As long as the global attitude towards religious issues doesn't change, and Malaysians themselves mostly stay silent on these issues, the temptation will always be to smother dissent in the ‘invisibility cloak of religion’.
The struggle for political Islam in ‘new Malaysia’
The GE14 result reflects PAS' enduring influence, yet the PH parties together with IKRAM and ABIM offer a viable ‘Islamic alternative’ for pious Muslim voters.
Voting for Islamisms beyond the ballot box
Political Islam at GE14 isn't just a race between parties as democratisation throws up alliances and fractures to define Muslim society.
As GE14 draws near…or, why hold elections?
Closer scrutiny of Malaysian elections since the era of Najib Razak's father can sharpen the contrasts over winning—and losing—legitimacy.
A ‘Malay Malaysia’, but in what sense Islamic?
The Najib government needs to win new legitimacy at GE14 if it's to juggle Malay, Islamic, and royal claims, amid a restive East Malaysia.
Is Malaysia an “Islamic State”?
Malaysia is not an Islamic state. It simply has a government that claims absolute monopoly on religious authority.
Overstating Islamic extremism – a response
A short comment on the use of surveys and the interpretations of the results in the "Extremism in the name of Islam and Malaysian Muslims" article.