TikTok Video Captures Thai Malay Community Celebrating Eid Similarly To Malaysian Malays
Since going viral on several social media platforms, the video has gained many praises from Malay communities around the globe.
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Did you know that just like Malaysia, our upstairs neighbour Thailand, also has its very own population of Malays?
A TikTok video uploaded by user @kakijalae, captures how Thai Malays celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri according to their very own traditions back in Pantai Taluban in Sai Buri, Patani.
@kakijalae Suasana #MelayuRaya di Pantai Taluban sangat meriah
♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – KakiJalaeนักเดินเท้า – KakiJalaeนักเดินเท้า
The video showcases participants from various walks of life participating in traditional games and shows such as silat performances while all dressed in beautifully colourful traditional Malay attire.
Since going viral on several social media platforms, the video has gained many praises from Malay communities around the globe.
Who are the Thai Malays?
The Thai Malays or Patani Malays are said to be the sixth largest ethnic group in Thailand which is also home to the third largest ethnic Malay population after Malaysia and Indonesia.
Several studies have also found that most Malays are concentrated in the Southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla and Satun.
Makes going to Thailand feel more like home if you ask me.
Additionally, a sizable community also exists in Thailand’s capital Bangkok, Phuket and Ranong.
Religious wise, as Malaysian Malays, the Thai Malays are also mainly made up of Sunni Muslims where Islam is the defining element of the Thai Malay identity.
Language and Cultural Distinctiveness
According to articles on the web, the majority of Malays in Thailand speak a distinct variety of Malay known as Pattani Malay however, not all Thai Malays speak Pattani Malay.
Just as how Malaysian Malays have different dialects, some Thai Malays who live in Satun and its vicinage use another distinct variety of Malay known as Satun Malay.
On the other hand, the Malays up north in Bangkok have developed their distinct variant of Malay that incorporated elements of localism with visible Pattani-Kedahan Malay dialect influences known as Bangkok Malay.
When it comes to the writing system, with the introduction of Islam the use of Jawi is also common.
Unlike other parts of the Malay world, such as Singapore and Indonesia, where the usage of Jawi is declining rapidly from the increasing usage of the Latin alphabet, Jawi is still widely used and understood among Malays in Thailand.
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