Politicizing Islam in Malaysia

Abstract

The ruling party in Malaysia, the United Malays' National Organisation (UMNO), has set up a website to demonstrate its various jihad efforts. The mere act of creating such a website - regardless of its content - reveals much about the competition for 'being Islamic' in Malaysia these days. Since it is primarily political parties that are the protagonists in this competition, Islamization in Malaysia has become a highly political issue rather than a direct outcome of Islamic social movements. UMNO and PAS, the Islamic Party, oppose each other vehemently.