In a predominantly white and Christian west, Islam can be an element of minority protest, and the US of the 1960s is an example.
The Malay peninsula and the neighbouring island of Singapore of the 1960s is a fascinating counterpoise. The primary issue in the region was whether the indigenous Malays, in this case a Muslim majority, were to be accorded special recognition.
On 21 July 1964, the Malays of Singapore held a procession to celebrate Mawlid, the prophet’s birthday. A riot followed, and both Malays and Chinese died. The riot was a core reason Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore out of the Federation of Malaysia the following year.
From 1965, the constitutional documents of Singapore have provided that “Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English shall be the 4 official languages” and that “The national language shall be the Malay language and shall be in the Roman script”.
Of the languages, English has proved the best bridge between different ethnic groups and Singlish the well-recognised colloquial form. How long that situation continues is, of course, another story. The rise and rise of China may result in another of the official languages assuming the dominant role.
Meanwhile and as far as I know, Singapore is the only country whose official online legislation is not maintained in the country’s national language.
