Wait, wait because i dont understand it.Malays muslims understand Quaran while reading it or not? I mean the sentences and words.because you said that just 25 % knows arabic. So the rest read translations ?
Malays are the best koran recitors in the world, but many of them still need to read the translation of Koran, as they dont know Arabic. There are rules on how to read the Koran called Tajweed of which the Malays follow it strictly...all Malay students must learn to read the Koran since 7 yr old at public schools. There are some suggestions to make Arabic language a compulsory subject for Malay students.
I was rather asking about the cultural influence like -movie,music
Sorry. Malaysia is a multiracial country and it has no problem absorbing all kind of cultures from all over the world. Our tv channels have tv programmes in dozens of languages... Music? You can listen all sorts of music from all over the world in Malaysia. Movies too..
Its interesting hwat you say,you have any idea why the revival began with iranian revolution? Iranians are shias and the mosque building in Malaysia is rather funding by Saudis and GULF states I guess.So its not direct influence but maybe just the example which gave Iranians that it is possible in XX century to make an islamic state?
After the Iranian revolution, there was a deviant Messianic (or Mahdic) group called Al Arqam in Malaysia... they were the first community where guys wear the turban and the women wear all black "purdah" which covers everything but the eyes. This group was only banned in 1995, after the leaders want to establish a govenrment.
The Al Arqam were very industrious and were the first group to publish islamic magazines, islamic songs and was very popular among Malaysians. In the earlier years, nobody outside their group know their actual beliefs and Muslims were very supportive to this group. Many Sunni clerics support al Arqam missionaries and many Muslims start turning back to Islam, especially the women.
The most drastic change was hijab. In 1980s, only 1 % wear hijab, in 1990s 50% wear hijab, in 2000s almost 95% wear hijab.
Al Arqam did trigger the Islamic awareness among Malaysians, but "Islamisation" done by our former Prime Minister during the 1990s is even better. Islamic banking was introduced (many are saying that Malaysia is the "mecca" for Islamic Finance institution), islamic university, islamic this and islamic that were introduced.... thanks to our former deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim... lots of Muslim intellectuals migrated to Malaysia...
Personally, Muslims in Malaysia are practising Muslims, but when it comes to administration of the government... we're 1/2 Islamic...
In 1995, al Arqam was banned and all its 7,000+ members repented.
MAlaysia is a rich country that needs no funds from Saudi or Gulf nations, instead MAlaysia is funding lots of mosques and islamic institutions in the Asia Pacific and Balkan region. In fact, Malaysia is the headquarter of Islamic missionary in the Asia Pacific region. Our local mosque funds a group of Muslim missionaries spreading Islam among the Pagans and Christians in the deep jungle of Borneo.
mg::?:X