Race, Religion, Royalty in Malaysia: Discursively Reproduced, Resisted, Renegotiated

“Identity politics characterised simultaneously both the ‘authority-defined social reality’ and ‘everyday-defined social reality’ since the introduction of the Census in 1871 that homogenised the sub-ethnic groups into three main ethnic categories Malay, Chinese and Indian. Since then identity politics in Malaysia at the ‘authority-defined’ level has been seen as a struggle between these three ethnic categories, first articulated in ethnic-based political parties, expressed in government policies and their implementation, and subsequently in the form of ‘everyday-defined’ reality in various narratives, personal, family and communal. Of late, the issue of race, religion, royalty (3R) related to identity politics has been singled out by the authority as to be controlled by legal means. This excellent collection of essays called Race, Religion and Royalty in Malaysia provides us with the contemporary authority-defined and everyday-defined articulations expressed in various platforms. It is a must read for students, researchers and scholars of Malaysian studies and the discipline of politics in general.” (Distinguished Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin FASc, Founding Director, Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)

“This volume is an exploration of the intricate interplay between race, religion, and royalty in Malaysia’s discursive landscape. This curated volume harnesses the power of Discourse Studies to uncover the linguistic strategies that shape these pivotal social constructs across historical and contemporary contexts. With its rich analyses of digital, print, and spoken texts in English and Malay, the book offers fresh, empirically grounded insights that illuminate the enduring significance of the ‘3R’ framework. A must-read for scholars and students of Language & Linguistics, this work masterfully bridges theory and application, providing a nuanced understanding of how discourse both reflects and reshapes Malaysian society.” (Professor James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania)

“Responding to socio-political changes in Malaysia, the editors bring together a fascinating collection of discourse-analytical studies investigating previously publicly taboo topics: race, religion and royalty. Through analyses of a variety of texts- from plays to podcasts- approached from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives within discourse studies, the volume provides a comprehensive and stimulating treatment of an otherwise understudied context: 3R discourses in Malaysia.” (Professor Christopher Hart, Professor of Linguistics, Lancaster University)

“It is my pleasure to endorse Race, Religion, and Royalty in Malaysia, which I find to be a timely addition to the literature on 3R especially from a linguistic perspective. Kumaran Rajandran and Siti Nurnadilla Mohamad Jamil offer a comprehensive edited work to further help us dissect the worrisome phenomenon of 3R as a discursive act in Malaysia that has not been dealt with in an honest manner by either society or the government. Getting insights from authors of various backgrounds and expertise elevates the book as an authoritative resource for all who are interested, not just in the pervasiveness of 3R narratives and their manipulation but, more importantly, for those who seek solutions for a more harmonious Malaysia that is free from the shackles of anxiety and fear of unintentionally causing offence.” (Dr. Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor of Political Science, International Islamic University Malaysia)

“This 13-chapter book is a timely and insightful work that offers a nuanced analysis of Malaysia’s socio-political fabric. Through a rich tapestry of discourse examination, this volume covering the 3R (Race, Religion and Royalty) issues unpacks the complex intersections of power, identity, and ideology, illuminating how race, religion, and monarchy are continuously contested, constructed, and reshaped in Malaysian society. It is both intellectually rigorous and deeply relevant, providing critical insights into the mechanisms of hegemony and the possibilities of resistance. A vital contribution to Southeast Asian studies, postcolonial scholarship, and political discourse analysis, this volume is essential reading for policymakers, scholars, and anyone trying to understand the evolving narratives that shape today’s multiracial Malaysians.” (Professor Dr. Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, Professor of Politics and International Relations; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), University Utara Malaysia)

“An insightful analysis of how religion, race and royalty institutions define nations, identity and leadership in shaping societies.” (Professor Dato’ Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian, Professor of Political Science, University Sains Malaysia)

“This volume focuses on the historically contingent and timely characteristics of Malaysian society. It offers valuable insights from a Discourse Analysis in analysing perception and representation of race, religion, and royalty in relation to national identity in Malaysia. In doing so, it integrates political, sociological, and historical accounts with discourse-analytical lens, presenting a well-structured and cohesive collection for research in this field. The volume is well-informed, coherently organised, and represents a diverse set of research that engages with a variety of approaches, materials, and critiques.” (Dr Majid KhosraviNik, Reader in Digital Media & Discourse Studies, University of Newcastle)

“A fascinating book about the complexities of religious life in Malaysia. With superb research on media, politics, social media, among other topics, the book is a must-read for anyone interested in religious discourse, particularly in diverse contexts.” (Dr. Stephen Pihlaja, Senior Lecturer in English Language, Aston University)

“Drawing on perspectives from a range of disciplines, this timely and engaging collection critically explores the manner in which discourses on race, religion and royalty are articulated in different settings and with particular purposes and audiences in mind. It will be of interest not only to scholars of Malaysia and Southeast Asia but also those who seek to understand how different media are used to maintain, and challenge, established hierarchies in complex societies.” (Dr. Michael Skey, Senior Lecturer in Communication & Media, Loughborough University)

“This excellent collection of essays provides us with the contemporary authority-defined and everyday-defined articulations expressed in various platforms. It is a must read for students, researchers and scholars of Malaysian studies and the discipline of politics in general.”

–Distinguished Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin FASc, Founding Director, Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

“Responding to socio-political changes in Malaysia, the editors bring together a fascinating collection of discourse-analytical studies investigating previously publicly taboo topics: race, religion and royalty. Through analyses of a variety of texts- from plays to podcasts- approached from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives within discourse studies, the volume provides a comprehensive and stimulating treatment of an otherwise understudied context: 3R discourses in Malaysia.”

– Christopher Hart, Professor of Linguistics, Lancaster University, UK

This edited volume conducts linguistic and literary analyses of the discourse involving race, religion and royalty (3R) in Malaysia. Grounded in Discourse Studies, it reveals the language features and strategies that articulate the vitality of 3R in historical and contemporary texts in English and Malay. The chapters employ language-based approaches to generate empirical explanations on 3R in multiple contexts. This volume is of interest to scholars, advanced undergraduate students and graduate students in Language, Linguistics and Literature to understand the discursive contours of race, religion and royalty in Asia.

Kumaran Rajandran is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia. His research involves the multimodal study of various discourses in English, Malay and Spanish, exploring the articulation of identity and ideology in contemporary societies.

Siti Nurnadilla Mohamad Jamil is an Assistant Professor at AbdulHamid A. AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia. Her research centres on how language constructs and deconstructs narratives of race, racism, marginalisation, and hate speech.