HISTORY OF INDIAN MUSLIM BUSINESS IN MALAYSIA
Seeni Naina Mohamed had given an illustration about the history of Indian Muslims in Malaysia through his book,
Indian Muslims in Penang: Role and Contributions. According to him, before 1786 the Indian Muslims were already having their business operations in Kuala Kedah. Then, Georgetown became the hub of 1,000 Indian Muslim traders for their various transactions.
Penang had a unique historical background of the migration of Indian Muslims in the 18th Century. Their mass migration was recorded earlier than the British migrations.
INDIAN MUSLIMS ARE REPRESENTED BY MORE THAN AN ETHNIC
The term "Indian Muslim" means different ethnic groups of Indian ancestry who are adherents of Islam living in Penang or Malaysia. There are no differences of political power, wealth, social status between one Indian Muslim ethnic group to another Indian Muslim ethnic group.
The Tamil Muslims are divided into two distinct group such as the Marikars and the Rawthers.
The term "Marikar" is derived from Tamil language which means the wooden boat people. There are facts showing that the Marikars originated from the cape area of Tamil Nadu state.
The term "Rawther" is taken from word "Mauther" which means people who organise the royal elephants and horses.
In Islamic practising, the Marikars follow Shafiite laws while the Rawthers follow Hanafite laws.
FAMILY NAMES AND ORIGINS
"Merican" which became the family name of the modern-day (Penangite) Malay community has some connection with the Marikars. The same also applies to "Rautin" which is originated from "Rawther".
ONE PLACE, DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS
Indian Muslims in Malaysia are represented by different ethnic groups.
The Muslims of Kerala migrated from the State of Kerala. They are popularly known as Malabari Muslims. They're are also called as
Kaka which means "elder brother" along with ethnics Bengali Muslims and Gujerati Muslims.
The existence of Malabar Mosque at Beach Street, Penang before it was bombed during WWII and a Malabari village at Transfer Road, Penang are evidence of the existence of Kerala Muslims in Penang.
Bengali Muslims migrated from State of Bengal, India. Their existence (in Penang) is older than the establishment of the independet states of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The existence of Bengali Mosque in Leith Street, Penang and Bengali Village in Butterworth are the evidence of the existence of Bengali Muslims in Penang.
Gujerati Muslims migrated from the state of Gujerat, India.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Muslims migrated from the state of Maharashtra. There are very small but very active in trading business.
Most of Indian Muslims in Malaysia originated from Tamil Nadu. For example the Thenkasi region in Trinelveli, Tamil Nadu has a big Muslim population. The area has a big city called Kadaya Nallur. Most of them migrated to Penang and Singapore.
They are known as Thenskasi Muslims and Kadaya Nallur Muslims.
There is another group who also migrated from Tamil Nadu. Mostly came from Ramnad and Tanjore. They established Indian Muslim Traders' Association in Penang. Thenkasi Muslims also called themselves as Petai Muslims.
Translated from:
http://motivasiminda.wordpress.com/2007/04/12/sejarah-perniagaan-india-muslim/
