Living on the Periphery: Development and Islamization among the Orang Asli

Orang Asli is a generic name given to the indigenous people living on the Malay Peninsular. Using extensive ethnographic data, this study reveals the way in which state-initiated development projects and the process of Islamization influence the life world of the Orang Asli in the name of national unity. The Malaysian Government stands behind the Muslim Orang Asli and regards anyone resisting Islamization as a rebel against the nation state. The Islamization program that aims at state-based integration brought about large-scale socioeconomic changes and created class divides, splits and disharmonies in the community. Conflicts escalate notably between the Muslims supported by the government and the non-Muslims that are subjected to repressive forces of the state.