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Abstract
This article examines the formation and negotiation of identity among the Kampung Pasir Parit Peranakan Chinese, a unique sub-ethnic group of acculturated Chinese in Kelantan. Apart from their original Chinese identity, the Kampung Pasir Parit Peranakan Chinese have also adopted two additional identities, namely Malay and Siamese identities. Intermarriage with Siamese women in the early years is the main reason for the adoption of the Siamese identity, while regular social interactions with the local Malays have led to the adoption of a Malay identity. Thus, the identity of the Kampung Pasir Parit Peranakan Chinese comprises three contrasting components. Given such a complex identity, there is always a need for the Kampung Pasir Parit Peranakan Chinese to negotiate their identities to avoid any identity crisis. This negotiation of identity is at times demonstrated by the co-existence of identities and at times the clear demarcation of identities to fulfil different situational needs.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. Tan, Chinese Peranakan Heritage, x.
2. Gosling, “Changing Chinese Identities in Southeast Asia,” 3.
3. Winzeler, Ethnic Relations in Kelantan, 14.
4. See, for example, Teo, The Peranakan Chinese of Kelantan.
5. La Belle and Ward, Ethnic Studies and Multiculturalism, 34.
6. Tan, “Acculturation, Assimilation and Integration,” 190.
7. Ismail, The Siamese of Aril, 4.
8. Pue, Peranakan Sebagai Fenomena Social, 141.
9. Teo, The Peranakan Chinese of Kelantan, 51.
10. Lim Abdullah and Bustami, “Evolution and Identity of the Kelantan Peranakan Chinese,” 129.
11. Teo, The Peranakan Chinese of Kelantan, 36–9.
12. Verkuyten, The Social Psychology of Ethnic Identity, 86.
13. Yang, Ethnic Studies, 42.
14. Fenton, Ethnicity, 78.
15. See note 13.
16. Hoffman, An Introduction to Bilingualism, 195.
17. Spencer, Race and Ethnicity, 98.
18. See Gross, Muslims in Central Asia, 6.
19. Barth, “Introduction,” 15.
20. May, Modood, and Squires, “Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Minority Rights,” 9.
21. Tan, The Baba of Melaka, 4.
22. See note 18.
23. Eriksen, Ethnicity and Nationalism, 11.
24. See note 21.
25. Cited in Chan, Chinese Identities, Ethnicity and Cosmopolitanism, 17.
26. See Nagata, “What is Malay?,” 399.
27. Chin, “Chinese Female Immigration,” 364.
28. Gao, Gengbian Qiannian ru Zouma, 173; Lin and Zhang, Zhongwen Guji, 53.
29. Hsu, “Notes on Tan-Tan,” 47.
30. Teo, The Peranakan Chinese of Kelantan, 28.
31. Lin and Zhang, Zhongwen Guji, 394.
32. See note 30.
33. Ibid., 31.
34. Ibid., 59–60.
35. Ang, “Menora,” 42.
36. Embong, “The Culture and Practice of Pluralism,” 69.
37. Md Noor, “Malay Folk and Social Dances,” 46.
38. Yousof, “Storytelling,” 14.
39. Yousof, “Malay Shadow Theatre,” 24–5.
40. Yousof, Mak Yong, 1.
41. Bodeker, Health and Beauty, 40–1.
42. See ibid., 63–5.
43. Lakos, Chinese Ancestor Worship, 61.
44. Comber, Through the Bamboo Window, 53.
45. Ibid., 217.
46. Kuah Pearce, State, Society and Religious Engineering, 47.
47. For detailed information, see Tan, Ko-tai.
48. See Tan, “The Religion of the Chinese in Malaysia.”
49. LLG Cultural Development Centre Berhad, Rufeng Ruri, 93.
50. Ibid.
51. Teo, The Peranakan Chinese of Kelantan, 58.
52. Tan, Ngah and Lim Abdullah, “Negotiation of Identity and Internal Contradictions.”
53. See Liang, Chinese Architecture.
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Notes on contributors
Yao Sua Tan
Yao Sua Tan, PhD, is a senior lecturer and research fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. His main research interests are Malaysian Chinese studies, educational policy analysis, and sociology of education.
Author’s postal address: Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11,800 USM, Penang, Malaysia.3
Kamarudin Ngah
Kamarudin Ngah, PhD, is a professor at the College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah. His main research interests are in the areas of community development, project planning and local government.
Author’s postal address: College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia.
Sezali Md Darit
Sezali Md Darit, PhD, is a senior lecturer and research fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. His main research interests include public policy analysis, political geography, geography information system, electoral studies and community development.
Author’s postal address: Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11,800 USM, Penang, Malaysia.