Malaysia's prosperity keeps Islamic fundamentalists at bay

Malaysia's prosperity keeps Islamic fundamentalists at bay
Simon Tisdall in Kuala Lumpur
Tuesday June 7, 2005, The Guardian

Protest organisers from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party had predicted a big turnout. But on a sticky afternoon in central Kuala Lumpur, hopes of striking a telling blow against the Qur'an-abusers of America passed unfulfilled.

Only a few hundred demonstrators made their way from Friday prayers to the US embassy, shouting anti-American slogans and brandishing placards saying "Stop Your Islamophobic Madness" and "Bushit".

A US official politely accepted a protest note, and watching riot police declined to charge.

Hasan Ali, Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS) vice-president, warned they would be back. "The insults to the Qur'an must stop," he said.

The problems for PAS go beyond damp squib demos. Malaysia's relative economic prosperity, the unbroken dominance of the ethnic Malay party, Umno, patrician-style governance and pro-establishment media have kept the Islamic political movement in a box - so far.

After a surge in 1999, PAS stumbled badly in last year's elections. The Barisan Nasional, a coalition led by Umno, won 12 of 13 states, displacing PAS in Terengganu and almost defeating it in its northern heartland of Kelantan.

The results suggested that most ethnic Malays prefer their Islam in diluted form.

The prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, boasted recently that "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country" that would never succumb to "extremism".

Mr Abdullah is promoting a modernising concept known as Islam Hadhari that stresses piety, civilisation and knowledge. His predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, recently mocked the PAS's spiritual leader, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. "Nik says if you vote for PAS, you go to heaven," Dr Mahathir said. "Who has been there to verify this?"

One diplomatic source said: "There's an ongoing debate on the extent to which Malaysia should be an Islamic country, about sharia law and the huddud [penal code].

The source added: "But Malaysia is one of few examples globally where a party basing its appeal on more assertive Islam was turned back at the ballot box."

Yet it would be dangerous to underestimate PAS. The party was struggling to make an impact because Malaysia's democratic system was not free or fair, said Nasharudin Mat Isa, the party's new deputy president.

Last year's polls had been manipulated and international observers should monitor the 2008 election, he said. Mr Mat Isa accused government figures of smearing PAS by linking it to regional terrorist groups such as Jemaah Islamiya and the less known, indigenous Malaysia Mujahideen Group.

"We have no links with any of these groups. If any member were found to be connected, they would be expelled from the party."

Mr Mat Isa acknowledged PAS had an image problem. "We are not seen as representing the national interest," he said. Nevertheless, it would maintain plans to introduce huddud, which includes traditional punishments for Muslims such as hand amputation for theft and stoning to death for adultery.

The influence of hardline mullahs is behind pressure for policing of the music and entertainment industry and bouts of book-banning.

For now, at least, PAS is committed to the democratic process even though it believes it to be flawed. The party claims its 800,000-strong membership is growing by 1,000 a month.

It has a strong expatriate following on some British campuses. A new, younger leadership is coming to the fore. And it is building ties to secular opposition parties. The People's Justice party leader, Anwar Ibrahim, described PAS as "very responsible", though he opposes its more fundamentalist ideas.

Like many in Malaysia, PAS is waiting to see how long Umno's clannish oligarchy can resist meaningful reform while sustaining economic prosperity in the teeth of increasing competition from China and India. Future US actions may also play a role. If and when a crunch comes, PAS aims to be ready, on and off the streets. The strident voice of Islamic activism in Malaysia may soon grow louder.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005