Chitchat The gradual Islamization of malaysia

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Not sure the thread title is the correct way to express what's happening. The Constitution of Malaysia guarantees freedom of worship and also makes Malaysia a secular nation in principle, even as it upholds Islam as the "religion of the Federation". And that was how society in Malaysia functioned, until recent years when the wave of radicalization reached its shores.

Political parties in malaysia, both the government as well as opposition side, have always used Islam as a tool. Talk about Hudud law has gone far back, way before I can remember, but never has it become an issue that the wider population need be concerned about. Now, PAS is pushing Hudud law with renewed aggression, further fragmentation an opposition that has already been wrecked by differences. (More on this below.)

There are distinct developments over the years that raised my eyebrows. First was self-appointed religious police who took law into their own hands. Their existence only became widely known to the region when their abuses were reported by the mainstream media and carried by international press.

Next, more recently, are the various cases of govt and quasi govt departments imposing onerous dress code requirements on both men and women. Auntie wearing knee-length dress was told to put on an additional layer before she could be allowed into a govt building. Here, the constitution here is clear that this space is secular and islamic codes of dress don't apply to non-Muslims. There have been many such instances. Who is giving govt officials the audacity to impose Islamic codes onto a secular space?

The Kelantan state legislative assembly has passed amendments to the Shariah Criminal Code that effectively pave the way for future implementing of Hudud Law. That is not the only thing PAS has done to Kelantan. The PAS has also in the past placed tough restrictions or outright bans on the performance of traditional Malay theatrical forms, as well as public performances by women.

And just last week, the Malaysian government had proceeded to fast-track a Private Member’s Bill brought forth by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. The Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 in particular addresses the scope and form of punishments Syariah Courts can mete out and is seen by govt critics as well as other BN components as a step toward Hudud Law.

So here we have a Prime Minister making a politically unpopular move and acting in concert not with a member of his party but with a component member of the opposition. That's the part I don't get.

The gradual Islamization of Malaysia (if its appropriate to be termed thusly) is a national security threat and must be taken seriously. If this trend continues to deepen, which i suspect it will, it will become a tinderbox that can have grave implications on our own security.


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