SOCIAL CAPITALS AMONG KELANTAN PERANAKAN CHINESE MUSLIMS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Typically, Chinese Muslims have relationship conflict with their non-Muslim family (bonding social capital) and Malay community (bridging social capitals) after converting to Islam. The conflict will affect their social capital. The main aim of this study was to identify the bonding and bridging social capitals among Kelantan Peranakan Chinese Muslim community in Kelantan, Malaysia in the aspects of trust, reciprocity, and cohesion.   Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted utilising the sequential explanatory mixed method approaches, involving Chinese Muslims in the Kelantan state. A total of 75 respondents participated in the quantitative study, and five of them involved in the qualitative study. The methods used for sampling were the purposive sampling and snowball sampling. The quantitative data were collected through a survey questionnaire, while the qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews.   Findings: The findings revealed that the reciprocal and cohesive elements mostly occurred with bridging social capital only. As for the trust aspect, the respondents indicated that they believe in bonding and bridging social capitals only on occasional basis. It was also found that the relationship conflict existed among Chinese Muslim after conversion with their family members who are not converted to Islam and also with the Malay community.   Contributions:  This study contributes significantly to the body of knowledge due to lack of recent publications that explain the relationship in the social capital aspect, which is a very essential aspect to change the community, as a means of achieving the community development.   Keywords: Social capital, bonding social capital, bridging social capital, religious conversion, Chinese Muslim.   Cite as: Adi Syahid, M. A. (2023). Social capitals among Kelantan Peranakan Chinese Muslims in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(1), 357-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8iss1pp357-383