The Hindu : International / India & World : Malaysia keen on projecting moderate face of Islam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

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International - India & World

Malaysia keen on projecting moderate face of Islam

By Mukund Padmanabhan

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 22 . "We want to showcase Malaysia as a country which practises an Islam that promotes development, peace and progress — an Islam that is moderate, that does not confront any group or people of other religions," said the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. "We have to prove to the people that what we are doing is the best for Malaysia and all Malaysians."

During a recent interaction with a small group of journalists and academics from around the world, Mr. Abdullah refused to speculate on whether the crushing defeat of PAS (Parti Islam SeMalaysia) in the recent general election signalled the end of the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalist parties. "They will continue with the politics they have, continue to have aspirations about ruling the country. During the election, I made it a point to explain what we are trying to do rather than react to what this party was saying. To explain that what we have done so far is consistent with the teaching of Islam."

Reforms in Islamic law

In response to a question relating to reforms in Islamic law, Mr. Abdullah said Malaysia "cannot outlaw what is there in the Koran." He said the ruling coalition had stood for the education and emancipation of women, who are far better off today than before. He suggested that this was a more positive approach to tackle some of the issues that have a bearing on personal law.

On the issue of Malaysia's relationship with the United States, the Prime Minister said the main differences relate to Iraq and Palestine. Stressing the importance of the United Nations playing a larger role in the process of letting Iraq decide its own destiny, he said that Malaysia was pressing hard for the warring parties in Palestine to return to the negotiating table.

Barring Iraq and Palestine, he said, "the relationship with the U.S. has been excellent." "We are the tenth largest trading partner of the U.S. and cooperate with them on defence, though only in the area of training." Mr. Abdullah disagreed with a suggestion that Malaysia's foreign policy had altered from the days it was ruled by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. "There is a difference in the way that Dr. Mahathir and I say something," he admitted. "But the substance is the same — even on issues such as Iraq and Palestine."

On the issue of developing countries speaking in a collective voice, he said there was no doubt that these countries deserved a much better deal. "At the same time, we must do something on our own. We cannot merely be demanding all sorts of things and making all sorts of statements," he said, underlining the importance of implementing policies that foster economic development. 0Mr. Abdullah refuted the suggestion that the anti-corruption drive, which his Government had declared a few months ago, has suffered a slowdown. "We have already taken in 200-odd people. The anti-corruption agency is not being quiet, but doing its work. Corruption must be met with zero tolerance."

Bumiputra policy

In reply to a question relating to Malaysia's Bumiputra policy, which positively discriminates in favour of the Malay majority, he said it must be understood against the backdrop of the country's history. Explaining how the policy emerged from the racial clashes between the Chinese and Malays in 1969 and the perceived need to "break down the economic barriers in a compartmentalised society," Mr. Abdullah said the policy was directed towards a more equitable distribution of opportunity. At the same time, he said, since such policies should not become a subsidy or a crutch, there have been moves to introduce elements of a merit system to correct certain imbalances.

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