Sikh soldiers of the Indian Infranty Division during World War II involved in a fierce battle with the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle of Kampar, British Malaya (1941)
Sikhs were initially sent to British Malaya as political prisoners. The first few Sikhs to set foot in Malaya were Nihal Singh (better known as Bhai Maharaj Singh) and Khurruck Singh,[7] who were deported from India due to anti-British involvement in 1849. These prisoners were sent to the Outram Road prison in what is now Singapore. In 1865, Sikhs were sent to Malaysia again as recruits in the armed forces in the British Empire mainly as police, military and guards.[citation needed]
Sikh community and migration
Photograph of Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Police, Fort Cornwallis, Penang, Malaysia, taken on 28 December 1927
Regular Sikh migration to Malaya (Malaysia) started here in 1873. The Sikh community is the largest here among Southeast and East Asia. The earliest Sikhs settlers were Policemen. The first Sikh Gurdwara was set up in Cornwallis in 1873 inside police Lines. The first public Sikh Gurdwara was set up in 1903 in Penang. Sikhs occupied top positions in Military and Police during the British rule of Malaysia. There are as many as 15 Sikh Gurdwaras in Kuala Lumpur alone more than the number of mosques there, despite Muslims being the dominant demographic in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Sikhs are deep-rooted in Sikh culture more than Sikh diaspora anywhere in the world and are assimilated in mainstream keeping their identity intact.[8]
A group of Sikh businessmen in Malaysia has set up a network of International Sikh Entrepreneurs (NISE) to promote their products and services and generate opportunities among members.
There are a total of 119 gurdwaras throughout Malaysia. 42 of them are situated in the state of Perak, where the majority of Sikhs in Malaysia resides.
Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Muar, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Batu Pahat, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Segamat, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Babe ke Guru Ram Das World, Machap, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Kluang, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Pontian, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Johor Bahru, Johor
Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Dharamsala, Kuala Lumpur
Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Kampung, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan Settlement, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Kuyow, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Mainduab, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Police, Kuala Lumpur Gurdwara Sahib Police
Gurdwara Sahib Police Depot, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Police Jalan Parliament, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Central Workshops Sentul, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Tatt Khalsa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In 2016, a teaching module published by a leading Malaysian university (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM) depicted Hindus in India as unclean and dirty in a slide. Another slide aimed at teaching the origins of Sikhism claimed that founder Guru Nanak had a poor understanding of Islam and had combined it with his surrounding Hindu lifestyle in forming the early foundation of the Sikh faith. A police report was lodged by the chairman of the Hindu Dharma Association of Malaysia in Sungai Petani district against UTM.[11][12] Malaysia's Minister of Health, Deputy Minister of Education and others had condemned this incident. Due to these condemnations, UTM was forced to apologize.[13]
^"Malaysia gets first Sikh minister". WION. Miri Indian Association president, Councillor Karambir Singh was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post. Malaysia has nearly 100,000 Sikh population
^"On the Gurdwara Trail in Malaysia: A Spiritual Experience". SikhNet. The Malaysian Sikh community is the fourth largest ethnic group of Malaysian Indians. It is estimated that over 100,000 Sikhs reside in Malaysia. The Sikh population is the largest here among Southeast and East Asia.
^"Indian-origin appointed as first Sikh Minister in Malaysia". Connected to India. The whole Sikh community is happy over the appointment of Deo as a Minister in the Malaysia's Cabinet. There are about 100,000 Sikhs in Malaysia occupying significant positions in the country.
^"Vaisakhi festivities showcase Sikh community's vibrancy". MalayMail. "We are small in Malaysia — there are 100,000 of us — but you see us everywhere," said Daljit....Daljit estimated between 100,000 to 120,000 travelled from north Indian region Punjab, where Sikhism originated, as well as Delhi and Mumbai.
^Kahlon, Swarn Singh (2016). Virk, Dr. Hardev Singh (ed.). Sikhs in Asia Pacific's: Travels among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe. New Delhi: Manohar Publisher, New Delhi.
