The strategies of ASYRAAF and KEMUDI in pursuing Muslim identity among Malaysians : an organisational approach

Abstract

This research compares the strategies of two organisations: Persatuan Kebajikan Asyraaf Malaysia or Asyraaf Welfare Association Malaysia (ASYRAAF) and Pertubuhan Kesedaran Melayu dan Islam or The Malay and Islamic Awareness Association (KEMUDI) in pursuing a Muslim identity using a framework of organisational elements such as objective, resource, structure, strategy, tactic and target. These organisations acknowledge the influence of Arab’s sustainable Muslim identity alongside their Malay ethnicity. Data collection included those from social media platforms, semi-structured interviews, observation and library research. This descriptive and interpretive research design utilises a qualitative thematic analysis, incorporating both deductive and inductive coding approaches. This study posits that such a socio-political and ethno-religious identity of discrete Arab-Malay Muslim and discreet Malay-Arab Muslim are revered and justifiably promoted by ASYRAAF and KEMUDI alike. As far as the Arab Muslim identity is concerned, previous research on their identity have greatly contributed to identifying their status quo as “the Arab” alone, to recognising the Haḍrami Arab exclusive impact on Muslim identity and the Sayyid in this region. The analyses of strategies of both organisations in managing their tactics and targets have added that the reason the Arab identity is revered and well accepted among the Malay Muslim is due to the ahl al-bayt legacy among the Arab descendants in this region. It is reflected in their titles, patronyms, endogamy, social and religious activities. Based on the three elements of the National Integrity Plan (NIP); politics, civil society organisation (CSO) and religion, the pursuit of such an identity among Malaysians was analysed, where significant implications are both celebrated and reflected.

Keywords: Malay Muslim identity, Hadrami Arab identity, ethno-religious identity, Islamic organisation, ahl al-bayt.