Not long ago, Malaysia banned the use of the word God when spelled or pronounced in any other way that the Arabic "Allah", even for those of different faith. The measures in fact was aimed squarely at Christian members of Malay society.
Once a splendid tourist destination, with pristine beaches and lush scenery, Malaysia is undergoing a change of sorts, and one that could very well spell trouble for the island nation.
The new fracas involves a picture of a little pig, added to an article that details how the US is so in need of antibiotic free pig meat, that it has to make farmers in foreign countries, including Malaysia, raise them.
The backlash to the hapless porcine picture has baffled many. The outcry was so vigorous that a resolution of sorts has been issued banning any pictorial depiction of pigs.
The company that issued the article detailing the farming endeavors of the Malay has had to black out the muzzles of the pigs depicted.
The response to such 'censorship' was, in the words of those to enacted it, due to the fact that "Malaysia is a Muslim country."
Such is not the case however. Malaysia is a very diverse nation. There are many Christian, and also Tamil Nadu hindus, who have recently complained of being persecuted. The Muslim presence in Malaysia is about 60%. Such restrictive policies clash with both public sentiment and its history.
Some see this hardening of Malaysia's policies as evidence of the influence of Muslim groups affiliated with Wahabi Islam, and who have provided financial and logistical support for implementation of the Wahabi brand of Islam in Malaysia.
The radicalization of Malaysia is palpable. Young influential Malay travel to Saudi Arabia where they are radicalized by Wahabi mentors, and return to Malaysia with one agenda in mind. Their inclusion in the political discourse is difficult too. They are not much for inclusion, nor discussion. They are antagonists to their own brothers, but even more specifically against those who are not of the same faith.
Suddenly, a multiethnic, secular country is on the brink of substantial change. Chinese nationals, who make up a substantial minority in Malaysia, are at risk of being targeted as inimical, since they have no racial or religious relation to Islamic Malays.
Source : Al Jazeera/ 1.23.14
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