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 Geography |
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The Patani Malays are located primarily in Patani Raya, the southern provinces of Thailand. The majority or approximately 2 million live in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla near the border to Malaysia. Patani Raya, once a semi-autonomous Malay-speaking sultanate, is the heartland of Muslim South Thailand. North of these five provinces, there are almost a million other Malays in the central-southern provinces. Another million live in the greater Bangkok area. The Malays are not recent immigrants. Their descendants settled on the lower Kra Isthmus centuries ago, yet they have never willingly assimilated into modern Thailand. Few have found their way to local or central government, however this is changing.
Language and Dialects
The Malays of South Thailand can be divided into three linguistic groups: 1) Those who speak Patani Malay dialect and use the Jawi/Arabic script (the Patani Malay speakers). 2) Those who are semi-assimilsed. They speak and read Thai, the national language (the Thai speakers). They can speak Patani Malay but cannot read Jawi. 3) Those who are assimilated. They speak and read Thai only.
Education
The government policy is compulsory education for primary grades, so a growing segment of people are more literate in Thai language. Malay school children often drop out after primary education, uninterested to continue their studies in Thai medium. Some further their schooling in private religious schools where they study Thai secular subjects and Islamic subjects.
Livelihood
The provinces of South Thailand are primarily rural with only about 12% living in urban areas. Most Malays are agriculturists, growing rice, fruit, vegetables or rubber. Although rice is the staple food, the local economy is not based on wet-rice agriculture. The southern provinces depend on rubber and fruit orchards and fishing. However, as world prices for rubber and tin declined in the 1970s, some Patani Malays went to work in the Middle East or Malaysia, while others became more involved in fishing. Those involved in fishing must now be part of a boat crew owned by Thai or Chinese business men.
Culture
The Malays of South Thailand live in close-knit communities. They place a high value on social acceptance within their community. Many Patani Malay Muslims feel threatened by the Thai Buddhist majority in Thailand. Young people are being strongly influenced by what they see on TV and films. Drug abuse and immorality is increasing much to the concern of civic and religious leaders. There is a high incidence (70 to 85%) of HIV and AIDS among Patani Malay drug addicts in the towns of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla.
Religion
The Patani Malays are strongly Muslim and the majority belong to the Sunni sect of Islam.
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| Patani Malay Population in Patani Raya, Thailand and other countries |
| Patani Raya |
Population 1998 |
Est. Pop. 2005 |
Est. Malay Muslims
(% of total population) |
| Narathiwat |
662,234 |
754,000 |
603,000 (82.0%) |
| Pattani |
599,219 |
685,000 |
552,000 (80.7%) |
| Yala |
429,501 |
493,000 |
339,000 (67,9%) |
| Satun |
256,800 |
303,000 |
205,000 (67.8%) |
| Songkhla |
1,210,921 |
1,390,000 |
322,000 (23.2%) |
| Total: |
2,021,000 |
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| Diaspora of Patani captives and immigrants in Central and East Thailand |
Population 1998 |
Est. Pop. 2005 |
Est. Malay Muslims
(% of total population) |
| Nonthaburi |
826,464 |
986,000 |
42,000 (4%) |
| Ayuthaya |
730,740 |
788,000 |
38,000 (4.8%) |
| Bangkok |
5,647,799 |
6,360,000 |
261,000 (4.1%) |
| Nakhonpathom |
711,116 |
820,000 |
61,500 (7.5%) |
| Phetchaburi |
456,527 |
470,000 |
12,000 (2.5%) |
| Nakhonnayok |
241,939 |
260,000 |
15,500 (5.9%) |
| Trat |
221,904 |
240,000 |
7,000 (2.8%) |
| Rayong |
515,008 |
574,000 |
6,500 (1.1%) |
| Conburi |
1,053,433 |
1,185,000 |
19.000 (1.6%) |
| Chachoengsao |
636,323 |
698,000 |
44,500 (6.4) |
| Total: |
506,000 |
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| Assimilated Malay in South Thailand |
Population 1998 |
Est. Pop. 2005 |
Est. Malay Muslims
(% of total population) |
| Ranong |
151,868 |
165,000 |
18,000 (10,9%) |
| Phuket |
221,835 |
250,000 |
43,000 (17.1%) |
| Pattalung |
498,805 |
520,000 |
43,000 (17.1%) |
| Nakonsithammarat |
1,511,857 |
1,600,000 |
99,000 (6.2%) |
| Krabi |
351,548 |
370,000 |
128,500 (34.7%) |
| Trang |
584,154 |
610,000 |
83,500 (13.7%) |
| Prachupkhirikhan |
468,880 |
500,000 |
5,000 (1%) |
| Suratthani |
861,233 |
900,000 |
18,000 (2%) |
| Total: |
452,000 |
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| Patani Malay immigrants and their diaspora in other countries |
Est. Patani Malay |
| Malaysia |
490,000 |
| Indonesia |
150,000 |
| Saudi Arabia |
55,000 |
| Total: |
695,000 |
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