bazar Ramadhan
(Ramadan bazaar(s)) are the most famous events during the holy month where it provides diverse foods and beverages
(F&B). The popular F&Bs includes Mee Rebus, Air Kathira, Roti John, Nasi Arab, Vadai etc. While moving to the month of
Syawal, almost all Malay/Muslim families and organisations will hold
Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri
(Eid openhouse(s)),
where all communities regardless of ethnics and religions are not only having a chance to meet and greet their Muslim
friends and relatives, but at the same time they are also invited to a variety of dishes that are commonly served
during Aidilfitri. The Aidilfitri popular dishes in Singapore are relatively similar to
,
and
such as
,
and
, as well as the famous layer cakes from
,
which is
predominantly provided during the sole-month Aidilfitri season.
Religion
[
]
Main article:
Religion of Malay Singaporeans (2020)
(98.8%)
(0.40%)
(0.40%)
(0.20%)
(0.10%)
Other religion (0.10%)
(0.10%)
According to the latest 2020 Census, almost 99% of Singapore's Malay
population declared themselves Muslims, with small populations of 0.4%
non-religious and 0.8% other religions, as stated in the following
statistics.
Religion
Number
(2020)
Percentage
442,368
98.8%
2,743
0.6%
1,097
0.2%
and other Christians
1,646
0.4%
1,640
0.4%
447
0.1%
223
0.1%
Other religions
326
0.1%
An overwhelming majority of Malays in Singapore are predominantly the followers of
, belonging to the
(
شافعي
) school of thought.
A very small Christian community also exists among the local Malays, with approximately 0.6% of Malays being
Christians. There is also a small Buddhist community, mostly consisting of Malays with mixed Chinese and
ancestry or those who of mixed
ancestry and even there are Hindu minorities, mostly among the Malays with
mixed Indian (Tamil) or
ancestry and of those who trace their origins to the
and
Hindus.
Performing arts
[
]
This section
may incorporate text from a
, which is
.
It may include
information,
, claims not
in cited sources,
, or
. Any such material should be
. The reason given is:
; note
in promotional tone, vocab
distribution typical of 2024-25 LLMs etc
(
February 2026
)
(
)
A group photo of
, each
wearing unique uniforms inspired
by traditional Malay costumes,
representing their respective
ensembles.
is a localised adaptation of the traditional Malay choral
performance art,
, which originated in the northeastern
,
particularly in
and
.
Introduced to
’s Malay community in
the 1970s, the art form gradually evolved to reflect the city-state’s
multicultural landscape.
While retaining core elements such as the
tok juara
(lead
singer),
tukang karut
(jester), and
awok-awok
(chorus),
Singaporean
dikir barat
distinguishes itself with faster tempos, synchronised movements, and an expanded
thematic range
that includes social issues and national identity. The practice is
widely supported by educational institutions and community organisations,
which promote its continuity through school-
based
and national competitions.
Beyond its artistic significance,
dikir barat
serves as a medium for community engagement and cultural preservation
among the Singaporean Malay population. Events such as
Mega Perdana
, organised by the Singapore Dikir Barat
Federation,
provide a platform for troupes to showcase their skills and creativity. The genre’s adaptability has also
led to its inclusion
in major national celebrations, such as the
and the
.
With
continued institutional and community support,
dikir barat
remains a vibrant expression of
in Singapore.
Status of Malays in Singapore
[
]
Malays are recognised and considered as the indigenous people of Singapore by the Singapore Constitution, Part XIII,
General Provisions, Minorities and special position of Malays, section 152:
The Government shall exercise its functions in such manner as to recognise the special position of the Malays,
who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government
to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social
and cultural interests and the Malay language.
Notable Malay Singaporeans
[
]
Main articles:
and
For Malays in Singapore, the last name is
, not a family name. The person should be referred to by his or
her first or second name which is the given name. The Malay word bin (b.) or binte (bte.), if used, means "son of" or
"daughter of" respectively.
Name
Birth
Death
Occupation(s)
Notable for
·
13th
century
1347
King
First king of
.
1344
c.
1414
King
Last king of
.
يوسف بن
اسحاق
12
August
1910
23
November
1970
Politician
First
(1965–1970).
زبيرسعيد
22 July
1907
16
November
1987
Musician
Composed the
of Singapore,
.
يعقوب بن
إبراهيم
3
October
1955
–
Politician
Prominent Singaporean politician
29 May
1962
–
Sportsmen
First Singaporean millionaire sportsperson and
national football player
10
December
1981
–
Singer
Winner of the first season of
عثمان بن
ووك
8
October
1924
17 April
2017
Politician
Prominent Singaporean Politician & Community
Leader
24
February
1925
5 August
2005
Composer,
Arranger and
Musician
March
1952
–
Singer, Actress
and Talk-Show
Host
1963
–
Politician
, Minister for
Social and Family Development and Second Minister
for Health
1954
–
Politician
Eighth
(2017–2023)
Notes
[
]
In Singapore, the term "resident" refers to both
and
(PRs).
In some countries, this term, used to describe low-wage labourers, is now considered pejorative in modern usage.
References
[
]
(PDF)
.
Department of Statistics, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Republic of Singapore. 2021.
.
(PDF)
. Department of Statistics, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Republic of Singapore. 2021.
.
^
.
Channel News Asia
. 16 June
2021. Archived from
on 16 June 2021
. Retrieved
17 June
2021
.
(PDF)
.
^
Lily Zubaidah Rahim (9 November 2010).
. Taylor &
Francis. p. 24.
.
Saw Swee-Hock (March 1969). "Population Trends in Singapore, 1819–1967".
Journal of Southeast Asian History
.
10
(1):
36–
49.
:
.
.
^
. UNHCR. Archived from
on 19
October 2012
. Retrieved
11 August
2011
.
^
Vasil, R K (2000).
Governing Singapore: democracy and national development
. Allen & Unwin. p. 96.
.
^
Wright, Arnold; Cartwright, H.A., eds. (1907).
. p. 37.
^
.
History SG
.
.
Eresources.nlb.gov.sg
. Retrieved
28 August
2016
.
(Siebel, 1961:27)
(Roff, 1967:33; Census 1931:72)
(Siebel, 1961:35)
Milner, Anthony (2011). "Chapter 7, Multiple forms of 'Malayness'
".
. John Wiley & Sons. p. 197.
. Retrieved
17 February
2013
.
LePoer, Barbara Leitch (1991).
. Federal Research Division,
. p. 83.
. Retrieved
17 February
2013
.
Singapore Malay community leaders estimated that some 50 to 60 percent of the
community traced their origins to Java and an additional 15 to 20 percent to Bawean Island, in the Java Sea north of the city of
.
Ulun, Adhyatnika G. (23 October 2009).
.
adhyatnikageusanulun.com
(in Indonesian). West Bandung
Regency English Teachers Forum
. Retrieved
20 January
2025
.
^
Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman; Marsita Omar (October 2020).
.
www.nlb.gov.sg
.
. Retrieved
13 August
2025
.
^
.
Singapore Infopedia
. National Library Board Singapore.
Singapore's 100 Historic Places
. Archipelago Press. 2002. p. 15.
.
Christine Dobbin, Islamic Revivalism in a Changing Peasant Economy: Central Sumatra 1784–1847, 1983
Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Norshahril Saat; Majulah! 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore, 2016
Mathew Mathews (ed), The Singapore Ethnic Mosaic. Many Cultures One People, 2018
^
.
www.roots.gov.sg
.
. 15 March 2024
. Retrieved
13 August
2025
.
Constitution, Article 153A.
Tan, P.K.W. (2014).
.
Journal of Social Issues
in Southeast Asia
.
29
(2):
438–
466.
:
.
.
from the original on 3 August 2017
.
Retrieved
3 August
2017
.
Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Act (
)
Hamilton, A. W. (1922).
.
Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
.
85
(
1–
2):
67–
96.
:
.
.
Benjamin, Geoffrey (2021). "Singapore's 'other' Austronesian languages: What do we know?". In Jain, Ritu (ed.).
Multilingual
Singapore: language policies and linguistic realities
. London, New York: Routledge. pp.
116–
7.
.
Clyne, Michael G (1992).
. Walter de Gruyter. pp.
410–
411.
.
from the original on 22 November 2016
. Retrieved
29 January
2017
.
Mohd Aidil Subhan bin Mohd Sulor (2013).
(PDF)
.
E-Utama
.
4
.
^
Mikhlis Abu Bakar; Lionel Wee (2021).
. In Jain, Ritu (ed.).
Multilingual Singapore:
Language Policies and Linguistic Realities
. Routledge.
.
Singapore, National Library Board.
.
Eresources.nlb.gov.sg
. Retrieved
28 August
2016
.
Singapore, National Library Board.
.
Eresources.nlb.gov.sg
. Retrieved
28 August
2016
.
Singapore, National Library Board.
.
Eresources.nlb.gov.sg
. Retrieved
28 August
2016
.
Further reading
[
]
Dr Syed Farid Alatas,
Keadaan Sosiologi Masyarakat Melayu, Occasional Paper Series Paper No.5-97
, Association of
Muslim Professionals Singapore, 1997
Dr
, Prof Khoo Kay Kim & Kwa Chong Guan,
Malays/Muslims and the History of Singapore, Occasional
Paper Series Paper No.1-98
, Centre for Research on Islamic & Malay Affairs, Association of Muslim Professionals
Singapore, 1997
Brown, C.C,
or
: a translation of Raffles MS 18, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the
Royal Asiatic Society, Volume 25, No. 2 & 3, 1952
Chia Jeannette Hwee Hwee,
A History of Javanese and Baweanese of Singapore
, Department of History, Thesis for the
BA of Arts and Social Sciences, 1993
Djamour, Judith
Malay Kinship and Marriage in Singapore
, London: Athlone Press, 1965
Gibson-Hill, C. A., '
he Orang Laut Of The Singapore River and the Sampan Panjang
, Singapore: Malayan Branch, Royal
Asiatic Society, 1952.
Hadijah Rahmat,
Kilat Senja: Sejarah Sosial dan Budaya Kampung-Kampung di Singapura
, H S Yang Publishing Pte Ltd,
Singapore, 2005.
Haffidz A. Hamid, Mohd Azhar Khalid, Mohd Alami Musa & Yusof Sulaiman,
Factors Affecting Malays/Muslim Pupils'
Performance in Education, Occasional Paper Series Paper No.1-95
, Centre for Research on Islamic & Malay Affairs,
Association of Muslim Professionals Singapore, 1995
Dr Khoo Kay Kim, Elinah Abdullah, Wan Meng Hao (ed.),
Malays/Muslims in Singapore: Selected Readings in History
1819–1965
, Centre for Research on Islamic & Malay Affairs, Association of Muslim Professionals Singapore, 2006
Li Tania,
Malays in Singapore: Culture, Community and Ideology
, Oxford University Press, Singapore, 1989
Lily Zubaidah Rahim,
The Singapore Dilemma: The Political and Educational Marginality of the Malay Community
,
Oxford University Press, New York, 1998
Mohamed Pitchay Gani Bin Mohamed Abdul Aziz,
Leksikon: Direktori Penulis Melayu Singapura Pasca 1965
, Angkatan
Sasterawan '50, Singapore, 2005.
Pang Keng Fong,
The Malay Royals of Singapore
, Department of Sociology, Thesis for the BA of Social Science, 1984
Parliamentary Debates of Singapore, Sultan Hussain Ordinance/Kampong Glam Conservation, Volume 57(7), Tuesday 12
March 1991
Perkins, Jane,
Kampong Glam: Spirit of a Community, Singapore'
, Times Publishing, 1984
Tengku Mahmud vs. Tengku Ali, Straits Settlements Laws Report 1897 (Vol. 5)
Tham Seong Chee,
Malay Family Structure: Change and Opportunity with reference to Singapore
, Seminar Paper No. 13,
Academic Session 1993/94, Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore
Zarinah Binte Ali,
The Istana at Kampong Gelam: From Royal Ground to National Heritage
, Department of Southeast
Asian Studies Programme, Thesis for the BA of Arts, 2001/2002
External links
[
]
about
Malay Singaporeans
[
]
– a short documentary about the Bugis community in Singapore, produced for the
Singapore Bicentennial in 2019.
Citizens (CMIO)
Others
Peranakans
Foreign nationalities
Asia
(
)
(
)
Oceania
:
This page was last edited on 20 February 2026, at 07:28
(UTC)
.
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