8 - Mainstreaming Alternative Islamic Voices in Malaysia

Summary

Judging from the behaviour of ordinary Muslims, as well as the rulings issued by the religious elite (ulama), observers have expressed concerns about the rise of Islamic conservatism in Malaysia. They also note the rise of “Arabization” among the Malay/Muslims—their preference for Arabic culture, lifestyle and ideas at the expense of Malay culture, heritage and intellectual tradition. They also worry that there are groups promoting Saudi Arabian puritan Islamic ideology—namely, Salafi- Wahhabism—which counters Malaysia's Shafii School of jurisprudence and Sufi leanings. Not totally unrelated to these broad observations, some have complained that officials in the religious bureaucracy— particularly those bending towards conservatism—have been becoming more powerful since the turn of the millennium. These officials restrict the circulation of different viewpoints in public. Islamic NGOs, academics and politicians promoting alternative views complain about the extensive reach of federal religious institution JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia). The institution has the power to decide who has authority to speak on Islam, to define what the “correct” version of Islam is and to clamp down on progressive groups.

This chapter highlights the challenges facing groups promoting progressive Islamic discourse in Malaysia and examines how these groups have been marginalized. It also analyses the issues that the religious authorities seek to restrict from being discussed in public. The basis for these restrictions goes beyond theological differences, but includes power play as well. While most of the examples here cover issues from during the Barisan Nasional (National Front) government—the Abdullah Badawi government (2003–9) and the Najib Razak government (2009–18)—the chapter also analyses issues discussed during the Pakatan Harapan (Coalition of Hope) government. At the general election of 9 May 2018 (GE14), former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad led the Pakatan Harapan coalition to topple the six-decade-old Barisan Nasional government.

Is there room for progressive voices to be aired in contemporary Malaysia? Can the Pakatan Harapan government undo the Barisan Nasional's policies and approaches to the progressives and ensure the religious bureaucracy does not overstep its role? In the following, a conceptual definition of progressivism will be provided. This will be followed by a discussion of the role of JAKIM and the muftis (official ulama) as religious authority in the country.