According to W. K. Che Man (2003), the Malay Muslim minority plays a significant role in shaping Thailand’s democratization and national integration efforts. As democratic reforms expanded in the late twentieth century, Malay Muslims increasingly participated in electoral politics, local administrative bodies, and parliamentary processes. This participation did not merely symbolize minority inclusion; it actively pushed the Thai state to reconsider how national unity should accommodate ethnic and religious diversity. Che Man argues that democratization opens institutional channels through which Malay Muslims can negotiate for cultural recognition, educational reforms, and greater administrative responsiveness. Therefore, the presence and political activation of the Malay Muslim community have compelled the Thai government to grapple with issues of representation, minority rights, and the limits of assimilation policies.

Sattar and Sahoh (2021) show that Malay Muslim identity plays a central role in Thai politics because it challenges the state’s long-standing nation-building model. The Thai state historically promoted a national identity based on Thai language, Buddhism, and centralized administration, which often marginalized the Melayu Muslim identity. The struggle over identity, particularly language, religion, and historical memory, directly affects political dynamics. When Malay Muslims seek political representation through identity-based claims, they push the government to respond to demands for cultural rights, recognition of historical experiences, and fair political inclusion. The authors argue that when the state fails to acknowledge this identity, it strengthens feelings of exclusion and distrust. Conversely, when political institutions recognize Malay identity, it can reduce conflict and improve state - community relations. Thus, identity politics among Malay Muslims has a profound impact on how governance, representation, and legitimacy operate in Southern Thailand.

The Malay Muslim minority also influences Thai politics through the long-running conflict in the Deep South, which has shaped national security policies and debates about decentralization. The government’s response, like imposing martial law, emergency decrees, and establishing specialized security agencies, shows how a minority conflict can transform national governance approaches. These measures have strengthened the role of the military and expanded security budgets, affecting broader civil–military relations in Thailand. At the same time, the conflict has sparked national debates about creating special administrative zones, devolving power, and reforming governance structures to address local grievances. The state has also been pushed to manage Islamic affairs through official Islamic councils, religious education supervision, and partial recognition of Islamic family law. These adjustments demonstrate that Thai Malays significantly influence government policy not just locally, but nationally, by forcing continuous reconsideration of security, decentralization, and minority governance frameworks.