Pemerintahan Gamal Abdel Nasser di Mesir dan Reaksi Orang Melayu, 1956-1970 (The Rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser In Egypt and The Malay Reactions, 1956-1970)

Abstract

Egypt is a renowned destination among the Malays to further study in religion. Since the 1920s, there has been a significant increase in the number of Malay students continuing their studies at al-Azhar University from across Southeast Asia, which is about 200 students in 1925 compared to only about 80 students in 1919. The Malays continued to pay tribute to Egypt and the Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdul Nasser, who was the second Egyptian president (1956‒1970) since Egypt became a republic in 1952. His commendable leadership was respected not only in Egypt and the Arab countries, but also among the Malays. This article discusses the reaction of the Malays to the administration of President Nasser, especially to the current issues that occurred during his reign. The study uses library study method to analyse various primary and secondary sources. The findings uncover that the Malays had a profound respect towards Nasser who had succeeded not only in overthrowing the weak monarchy in Egypt, but also in advancing Egypt as a republic. At the same time, the Malays not only were concerned of the welfare of the Egyptian Muslims who were facing internal conflicts (such as the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956) but also had the apprehension to patronize Egypt against Israel in the Israeli Arab War of 1967. In fact, Nasser's death in 1970 was honoured by the Malays in a funeral prayer (solah janazah) and in a commemoration of his death throughout the country.