BIDAYUH: THE LINK BETWEEN IDENTITY AND RELIGION CONVERSION DUE TO MARRIAGES IN KAMPUNG BAWANG,

BATU 16, KUCHING, SARAWAK.

Problem Statement
The problem of religious conversion owing to weddings offers substantial challenges to individual and communal identities in the

cosmopolitan and diversified state of Sarawak, Malaysia, where many ethnic groups and religions coexist. This study is to investigate

relationship between identity and religious conversion, especially a Bidayuh group that convert into Islam.

Despite being a constitutionally protected right, choosing to change to a different religion in order to be married frequently raises

concerns about one's own personal views, cultural customs, and the upkeep of indigenous traditions. In Sarawak, it has been noted that the

process of religious conversion as a result of marriages has a significant impact on the individuals involved, their families, and the larger society

(Ismail & Tan, 2019; Lee & Wong, 2021).

This research intends understand the transforming effects of Islam on the Bidayuh people's sense of identity and the changes it brings to

their cultural practices and traditions, it is important to look into the effects of religious conversion to Islam on the identity and culture of the

Bidayuh people in Kampung Bawang, with a focus on those who have made the decision to convert.
 Research Questions Research Objectives
1. What does it mean by “Bidayuh” to Bidayuh people in 1. To determine the level of understanding and knowledge of
Kampung Bawang? Bidayuh people on their identity.

2. Do the Bidayuh people, who had converted into Islam affect 2. To analyse the impacts of Bidayuh’s cultures and values
their identity as Bidayuh? toward the converted Bidayuh people.