The pace of Islamisation in Malaysia has undoubtedly increase in the past decade. Spiritual Hijrah by the masses towards greater piety is of course commendable – until it is used by celebrities, entrepreneurs, and politicians for their personal gain.
Islamic populism is currently a go-to strategy for Malay-based political parties vying for support form the same pool of electorates. This has been detrimental to the rights and liberties of non-Muslims in Malaysia with the possibility of extremism.
Introduction In 2020, as the world faced the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia saw the resurgence of the Malay narrative. This is not unusual as annually, politicians and far-right nationalists demand for Malay rights to be further reinstated and entrenched in public policies. Sparked by the cover of a book edited by Kean Wong, “Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, …
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Habib Rizieq Shihab greeting FPI members in Jakarta in 2017. Credit: TRIBUN JABAR/Gani Kurniawan LEGAL AID FRONT (BANTUAN HUKUM FRONT) Jakarta, 21 Jumaddil Awwal 1442H / 5 January 2021 Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Assalamualaikum Wr. Wb. Respectfully, Introduction Best wishes and do’a that Allah SWT always bestow us His grace, blessings and guidance in our daily activities. Amin. …
Police removing FPI attributes at Jalan Petamburan III where a FPI headquarter was located. Credit:OKEZONE/Arif Julianto Introduction Mere days before 2021, the Indonesian government officially classified FPI as a prohibited organization. This decision was based on the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) No. 220-4780/2020. The government’s rationale was that FPI threatened Indonesia’s public order and safety …
Participants gathering in 2018 in commemoration of a rally in 2016 calling for the prosecution of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Credit: Antara/Sigid Kurniawan Introduction The recent arrest of the hardline Islamic vigilante group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab signifies that Indonesia has yet to address concerns of hardline Islamic ideology in the country. …