Malaysians of Indian descent in Penang
A group of Tamil women in Province Wellesley (known as Seberang Perai today), Penang, 1907. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 155,492 8.9% Penang's population in 2020 (census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Penang | |
| George Town: Batu Ferringhi, Gelugor, Balik Pulau, Ayer Itam | |
| Seberang Perai: Kepala Batas, Nibong Tebal, Perai, Simpang Ampat | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil (Malaysian Tamil) majority/dominant, Penang Hokkien (secondary lingua franca or interlanguage with the Penangite Chinese community), Penang Malay and English (Tanglish and Manglish) Other Indian languages: Gujarati, Telugu, Punjabi, Malayalam | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism (predominantly), Christianity, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Baháʼí Faith, Jainism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Malaysian Indians, Chitty, Chindian, Malaysian Gujaratis, Malaysian Tamils, Malaysian Malayalis, Telugu Malaysians |
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Penangite Indians (Tamil: பினாங்கு இந்தியர்கள்; Malay: Kaum India di Pulau Pinang), also known as Chulias, are Malaysian Indians that live primarily in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Most are the descendants from those who migrated from India during the British colonisation of Malaya. However, historical sources prove that the ancient Indians arrived in Penang during the Chola dynasty. Penangite Indians forms a large percentage of the state's professional community such as business, law and medicine as well as politics, it can be proven by the appointment of Dr. P. Ramasamy as deputy chief minister of Penang. It made him the first Malaysian of Indian origin to hold the post of deputy chief minister in any state of Malaysia. In addition, first Tamil Vernacular School in Malaysia was established in Penang.