Page 3 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

changes, and correspondingly, their convictions regarding traditional Chinese religion have
also evolved. Chapter Two will provide a comprehensive exploration of this transformation.
After discussing the views of Chinese Malaysians who are still practising TCR, this book goes
on to elaborate the views of those who have converted out of TCR in Chapter Three. In
essence, Chapter Three delves into the opinions of Malaysian Chinese who have embraced
non-TCR, considering their perceptions of TCR and the factors that led to their conversion.
Some elaborations on how they perceive their life after conversion are also presented. A study
on the issue of converting out of TCR will not be complete without the discussion on the
experiences of Chinese Malaysians who have converted back to TCR. Chapter Four is
dedicated for this purpose. This chapter will provide a detailed explanation of the reasons that
led several Chinese Malaysians to embrace TCR. Subsequently, the views of TCR
organization leaders towards their own organization are explained in Chapter Five. This
chapter also reports the leaders’ views on the steps that have to be taken to revive their
organization. In Chapter Six, the researchers’ overall view on the conversion of Malaysian
Chinese to non-TCR issues will be drawn out.

The decline of TCR is a phenomenon not confined to Malaysia alone. It is a global
Chinese phenomenon with the potential to reshape past and contemporary notions of Chinese
identity. Understanding this phenomenon and the processes leading to it is crucial. We hope
this book will contribute to a better understanding, and we would like to take this opportunity
to express our gratitude to Dato’ Ir. Ang Choo Hong and Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia
(YBBM) for their guidance, sponsorship of the study, and the publication of this book.

Prepared by:

Chin Yee Mun [Editor]
Angeline Wong
Chang Yun Fah
Kenneth Lee Tze Wui
Lee Jenn Yuan
Low Yow Dong
Phua Yeong Nan
Tan Yang Sheng
Toh Chen Chun
Voon Shi Jing
Yong Xin Yi

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