'Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia'
Abstract
This paper discusses political implications of Sama-Bajau’s Malayism in
Malaysia. Sama-Bajau in Sabah claim that they came from Johor. This means
ethnically and ideologically they are Malays. Whenever they encounter any
local conflict, such as identity and political conflicts, a Sama-Bajau will look to
the Malay culture for source of strength. This process is referred to as Malayism
of the Sama-Bajaus. The argument of this paper is that the source of Malay
political consolidation in Sabah is the Malayism of the Sama-Bajau and other
Muslim indigenous people
