Sikhism in Malaysia

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Sikhism in Malaysia Malaysia
Sikh soldiers of the Indian Infranty Division during World War II involved in a fierce battle with the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle of Kampar, British Malaya (1941)
Sikh soldiers of the Indian Infranty Division during World War II involved in a fierce battle with the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle of Kampar, British Malaya (1941)
Total population
100,000
Regions with significant populations
Kuala Lumpur
Religions
Sikhism
Languages
Malay · Punjabi

Malaysian Sikhs are known to be the fourth largest Malaysian Indian ethnic group. It is estimated that there are around 100,000 Sikhs in Malaysia.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Early Sikh pioneers[edit]

Sikhs were initially sent to British Malaya as political prisoners. The first few Sikhs to set foot in Malaya were Nihal Singh (better known as Bhai Maharaj Singh) and Kharak Singh,[7] who were deported from India due to anti-British involvement in 1849. These prisoners were sent to the Outram Road prison in what is now Singapore. In 1865, Sikhs were sent to Malaysia again as recruits in the armed forces in the British Empire mainly as police, military and guards.[citation needed]

Sikh Community and migration[edit]

Regular Sikh migration to Malaya (Malaysia) started here in 1873. The Sikh community is the largest here among Southeast and East Asia. The earliest Sikhs settlers were Policemen. The first Sikh Gurdwara was set up in Cornwallis in 1873 inside police Lines. The first public Sikh Gurdwara was set up in 1903 in Penang. Sikhs occupied top positions in Military and Police during the British rule of Malaysia. There are as many as 15 Sikh Gurdwaras in Kuala Lumpur alone more than the number of mosques there, despite Muslims being the dominant demographic in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Sikhs are deep-rooted in Sikh culture more than Sikh diaspora anywhere in the world and are assimilated in mainstream keeping their identity intact.[8] A group of Sikh businessmen in Malaysia has set up a network of International Sikh Entrepreneurs (NISE) to promote their products and services and generate opportunities among members.

List of Malaysian Sikhs[edit]

Gurdwaras in Malaysia[edit]

There are a total of 119 gurdwaras throughout Malaysia. 42 of them are situated in the state of Perak, where the majority of Sikhs in Malaysia resides.

  • Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Muar, Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Batu Pahat, Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Segamat, Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Babe ke Guru Ram Das World, Machap, Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kluang, Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Pontian, Johor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Johor Bahru, Johor
  • Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Dharamsala, Kuala Lumpur
    • Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Kampung, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan Settlement, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuyow, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Mainduab, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Police, Kuala Lumpur
      Gurdwara Sahib Police
    • Gurdwara Sahib Police Depot, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Police Jalan Parliament, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Sahib Central Workshops Sentul, Kuala Lumpur
    • Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Tatt Khalsa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    • Gurdwara Sahib, Titiwangsa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    • Gurdwara Sahib Majha Diwan Malaya
  • Labuan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Labuan [9]
  • Kedah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kulim,Kedah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sungei Petani, Kedah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Alor Star, Kedah
  • Kelantan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tumpat, Kelantan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kota Bahru, Kelantan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Krai, Kelantan
  • Malacca
    • Gurdwara Sahib Malacca
  • Negeri Sembilan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Mantin, Negeri Sembilan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Klavang, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tampin, Negeri Sembilan
  • Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bentong, Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Lipis, Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tanah Rata, Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Raub, Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Mentakab, Pahang
    • Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh Temple), Kuantan
  • Penang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa Dharmak Jatha, Penang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Police, Penang
    • Wadda Gurdwara Sahib, Penang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Perai, Penang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Butterworth, Penang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bukit Mertajam, Penang
  • Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa Dharmik Sabha, Parit Buntar, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Pokok Assam, Taiping, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Taiping, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sitiawan, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sungei Siput Utara, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Chemor, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kampong Kepayang, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tanjong Rambutan, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Kangsar, Perak
    • Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib, Kaniunting, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bruas, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bagan Serai, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Jelapang, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Dharmak Sabha, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Gunong Rapat, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Buntong, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tambun, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Menglembu Regrouping Area, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Lahat, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Gopeng, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Malim Nawar, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tanjong Tuallang, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Changkat Tin, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Ayer Papan, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tronoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Pusing, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Siputeh, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Menglembu, Jalan Lahat, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bercham, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Greentown, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kampar, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Teluk Intan, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Slim River, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Changkat, Batu Gajah, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Batu Gujah, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Gopeng, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Malay States Guide, Taiping, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Police, Ipoh, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tanjong Malim, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bidor, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tapah, Perak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tronoh Mines, Kampar, Perak
  • Perlis
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kangar, Perlis
  • Sabah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Singh Sabha, Lahad Datu, Sabah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Tawau, Sabah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sandakan, Sabah
  • Sarawak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuching, Sarawak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Sibu, Sarawak
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bau, Sarawak (closed in 1950s)[10]
    • Gurdwara Sahib Miri, Sarawak
  • Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Puchong, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Klang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kalumpang, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Berjuntai Tin, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Klang, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Shah Alam, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Lembah Jaya, Ampang, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Kajang, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Batu Arang, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Ampang, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Guru Ram Das, Banting, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bukit Beruntung, Selangor
    • Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya
    • Gurdwara Sahib Rawang
    • Gurdwara Sahib Bandar Sunway
    • Gurdwara Sahib Nanaksar, Serendah

Controversy[edit]

In 2017, a teaching module published by a leading Malaysian university (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM) depicted Hindus in India as unclean and dirty in a slide. Another slide aimed at teaching the origins of Sikhism claimed that founder Guru Nanak had a poor understanding of Islam and had combined it with his surrounding Hindu lifestyle in forming the early foundation of the Sikh faith. A police report was lodged by the chairman of the Hindu Dharma Association of Malaysia in Sungai Petani district against UTM.[11][12] Malaysia's Minister of Health, Deputy Minister of Education and others had condemned this incident. Due to these condemnations, UTM was forced to apologize.[13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. "Homepage". Malaysian Sikh Union. The population of the Sikhs has grown from 30,000 in 1930 to 130,000 in 2011.
  2. "Gobind Singh Deo is Malaysia's first Sikh minister". The Economic Times. Malaysia has nearly 100,000 Sikh population.
  3. "Malaysia gets first Sikh minister". WION. Miri Indian Association president, Councillor Karambir Singh was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post. Malaysia has nearly 100,000 Sikh population
  4. "On the Gurdwara Trail in Malaysia: A Spiritual Experience". SikhNet. The Malaysian Sikh community is the fourth largest ethnic group of Malaysian Indians. It is estimated that over 100,000 Sikhs reside in Malaysia. The Sikh population is the largest here among Southeast and East Asia.
  5. "Indian-origin appointed as first Sikh Minister in Malaysia". Connected to India. The whole Sikh community is happy over the appointment of Deo as a Minister in the Malaysia's Cabinet. There are about 100,000 Sikhs in Malaysia occupying significant positions in the country.
  6. "Vaisakhi festivities showcase Sikh community's vibrancy". MalayMail. "We are small in Malaysia — there are 100,000 of us — but you see us everywhere," said Daljit....Daljit estimated between 100,000 to 120,000 travelled from north Indian region Punjab, where Sikhism originated, as well as Delhi and Mumbai.
  7. ਸਿੰਘ, Harinder Singh | ਹਰਿੰਦਰ; ਸਿੰਘ, Harinder Singh | ਹਰਿੰਦਰ. "Bhai Maharaj Singh: Freedom Fighter for Panjab". Sikh Research Institute. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  8. Kahlon, Swarn Singh (2016). Virk, Dr. Hardev Singh (ed.). Sikhs in Asia Pacific's: Travels among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe. New Delhi: Manohar Publisher, New Delhi.
  9. "Gurdwara Sahib Labuan". PulauLabuan.com. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  10. "Gurudwara Sahib Bau, Sarawak". All About Sikhs. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  11. "Malaysia varsity's module depicts Hindus in India as unclean, sparks row". 14 June 2016.
  12. "Deputy minister intervenes over UTM slides on 'dirty' Hindus | Malay Mail".
  13. "Malaysian University Publishes a Paper Calling Hindus in India 'Unclean' Forced to Apologise!".

External links[edit]