Thinking about 'the Malays' and 'Malayness' -- early historied: engaging India and Islam -- the sultanates -- a 'Malay' or kerajaan world? -- experiencing colonialism, and the making of the Bangsa Melayu -- building 'Malays' into nation states -- multiple forms of 'Malayness' -- ethnicith, civilization and the fear of 'disappearing from this world'