Punjabi in Malaysia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The name Punjabi is used to describe both those who speak Punjabi and those who inhabit the Punjab region in India and Pakistan. There are approximately ninety thousand Punjabi in Malaysia. They first came to Malaysia in the 19th century as British political prisoners. A second wave was brought in by the British to serve as policemen for the British Straits Settlement communities and as night watchmen for industries.

Punjabi are a small minority among the approximately two million Indians in Malaysia. They have preserved a distinct Punjabi/Sikh identity within Malaysian society that sets them apart from the Tamil and other Indian communities that are Hindu. Malaysians commonly refer to the Punjabi community as Bengali, which is a misconception since they are actually from Punjab and not West Bengal. This misconception began because their Malaysian identification cards classify them as Bengali. Most people in Malaysia view the terms 'Punjabi' and 'Sikh' as synonymous. In reality, significant minorities of Punjabi people are Muslim and even smaller minorities are Hindu. Punjabi Muslims identify closely with other Indian Muslims as well as the majority of Malay. Punjabi Hindus and Muslims commonly refer to themselves as Hindustani and Indian Muslim, respectfully. The Sikh see themselves as the only Punjabi that remain distinct from other groups in Malaysian society.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many of the males are characterized by their long beards and neatly wound turbans. Many of the younger generation, however, can be found without beards or turbans. Another distinctive feature relates to food. If you catch the sight or scent of chapati (a traditional type of Punjabi bread) there is sure to be a Sikh nearby.

Subsequent generations of Punjabi in Malaysia realized the value of greater education and pursued occupations in professional fields such as medicine, law, teaching, and business. Some Sikhs are still visible as security guards and police officers. As the Punjabi in Malaysia become more educated and more integrated into modern Malaysian society, less emphasis is being place on the ability to read and write Punjabi. However, Punjabi people remain distinct from other people of Indian origins because of their religious beliefs and strong sense of community.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Punjabi are predominantly followers of the Sikh religion, though there are significant minorities of Muslim and Hindu among them. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that was founded in northern India during the 16th century. Its teachings have combined elements of both Hinduism and Islam in an attempt to find one god who transcends all religious distinctions. Sikhism stresses the importance of devotion, intense faith in the guru (teacher), the repetition of their god's name as a means of salvation or moksha (release into god's love), opposition to the worship of idols, the brotherhood of all men, and rejection of caste (pattern of social classes in Hinduism) system.


What Are Their Needs?

Punjabi Hindus and Muslims are often misunderstood and overlooked as distinct people groups among their larger religious and linguistic affiliations. Pray that Indian believers will help meet the needs of the Punjabi regardless of which religion they follow.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Punjabi in Malaysia.


Profile Source:   Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Punjabi
People Name in Country Punjabi
Pronunciation puhn-JAH-bee
Alternate Names Eastern Punjabi; Gurmukhi; Mirpur Punjabi; Panjabi; Sikh
Population this Country 72,000
Population all Countries 2,161,000
Total Countries 18
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14483
ROP3 Code 108182
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 43  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Western Peninsular.   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 43  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Western Peninsular..   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Primary Religion: Other / Small
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
10.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
90.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (72,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Punjabi
Dialect Code 761   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (72,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Punjabi
Dialect Code 761   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Punjabi, Eastern

Primary Language:  Punjabi, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1954)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1815-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1959-2021)
Bible-NT Audio Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download Bible from Google Play Store Operation Agape
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Eastern Literacy & Evangelism International
Photo Source Web Flippy - Pixabay 
Map Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission
Profile Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.