Madrasah Melayu Sarawak: the history and its role in providing education for the malay community in Kuching Sarawak

This study used a historical method with sociological approach that aimed to describe events that had occurred in the past. The researcher attempted to explain the History of Madrasah Melayu Sarawak and the changing nature of education in Sarawak especially among the local Malay community. For the theoretical framework, the researcher uses the theory of Cultural Change. According to Julian Steward, culture develops in a multi-linear and evolutionary manner. Multi-linear evolution is essentially a methodology based on the assumption that significant regularities in cultural change occur, and it is concerned with the determination of cultural laws. In writing this research, the researcher used historical method through several stages namely heuristics, verification, interpretation and historiography. The results of this study indicates that; (1) The Madrasah Melayu Sarawak was built on 1930 to encourage young Malays to fill in the need of teachers in government school. The Madrasah later was used for various other purposes throughout the years. (2) Changes can be seen in the Malay community after the arrival of the Brookes especially in stratification where this is affecting their reaction towards education and the establishment of Madrasah Melayu Sarawak. (3) Various improvements can be seen in the Malay community especially in education where it also can be proved to be a medium for unity regardless of race and religion