Abstract
Mixed marriages are a normalized feature of Sabah’s plural society, which has been shaped by mobility and interethnic interaction. Against this backdrop, this study examines how mixed marriages influence the construction of ethnic identity in Sabah, particularly whether identity is experienced as fluid and relational or stabilized through institutional categorization. A quantitative survey was conducted with 532 respondents across Sabah. Using descriptive statistical analysis, the results reveal that 51.3% of respondents reported mixed-marriage ancestry, with unions occurring not only across ethnic groups but also across religious and transnational boundaries. While the majority of respondents identified with a single ethnic label and expressed acceptance of their assigned identity, there were also those who indicated ambivalence, including a desire to change their ethnic designation or feelings of discomfort toward it. These responses were more prevalent among individuals from mixed backgrounds, suggesting subtle tensions between lived relational belonging and formal ethnic classification. Overall, the study demonstrates that mixed marriage in Sabah has resulted in an interwoven social fabric in which ethnic identity is negotiated individually and structured through institutional categories. The results contribute to broader debates on identity formation in plural societies where the there is a coexistence of plurality in family histories and singularity in self-identification.
Keywords: Ethnic Identity, Ethnic Relations, Mixed Marriage, Sabah.