Malaysia is among the most ethnically diverse and culturally rich nations on earth. Yet much of its cultural wealth lies buried beneath the rubric of its main Malay, Chinese and Indian “race” categories; the dazzling diversity within and outside these groups remains largely unexplored. In this book I uncover some of this fascinating diversity through the stories of five ethnic minorities: the Tamil Muslims of Penang, the Portuguese Eurasians and Chitty of Malacca, the Peranakan Chinese of Terengganu and the Baweanese of Selangor.

The book outlines their shared histories and overlapping identities by examining their migration patterns, occupations, locations, religious traditions and — where relevant — their built–heritage, language, cuisine, dress and music. To what extent have they maintained their identities, or been transformed by inter–ethnic interaction, acculturation and assimilation? How are they affected by social change, inter–marriage and out–migration? How do they harness their multiple identities? What of their futures? What lessons do these hybrid groups offer for inter–ethnic relations and nation–building today? These are some questions this book attempts to answer.

This publication will interest not only laymen, but also scholars, students and visitors interested in culture, ethnicity, heritage and migration in Malaysia and the region. There is little published, discussed and debated about these groups, which by virtue of their smaller numbers and relatively weaker political and economic power are overshadowed by larger communities. While there have been articles, chapters, and in recent years some books on individual groups, there are very few publications introducing a range of ethnic minorities in one volume, allowing for an analysis of common issues.

Most previous work comprises historical monographs or specialized cultural, anthropological and migration studies. There are also a few journal publications, seminar papers and magazine and newspaper articles on their language, music, culture, and performing arts. This book draws on these works to provide a historical and cultural backdrop, but relies on original fieldwork including interviews, personal profiles and local histories from community leaders and ordinary people to link broader historical and cultural trends to experiences and perceptions at group and individual level. In other words, it attempts to give voice to people, and to discuss their past and future as they understand and experience it.