Malayisation is a process of
assimilation and
acculturation, that involves acquisition (, literally "embracing
Malayness") or imposition ( or
Melayuisasi) of elements of
Malay culture, in particular,
Islam and
Malay language, as experienced by non-Malay populations of territories controlled or substantially influenced by historical
Malay sultanates and modern . It is often described as a process of civilisational expansion, drawing a wide range of indigenous peoples into the Muslim, Malay-speaking polities of Maritime Southeast Asia.