: The is a primary indicator of Malay-Muslim identity in a multi-ethnic society, often associated with a modest yet cosmopolitan lifestyle.

In Indonesia, the jilbab has also been the subject of controversy and debate. In 2003, the Indonesian government issued a decree banning the jilbab in schools, citing concerns about national unity and secularism. However, the ban was later overturned, and the jilbab is now widely worn by Muslim women in Indonesia.

The adoption of the veil followed distinct paths in each country: