Religion in Penang
Kapitan Keeling Mosque is a beautiful building
Penang’s diverse cultural make-up is one of the most thrilling aspect of the island, and the different religions and denominations present here make for a fascinating mix of belief systems. Whilst Malaysia is a Islamic nation, there are practising Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, Jews and Hindus in Penang, with each religion split into numerous sub-categories.
Islam in Penang
Malay culture is heavily influenced by Islam with a large number of Bahasa words traced back to Arabic origins. Islam is such a large part of Malaysian life that many Muslim celebrations and rituals have become absorbed into the secular social calender.
All ethnic Malays are Muslim according to law, and there are a number of immigrant Muslims from the Indian subcontinent and a smattering of Chinese converts.
A Malay person or Bumiputra (son of earth) who decides to renounce Islam will forfeit his constitutional rights immediately. However, the reverse does not hold true and Malaysians who decide to convert to Islam are not eligible for the same Malay privileges. Most female Muslims are expected by society to don a hijab (headscarf). However, it is not obligatory for women to conceal their faces and a some notable female politicians abstain from this.
Flirting and overt public affection are prohibited, as are sexual relationships between Muslim women and men of different creeds. Different laws govern Malays regarding families and religious issues with divorce and adultery proceedings conducted in Sharia courts which have no legal jurisdiction over other Malaysians.
Malays get numerous benefits over other Malaysians by virtue of their Bumiputra status. This includes affirmative action for university entry and discounts when purchasing property or cars. These privileges are a source of great resentment among Penang’s Chinese and Indian communities, and Malaysia is unique amongst democratic nations in employing such constitutional discrimination.
Buddhism in Penang
The ethnic Chinese make up around 43 per cent of Penang and many of these count themselves as Buddhist. But many Chinese people list their religion as Buddhist but do so only to simplify bureaucracy, and in reality adhere to different belief sects.
Monk awaits worshippers at the Burmese Temple
Most of Penang’s Buddhists are Chinese although many normal Buddhists may not be particularly aware of which branch of the religion he follows, choosing to visit both Thai and Chinese Buddhism institutions. In Penang a fusion of beliefs has taken hold that may even incorporate a little Taoism.
Penang Buddhist temples are for the most part of Burmese or Thai origin with some Chinese as well. Chinese Buddhist temples follow the precepts of Mahayana Buddhism whereas Thai and Burmese institutions follow Theravada Buddhism. There are also the occasional Sri Lankan worshipper at these temples as well.
Hinduism in Penang
The majority of Indian immigrants that came to Penang were Hindus. However, there are also many Sikhs from the Punjab region, Indian Muslims plus around 50,000 Baha’is of varying races. Hindu temples were built by Indian labourers and prisoners brought over from the south of India during time of the British Raj. There are also merchant class Hindus including the Chulias, Chettiars, and a few Gujaratis and north Indians that also came to Penang.
The Mahamariamman Temple of Queen Street in central Georgetown, Sri Rama Temple in nearby York Close and Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple in Penang Hill are the three oldest Hindu temples in Penang. These all began life as tiny shrines which later were enlarged into temples. Thaipusam is the largest Hindu festival celebrated in Penang, during which devotees pierce their skin and travel around town with a silver chariot holding a statue of Lord Muruga.
Chinese Taoism in Penang
The Chinese Temples of Penang are considered some of the most ornate and elaborate outside mainland China. Most of these were constructed from the 1850s to the Second World War when Chinese immigration to Penang was at its height. The first Taoist temple on Penang is Kong Hock Keong (or Kuan Yin Teng). This Temple of the Goddess of Mercy was built by early settlers in honour of the god of sailors Ma Chor Po or Matsu. Over the years the temple became more associated with the Chinese Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin.
