It is estimated that there are around 100,000 Sikhs in Malaysia.
Despite the popular belief that Sikhs were brought to the then Malaya as police and soldiers, historically it is proven that Sikhs were actually sent to Malaya as political prisoners. The first few Sikhs to set foot in Malaya were Nihal Singh (better known as Bhai Maharaj Singh) and Kharak Singh, who were thrown out of India due to anti-British involvement somewhere around 1800. These prisoners were sent to the Outram Road prison in what is now Singapore. In 1865, it is believed that the process of migration of Sikhs to Malaysia started again but this time involved recruitment in the armed forces in the British Empire mainly as police, military and guards.
There are a total of 119 gurdwaras throughout Malaysia. 42 of them are situated in the state of Perak, where the majority of Sikhs in Malaysia resides.
Gurdwara by state/federal territory
Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Muar, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Batu Pahat, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Segamat, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Babe ke Guru Ram Das World, Machap, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Kluang, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Pontian, Johor
Gurdwara Sahib Johor Bahru, Johor
Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Dharamsala, Kuala Lumpur
Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Kampung, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Sungai Besi,Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan Settlement, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Kuyow, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Mainduab, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Police, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Police Depot, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Police Jalan Parliament, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Sahib Central Workshops Sentul, Kuala Lumpur
Gurdwara Nanak Darbar Tatt Khalsa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Gurdwara Sahib, Titiwangsa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Gurdwara Sahib Majha Diwan Malaya
Labuan
Gurdwara Sahib Labuan
Kedah
Gurdwara Sahib Kulim,Kedah
Gurdwara Sahib Sungei Petani,Kedah
Gurdwara Sahib Alor Star, Kedah
Kelantan
Gurdwara Sahib Tumpat, Kelantan
Gurdwara Sahib Kota Bahru,Kelantan
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Krai, Kelantan
Malacca
Gurdwara Sahib Malacca
Negeri Sembilan
Gurdwara Sahib Mantin, Negeri Sembilan
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Klavang, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan
Gurdwara Sahib Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Gurdwara Sahib Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Pilah,Negeri Sembilan
Gurdwara Sahib Tampin, Negeri Sembilan
Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib Bentong, Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Lipis, Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib Tanah Rata, Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib Raub, Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib Mentakab, Pahang
Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh Temple), Kuantan
Penang
Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa Dharmak Jatha, Penang
Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Police, Penang
Wadda Gurdwara Sahib, Penang
Gurdwara Sahib Perai, Penang
Gurdwara Sahib Butterworth, Penang
Gurdwara Sahib Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa Dharmik Sabha, Parit Buntar, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Pokok Assam, Taiping, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Taiping, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Sitiawan, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Sungei Siput Utara, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Chemor, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Kampong Kepayang, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tanjong Rambutan, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Kangsar, Perak
Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib, Kaniunting,Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Bruas, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Bagan Serai, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Jelapang, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Dharmak Sabha,Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Gunong Rapat, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Buntong, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tambun, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Menglembu Regrouping Area, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Lahat, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Gopeng, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Malim Nawar, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tanjong Tuallang, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Changkat Tin, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Ayer Papan, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tronoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Pusing, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Siputeh, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Menglembu, Jalan Lahat, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Bercham, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Greentown, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Kampar, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Teluk Intan, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Slim River, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Changkat, Batu Gajah, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Batu Gujah, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Gopeng, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Malay States Guide, Taiping, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Police, Ipoh, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tanjong Malim, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Bidor, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tapah, Perak
Gurdwara Sahib Tronoh Mines, Kampar, Perak
Perlis
Gurdwara Sahib Kangar, Perlis
Sabah
Gurdwara Sahib Singh Sabha, Lahad Datu, Sabah
Gurdwara Sahib Tawau, Sabah
Gurdwara Sahib Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Gurdwara Sahib Sandakan, Sabah
Sarawak
Gurdwara Sahib Kuching, Sarawak
Gurdwara Sahib Sibu, Sarawak
Gurdwara Sahib Bau, Sarawak
Gurdwara Sahib Miri, Sarawak
Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Puchong,Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Klang
Gurdwara Sahib Kalumpang, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Berjuntai Tin, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Klang, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Shah Alam, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Lembah Jaya, Ampang, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Kajang, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Batu Arang, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Ampang, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Guru Ram Das, Banting, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Bukit Beruntung, Selangor
Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya
Gurdwara Sahib Rawang
Gurdwara Sahib Bandar Sunway
Gurdwara Sahib Nanaksar, Serendah
Most Sikhs started out as policemen, soldiers,planters big shot,guards and even businessmen. However, it is normal to see Sikhs working as professionals now for example, doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers,etc. There is also a fair number of young Sikhs with tertiary education born in Malaysia now living in advanced Western countries such as USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.