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The Madani government, cracking down on deviants, may be building ‘Vatican style' institutionalised political Islam in Malaysia!
OPINION . . .
First there was centralism in government, now we are seeing centralism in Islam.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani government has been moving at quick pace for centralising Islam within Malaysia including in Sabah and Sarawak.
The Agong was the custodian of Islam in the three Federal territories -- Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan -- and Sabah and Sarawak. Islam was principally state responsibility. The ruler was the custodian of Islam in the state.
The Madani government, cracking down on deviants, may be building ‘Vatican style' institutionalised Islam in Malaysia.
The Mufti, Ulama, fear there would be no freedom of speech in Islamic "Vatican".
The Madani government was seeking Islamic gatekeeper status and defining what forms of Islam can be practiced in Malaysia, and who are deviants. In addition, the Madani government was moving quickly for further Islamising the civil service, and creating Islamic criminal justice system, by enhancing the jurisdiction and power of punishment of the Syariah courts.
Defining the nature of Islam . . .
Last Month, the Minister for Islamic Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Na’im Mokhtar introduced three new Bill in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territory) Bill 2024 defines Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, sourced from the Al-Asyairah, Al-Maturidiah and Syafie Madhab, as the Madhab that should be practiced in the Federal Territories. That excludes dozens of other Islamic sects, narrowing down the type and form of Islam, and that Malaysian in the Federal Territories can practice.
Article 3 (1) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia states that Islam was the religion of the Federation. The impending Bill restricts this on Madhab. Thus, Islamic authorities will deem any Muslim who practices any other Madhab, as deviant.
The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail has described the Bill as not being inclusive given the narrow definition. Any Muslim outside the bounds of the definition, can be designated deviant, taken to court, prosecuted and punished.
Increasing the power of JAKIM . . .
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has been given greater role in national policy making.
According to Anwar, JAKIM leaders have been charged with drafting a national development policy framework, based on the Malaysia Madani framework. This includes involvement in the framing of budgets and five-year plans. This was on top of the new censorship powers that JAKIM has been given over social media. JAKIM has the power to declare any Islamic teaching or discussion as deviant, if it doesn’t fit the definition.
This is the most radical change in the way Malaysia was governed since the New Economic Policy (NEP) was launched in 1970. Secularism has been cast aside, where Islamic apparatchiks will have a major say in the running of the state, and take power away from Parliament and the executive. JAKIM representatives are now being placed in all government ministries and departments.
Imposing Islamic criminal judicial system . . .
The RUU 355 bill, also known as the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act Amendment Bill was presented in the Dewan Rakyat in July for increasing the sentencing power of the Syariah courts. In addition, the Bill gives the power to Syariah Courts to hear criminal matters. Finally, the Bill gives Syariah courts the power to administer punishments deemed appropriate under Islamic law.
The Conference of Rulers has hesitation. They want the Bill considered deeply before it was fully drafted.
The Bill has little support from Muslim.
If such a Bill becomes law, the Syariah courts would have equal status to the secular criminal court system. Malaysia would effectively have a uniform Islamic criminal judicial system. This was effectively the Islamic state politicians have long been talking about.
The above incremental move by the Madani government may be attempt at centralising the institution of Islam under "Vatican style" system of hierarchy and control that doesn’t exist under Islam. This was institutionalised political Islam.
Murray Hunter takes a trans-disciplinary view of issues and events, trying to relate this to the enrichment and empowerment of people in the region.
He's member of the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI) Council and Editor at Large for the CPI website.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the author/contributor do not necessarily represent those of the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI).
This Article first appeared here . . .
