Chinese Muslims finally get a mosque of their own

The country's small Chinese Muslim community will finally get what it has long requested - a mosque and, by extension, their own identity. At present, there are no mosques in the country that offer sermons in Chinese.

But all that is changing after a reformist cleric accused the Malay-dominated Islamic authorities earlier this week of discrimination against Chinese Muslims. Malacca state, where Chinese Muslims first set foot some six centuries ago, is giving them a plot of land to build a mosque that will cater to their needs.

Selangor state, north of Malacca state, also announced this week that it would build a mosque for Chinese Muslims that will offer sermons in Chinese.

The plight of Chinese Muslims hit the headlines after Asri Zainul Abidin, a prominent cleric with liberal views, went public, criticising Islamic authorities for neglecting Chinese Muslims.

'It is not fair and it is un-Islamic to ask Chinese to become Malays after they embrace Islam,' Dr Asri told the New Straits Times. 'We can't ask them to abandon their culture, language and identity.'

Because Islam is a state matter there are differing views and attitudes towards Chinese Muslims.

But it is generally accepted that converts, including Chinese Muslims, have to masuk Melayu or become Malay by adopting the culture and language of the majority Muslim race.