Page 27 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

Terengganu (2%) and Kelantan (3%). Out of these, the respondents are mainly from Chinese
parentage (97.5%) and the remaining are from mixed parentage.

The DOSM classified Malaysians’ household income into three different income
groups: Top 20 Percent (T20), Middle 40 Percent (M40) and Bottom 40 Percent (B40). It is

significant to note that, more than half of the respondents are from the B40 household income
group (60%), followed by M40 household income group (33.5%) and T20 household income
group (6.5%).

In order to qualify to become a respondent of this survey, the respondent must
profess that he or she is practicing one of the religions that have been categorized as TCR.
Based on their feedback, as shown in Figure 2.1, 77.5 percent labelled themselves as

Buddhist, followed by Taoism (17%) and the remaining are Confucianism (5.5%) and
Chinese folk religions (4%).

Figure 2.1. Respondents’ religion.

2.3 Religion is Non-Essential

A person’s conviction to his or her religion will inherently make him or her conform to the
religious teachings. In other words, his or her religion will play a substantive role in influencing
his or her way of life. The influence religion has on the person is not superficial as he or she

will be innately seeking guidance from his or her religion especially for matters related to
spirituality. When one reaches this level of conviction, his or her religion will be essential to
the self.

However, this level of conviction was not found in many of the respondents who are
supposed to be believers of TCR. Based on the findings of the survey, only 24 percent of the

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