Malaysia: Image and Substance.
by Elizabeth Kendal
July 9, 2007
AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- In the recent WEA Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin entitled "Malaysia: At the Crossroads" it was noted: "Elections are due in Malaysia before early 2008. Many people are disenchanted with the ruling party, UMNO, and PAS [Parti Islam Semalaysia] is hoping to capitalise. PAS is modernising and softening its image, replacing turbaned clerics with Western-educated, smartly-suited so-called 'Young Turks', hoping the new image will attract Chinese and Indian voters. This has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with marketing - political Islam in a suit is still political Islam." (Link 1)Indeed, PAS may be reforming its image but it is increasing the penalties for non-Muslims found sharing their beliefs with Muslims in Kelantan. Yes the new-breed Islamist might wear Armani but he still wields a whip. There can be a big difference between image and substance.
A 10 June article by Associated Press reported that PAS is struggling for its survival, even in Kelantan. (Link 2) The northern state is the party's stronghold and the only state now ruled by PAS. PAS rose to power in 1990, but its popularity has since waned "amid fears among moderate Muslims and religious minorities over the party's ambitions of creating a style of hard-line governance that prescribes punishments such as amputating thieves' hands". (Link 3) However PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang believes that negative government propaganda and fear mongering is responsible for much of the loss in support.
PAS held it's Annual General Assembly in Kota Bahru, Kelantan, commencing 1 June. The main outcome of the Assembly was a commitment to image reform. According to IslamOnline, PAS will "place more women in pivotal positions" to counter accusations of discrimination, and seek to "shed the hard-line image it gained due to some policies". (Link 4)
As Associated Press notes: "When PAS took over in 1990, it limited liquor sales, prohibited lotteries and betting outlets, banned nightclubs and rock concerts, fined Muslim women for not wearing headscarves in workplaces and enforced public segregation of the sexes through measures such as separate check-out lines for men and women in supermarkets." (Link 2)
IslamOnline reports: "During the past months, the party lifted a ban on pop concerts in Kelantan, a 15-year ban on billiards and allowed cinemas to operate. It has also launched a campaign to reason with prostitutes throughout the country to seek another source of living." (Link 4)
TWO-FACED
But, as IslamOnline also notes, many are skeptical. "Analysts remain skeptic of how far would PAS go with the new image initiative. 'I don't see how the presence of these so-called "Young Turks" will make any change to the fundamental policies of the party,' political analyst Chandra Muzaffar told Reuters.
"Chandra believes that despite the new language, PAS will not likely abandon its long-adopted policies. 'I do not think PAS will move away from its commitment to an Islamic state. I don't think PAS will move away from hudud law,' he said.
"PAS has enacted the hudud (prescribed Islamic penalties) laws in Kelantan, to be imposed only on Muslims who represent about 90 per cent of the state's 1.5 million population. The laws introduced Shari'ah punishments for theft, robbery, adultery, liquor consumption and apostasy." (Link 4)
SUBSTANCE: INCREASED PENALTIES FOR CHRISTIAN WITNESS
Associated Press reports: "People who try to convert Muslims to other religions could face a whipping, a fine and longer prison terms in a state ruled by a conservative Islamic party [PAS] in north-east Malaysia, an official said Wednesday [27 June].
"The Kelantan state legislature approved changes to the law Tuesday [26 June] providing for a maximum punishment of six lashes with a rattan cane, five years in prison and a fine of 10,000 ringgit (US$2,800; '‚¬2,080) for non-Muslims who preach to Muslims, said Hassan Mohamood, who heads the state's Islamic affairs government committee.
"Previously, the maximum penalty was two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 ringgit (US$1,400; '‚¬1,040), but state officials feel stiffer laws are useful 'as a form of deterrence,' Hassan told The Associated Press." (Link 5)
The interesting thing about these changes is that they have seemingly been made with reference to Lina Joy's very public conversion. Lina Joy is a Malay Muslim convert to Christianity. Ultimately the Supreme Court issued a ruling concerning Lina Joy, the effect of which is that for Muslims the Sharia Courts (which prohibit apostasy) have supremacy over the Constitution (Article 11 of which guarantees religious liberty).
Al Jazeera reports: "Proselytising of Muslims is forbidden under federal laws, but the recent case of Line Joy, a Malay-Muslim woman who sought legal recognition of her right to pick her religion of choice, raised fears among some in Malaysia over mass conversion." (Link 6)
Doug Bandow, writing for the National Review Online, quotes Yusri Mohammed as saying, "We praise Allah for the decision taken by the court." Lina Joy "is encouraging others to do the same [convert]. It may open the floodgates to other Muslims". According to Bandow, "Some newspapers predicted mass conversions if Joy triumphed."
As Bandow notes, "This argument suggests that even Islam's strongest adherents have serious doubts about the credibility and appeal of their religion." Of course the whole purpose of an apostasy law is to prevent attrition. It is a law that is unnecessary if attrition is not perceived as a threat.
Bandow continues: "Many Malaysian Muslims do believe that only the law, backed by the threat of punishment, can maintain the allegiance [to Islam] of their fellow citizens. Freedom of conscience must be feared. Those answering the call of faith must be suppressed."
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
