Malaysia’s Shame
t seems as if there are some folk in Malaysia today who believe that the country cannot get enough bad publicity. Over the past few years the country’s religious authorities in particular have been at the forefront of the effort to show Malaysia and Islam in the worst light imaginable: A few years ago Malaysia made the international headlines when members of the religious morality-police vice squad raided a nightclub in the capital, arresting and detaining all the young Malaysians there who happened to be Muslims, while allowing their non-Muslim friends and companions to party the night away. Those arrested later complained to the media that they were harassed and abused, locked in cages and humiliated by the morality police themselves.

Malaysia Going Down the Road of Pakistan?
The recent announcement made by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak, to the effect that ‘we (Malaysia) are an Islamic state’ is mind-boggling to say the least. Speaking during a conference in Kuala Lumpur on the theme...

‘Tough Love’ and Moral Policing
I would like to raise a deeper theoretical question about the relation between the State and Morality, and ask if the state has any business in legislating and enforcing the morality of the nation in the first place.

Malaysia’s Home-Grown Taliban: Is this the future of ‘Moderate’ Islam in Malaysia? (Part III)
Authoritarianism rests on the denial of the common humanity that we share with others, and this denial of commonality can only be transcended through a politics that is predicated on the ethics of Love.

Malaysia’s Home-Grown Taliban: Is this the future of ‘Moderate’ Islam in Malaysia? (Part II)
How, pray tell, has the actions of the officials of JAWI served to promote the image of Islam as a creed of love, compassion and humanity?

Malaysia's Home-Grown Taliban: Is This the Future of 'Moderate' Islam in Asia?
Just when we thought that we had seen the back of the tide of radical religio-politics of the 1970s and 1980s, there came a string of embarrassing blunders to remind us that we, too, have our fair share of wannabe-Talibans right here in Malaysia.

Trying to Tell the World How It Should Spin: Finding the Axis of Malaysia's 'Islam Hadhari'
The Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s new approach to Islamic discourse, Islam Hadhari, has created tantalizing ripples of interest inside and outside Malaysia.

‘What Do You Think You’re Fighting for?’ An Interview with Anwar Ibrahim
There is a pressing need for us to look closer at ourselves and ask how and why our societies and political systems could have allowed this to happen. For me the absence of democracy, transparency and dialogue within the Muslim world is one main reason.

A Just Malaysia at Last? Anwar Release and Prime Minister's Moves Show Major Positive Shift
For a country where nothing much happens most of the time and the national pastime seems to be shopping and watching pirated DVDs, Malaysia is still capable of surprising some of us once in a while. This week – within a space of 48 hours – two startling things happened.

It’s ‘Fanatics Week’ in Malaysia!
Now it appears that ‘fanaticism’ has become a major problem in Malaysia—so dangerous is it that the powers-that-be have seen fit to direct the state-controlled media services to run a week-long series of mini ‘info-teries’ on TV (at prime time no less) to educate and warn the public about the dangers of religious extremism.

After the Malaysian Elections: Caught Between False Choices
Only to citizens of Middle Eastern and African dictatorships would Malaysia appear to be a model Muslim democratic state.

The elections that never happened
So Malaysians will once again to go to polls on Sunday and the results are to be expected. With an opposition in tatters and an Islamist party bent on pursuing its own exclusive agenda at the expense of its allies and the nation as a whole, it is unlikely that the opposition will make serious gains at all.

Malaysia's Upcoming Elections: Procedure vs. Substance
The dominant party within the ruling coalition is a Malay Muslim party, but the other parties are seen by many voters to have a moderating factor on the overall character of the coalition. The opposition, on the other hand, is seen by many to be either too fractured, or completely swallowed by the Islamists.

Fellatio, Feminism and Faith: Celebrating International Women's Day
So, as a man, I will be celebrating loud and proud this 8th of March – I will be celebrating International Women’s Day.

Looking East: Observations of a Malaysian in Pakistan
Prior to making the trip from Berlin to Islamabad, I made the usual round of good-byes and was somewhat surprised by the reaction I received from my colleagues in Europe. Most, if not all, had offered me the same morsel of advice: “You are going to Pakistan for your holiday? Be careful!”

The Mosque and the Mezzanine
I haven’t been to the mosque in years. Nothing that the mosque stands for today speaks to me in any way. In fact, the mere thought of going to the mosque creates a churning discomfort in my stomach. The last time I set foot in one was when we had the riot police hot on our heels, pelting us with abuse and tear-gas.

The Essence of Duplicity: The Reaction to Mahathir's Comments on Jews
Mahathir's speech, taken as a whole, included a plea for tolerance and unity among Muslims, for stepping away from dogmatism and violence—including suicide bombings--and toward a common vision that is worthy of the Prophet Muhammad's message.

Ummah WakeUp! Interview with Ani
My biggest frustration with the Muslim community has to do with the mental blocks people have. In the Qur’an, the mind is supposed to be our biggest asset, and we should use it.

Mind Over Mullah
Mernissi’s ideas are always challenging but well covered and sensible. To explain the terrifying ascent of terrorist imams, she makes the distinction between the “media imam” (a modern creation) and the “traditional imam” (a reality during the time of the Prophet). The “media imam” is a creation of modern technology. He, in turn, uses modern technology to magnify his presence and bulldoze his rhetoric over the many complex debates the community could potentially participate in. However, the “traditional imam” was vulnerable and utterly challengeable when he failed to secure the rights of each individual in society.

Midnight All These Years: Anwar, Mahathir, and the Search for Daylight in Malaysia
Nearly five years after Anwar’s sacking and subsequent jailing, many things still look the same in this country. The ruling party and the opposition are still engaged in a project of mutual excoriation as infidels. The Malaysian government is still pursuing its aggressive and authoritarian policy of modernization. The Islamist opposition is still denouncing all of these efforts as “un-Islamic”. Public debate is still couched in language that appeases the country’s Malay and Muslim sensitivities. Some things have changed, though. But what, exactly?