A clear and present danger to Malaysian democracy

Under such a situation, where long term indoctrination has created Malays with a deep mindset towards PAS interpretations of Islam, there is a very limited array of tools that can be used to pushback on growing conservate Islamic thinking that PAS support thrives upon.

However, the Anwar government has devised a two prone strategy to stem the flow of Islamic conservatism, that has wrapped racism and hate into its ideology.

First, Anwar is calling upon muftis and ustaz to extoll Islamic virtues about living, sharing, and tolerance in a multicultural society. Anwar, is extolling the responsibility of the nation’s religious leaders in doing this, providing a grounded and balanced view of Islam. This is message is being taken up by Islamic opinion leaders like Engku Ahmad Fadzil Engku Ali, who is constructively adding to the dialogue the nation must have. Hopefully more religious leaders will add to the discussion and reinforce what Anwar has said.

Second, deputy prime minister Zahid, with the rural and regional development portfolio has the opportunity to directly engage communities within the Malay heartlands on these very issues. Counter-narratives may be placed at the grassroots to provide Malays with new perspectives of Islam, in line with what Anwar is trying to do with religious leaders.

The importance of this task cannot be underestimated. Islam within Malaysia has taken on a narrow interpretation, which is becoming out of line with the rest of the world. This is not about promoting a moderate or liberal Islam. This is about taking racism and hate from the teachings, which are contrary to the teachings of Islam.

This will mean that in future UMNO should not out-Islamize its narratives over PAS narratives, but provide alternative narratives. This will also mean reform within UMNO in the way it appeals to the electorate. It will force general reform of UMNO.

If Anwar-Zahid’s strategy has some effect, this will be able to be gauged when the Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kelantan, and Terengganu state elections occur before September next year.

We must realize this cannot be a ‘quick fix.’  It took generations for Islam in Malaysia to turn away from its ‘Nusantara’ influence, towards emulating ‘Arabism.’

Its only a start in the long journey of bringing Malaysia back into being a land of moderation.