Malaysia : nation-building through migration

Abstract

In this paper, I explore how Malaya became Malaysia through an analysis of migration streams. The scope of my study centres around Malaysia, during the time period of 1945 up till 1985. I argue that migration in Malaysia during the post-war period up till 1985 was largely used by the government as a nation-building tool. Through the enactment of various socio-political-economic policies, the government was able to influence both internal and external migration streams to build Malaysia at all levels of society. Migration was thus a crucial tool in transforming Malaya into Malaysia.