Malay Religion

Malaysian folk religion refers to the animistic and polytheistic beliefs held by and practices performed by many inhabitants of the Islamic-majority country of Malaysia either openly or covertly depending on the type of rituals performed. Historically, before the arrival and spread of Islam in the 15th century and the spread of Christianity in the 19th century, native Malaysians were either Hindu-Buddhists or practised a variety of indigenous religions. Shamanic performances are held by people known as bomohs, also known as pawang or dukun. Most Orang Asli ("native people", "original people", or "aboriginal people" in Malay) are animists and believe in spirits residing in certain objects. Generally speaking, Malaysians have deep superstitious beliefs, especially in rural areas. The practice of headhunting was quite common in these societies. In Sabah (a state located on the northern portion of Borneo) there are still followers of the indigenous religion Momolianism: the Kadazan-Dusuns worshipped Kinoingan, a rice deity, and celebrate Kaamatan, the harvest festival, every year. During Kaamatan there are certain rituals which have to be carried out by the high priestesses known as bobohizans. Most Kadazan-Dusuns have now adopted Christianity, but some still celebrate Kaamatan. The role of bobohizan, however, is on the brink of extinction. The bomoh practice by Malays has become integrated into Islam and is not forbidden. Bomoh are traditional healers and often serve as an alternative to conventional medicine. However, the practice has sometimes been viewed negatively by Malaysian society sometimes views bomoh negatively because they have the power to cast spells on others people to harm them, rather than heal them. The bobohizans of Sabah are also shamans and traditional healers. They serve as mediums to communicate with the spirits and play an important role in the rituals of the Kaamatan harvest festival. There is a mutual influence between the Chinese folk religion of the larger Malaysian Chinese population and the minority (only 0.7% of the population is aboriginal) indigenous Malaysian folk religion. Today, most of the Chinese population in Malaysia are adherants of Mahayana Buddhism. The balance are Theravada Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taoists. A small minority are Christians, Muslims, or Hindus. Most Chinese Malaysians still practice Chinese folk religion, including ancestral worship, in tandem with more mainstream religious beleif systems but several monotheistic religions prohibit any form of religious syncretism. As is the case in mainland China, Malaysian Chinese folk religion is not recognized or documented by the government. The number of Chinese/Malaysians who practice it can only be estimated.