ABSTRACT
The manifestation of Malay identity in Malaysia takes on more varied forms than in Singapore, which sees more convergence with state constructions of Malay identity. Palmer has shown how social media and community participation can facilitate the spread of nationalism through the portrayal of emotive catalysts such as the struggle, hardship and oppression of ethnic groups. The ethnic nationalism, buoyed by the success of governments' national identity projects, and triumphs over the desire to forge commonalities with other Malays across the region. For instance, a comparison between how citizens who are rooted to their countries and who form part of global diasporic communities identify with their ethnic and national identities can be explored to assess if meanings related to primordial modernity have shifted over time and space.
