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The ‘other’ Muhammadiyah movement: Singapore 1958–2008

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2011

Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied
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Abstract

This paper provides a critical historical analysis of the Muhammadiyah movement in Singapore. I argue that four processes have been crucial in the emergence and sustenance of the Muhammadiyah within a predominantly non-Muslim society: the symbiotic relationship between the leaders and their followers, the formulation and subsequent reformulation of the ideology of the movement, political opportunities which were judiciously exploited and the availability of a wide array of infrastructures. The Muhammadiyah, as will be shown, provides an informative example of an Islamic movement in Southeast Asia that has transcended the challenges faced by the minority Muslim population by making effective use of the limited resources at its disposal.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 281 - 302
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 2011

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References

1 The literature on the Muhammadiyah in Indonesia is far too vast to be listed in full here. Some notable works on the Muhammadiyah in Indonesia include: Mas, Subhan, Muhammadiyah: Pintu gerbang Protestanisme Islam: Sebuah presisi modernitas (Ngoro-Mojokerto: Al-Hikmah, 2005)Google Scholar; Jurdi, Syarifuddin, Elite Muhammadiyah dan kekuasaan politik: Studi tentang tingkah laku politik elite lokal Muhammadiyah sesudah Orde Baru (Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press, 2004)Google Scholar; M. Amien Rais dalam Sorotan Generasi Muda Muhammadiyah, ed. Ghazali, Abd. Rohim (Bandung: Mizan, 1998)Google Scholar; Mulkhan, Abdul Munir, Pemikiran Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan dan Muhammadiyah dalam perspektif perubahan sosial (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 1990)Google Scholar; Alfian, , Muhammadiyah: The political behavior of a Muslim modernist organisation under Dutch colonialism (Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press, 1989)Google Scholar; and Nakamura, Mitsuo, Crescent arises over the banyan tree: A study of the Muhammadiyah movement in a central Javanese town (Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press, 1976)Google Scholar.

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53 Ust Shaik Hussain Shaik Yaacob, ‘Bersatu & Bertoleransi Kunci Perpaduan’ (Persatuan Muhammadiyah, Singapore, 2007).

54 Suara Muhammadiyah, 3–4 (1998): 16–18Google Scholar.

55 See http://www.mai-edu.net/joomla/ (last accessed on 13 Jan. 2011).

56 See http://www.muhammadiyah.org.sg/kim (last accessed on 30 Jan. 2011).

57 ‘Ucapan Yatiman Yusof, Setiausaha Parlimen Kanan (Penerangan Dan Kesenian), di Majlis Perasmian “Ekspo Keluarga Dan Barang Pengguna Indonesia”, Anjuran Rumah Kebajikan Muhammadiyah Welfare di Dewan Ekspo Singapura, pada 31 Ogos 2000, 3.00 Ptg’, at http://stars.nhb.gov.sg/stars/public/viewPDF.jsp?pdfno=yy20000831n.pdf (last accessed on 13 Jan. 2011).

58 Muhammadiyah's stand regarding the implementation of laws and policies affecting Muslims in Singapore can be found in the following articles: Jamil, Fadhlullah and Yahaya, Atiku Garba, ‘Muslims in non-Muslim societies and their response to major issues affecting them: The case of Singapore’, Islamic Quarterly, 44, 4 (2000): 576–600Google Scholar; Suara Muhammadiyah, 1 (1987): 4–5Google Scholar and Suara Muhammadiyah, 1–2 (1997): 11–16Google Scholar.

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61 Interview with Osman Ahmad, 7 Sept. 2008.