The electoral growth of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Pas) is read by most as reflecting the growing popularity of Islamism or religious conservatism.
It might be more accurate, however, to term the ideology of many Pas leaders as Muslim nationalism.
Pas is now the largest single party in Malaysia’s parliament with 20 percent of its seats and presents a growing threat to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition.
On 12 August, Malaysians go to the polls for elections in six states which will prove crucial to Pakatan Harapan’s hold on power at the federal level. In parliamentary elections last November, Pas and its allies confounded pollsters by sweeping four states in what was dubbed a ‘green wave’.
Far from being a monolithic and rigid party, Pas has experimented with different positions, from inclusive Islamism to now hard-hitting Muslim nationalism. It has even welcomed into its fold Mahathir Mohamad, a vocal former foe, to gang up against Anwar and pluralism.
As the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which dominated Malaysian politics until 2018, is now the junior partner in Anwar’s coalition government, PAS is the standard barrier of Malay-Muslim nationalism alongside UMNO’s splinter party, Bersatu.
Since the 1980s, UMNO has found the need to compete with Pas on Islamisation. In 1982, Anwar, then a firebrand Islamist, was co-opted by then prime minister Mahathir to embark on UMNO’s own Islamisation project.
A year earlier, Anwar’s contemporary in Pas, Abdul Hadi Awang, delivered a sermon that changed Malaysia’s political history. Hadi is now the president of Pas, which has benefited from UMNO’s cyclic schisms.
Termed “Hadi’s Message” (Amanat Hadi), an excerpt of that sermon painted a different vision of nation-building and provided Pas – having lost power in the state of Kelantan in 1978 – a powerful ideological weapon to survive and fight UMNO’s ethno-nationalist hegemony.
Hadi declared, “[...] we reject BN (the ruling coalition then headed by Umno)…because it preserves the colonialist Constitution, the infidel law and the pre-Islamic (jahiliyyah) rules.”
In simple language, Hadi offered a radical vision of anti-colonialism: true independence means restoration of the pre-colonial past when Islam and Muslims reigned. Hence, the post-colonial Malaysian state cannot be truly independent if it preserves the infidel colonialist’s political structure.
Early UMNO leaders were pro-England aristocratic-bureaucratic elites who wanted Islam only as a symbol of state, not the basis of socio-politico-economic order.
Islam upholds religious freedom. The Quran has verses that respect diversity and individual choices, such as ‘For you is your religion; for me is my religion.” (al-Kafirun); ‘And if Allah had willed, He could have made you (of) one religion, but He causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills’ (An-Nahi).
Inclusive Islamists – some may call themselves Muslim democrats – use a brief seven-year period of multifaith nationhood in Medina under Prophet Muhammad as the religious basis to advocate for inclusive citizenship in modern nation-states.
Living in bitter memories of the Crusades and wars involving Islamic empires and others, Muslim nationalists often view non-Muslims as a threat to the faith and the congregation. In that sense, colonisation is subjugation of Muslims by infidels or vice-versa.
Without mentioning anything about equality — a political taboo for Malaysia's ethnic majority Malay/Muslims — Anwar’s ‘Madani Malaysia’ is a project of inclusive nationhood to transcend the Muslim/non-Muslim dichotomy.
Launched soon after Anwar’s ascendence to premiership in November 2022, Madani Malaysia faces a strong challenge of Malay-Muslim supremacy from not just PAS and the National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional, PN) coalition it drives but also from more radical groups like Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA).
In the eyes of Malay-Muslim nationalists, the existence of a multicultural Malaysia is a historical mistake or even an injustice to the indigenous population.
While Indians and Chinese stepped foot on the Malay-Indonesian archipelagos some 2,000 years ago, their influx into the Malaysian peninsula started only in the 19th century with colonialism.
They were brought by the British — for some Chinese, by local Malay rulers — to work in mining, agriculture and construction. In Borneo, under colonial rule, Christianity reached the indigenous tribes and stopped a slow and gradual expansion of Islam into the inland.
With colonial policy obstructing the Malays and the Borneo natives from active participation in the modern economy, Chinese and Indian immigrants became economically advanced. This disparity became a sore point in inter-ethnic relations.
In the inter-communal bargains to attain Malaya’s independence from Britain, Chinese and Indians were given citizenship but Malays were compensated with privileged treatments in employment, education and business under Article 153 of the constitution.
This ‘special status’ was later extended to cover Sabah and Sarawak indigenous people when the Borneo states merged with Malaya (and also Singapore) to form Malaysia in 1963. After the Sino-Malay post-election riots in 1969, more pro-Malay/native measures were introduced.
This uneasy but lasting intercommunal compromise was produced and sustained by UMNO until its fall in 2018. Its hegemony was challenged by not just the disaffected non-Malays but also by the Malay opposition, PAS.
In another restorationist stroke, Pas’s populist chief minister of Kedah, Sanusi Mohd Nor, recently made an irredentist claim on neighbouring Penang, the Chinese-dominated affluent state that was made a British colony in 1796. Both Hadi and Sanusi also ethnicise corruption and blame bribery on non-Muslims.
Hadi’s restorationism’s new ally Mahathir recently claimed that Malaysia is not a multi-ethnic country and slammed the name change from Tanah Melayu (‘Malay Land’, the Malay name of Malaya) to Malaysia. A Sabah parliamentarian then called out Mahathir as a Malayan colonialist and imperialist for seeing Sabah and Sarawak as Malaya’s possessions.
This does not concern the nonagenarian nationalist who was twice prime minister and now just wants to bring down Anwar, his protégé-turned-rival. If anti-colonial restorationism can draw Malay votes away from Anwar’s government, then Muslim nationalism is a useful tool.
* Wong Chin Huat is a professor and Deputy Head (Strategy) of the Asia headquarters of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network at Sunway University, Malaysia. He declares no conflict of interest.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
360info
Mon Aug 07 2023
UMNO and PAS are traditional rivals but have aligned before when political interests were mutual. - PAS flags by Sham Hardy/via 360info
Isu dibangkit Laporan Bank Dunia telah, sedang ditangani KPM - Fadhlina
Isu-isu yang dibangkitkan dalam Laporan Bank Dunia berkenaan sistem pendidikan negara sebenarnya telah ditangani Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) secara progresif dan proaktif.
Tengku Zafrul gagal failkan afidavit kes pengampunan Najib
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz gagal untuk memfailkan afidavit berhubung Titah Adendum berhubung kes pengampunan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
'Terdapat ramalan tahun ini paling panas selepas 1998' - Nik Nazmi
Cuaca panas susulan fenomena El Nino yang melanda negara ketika ini dijangka berterusan sehingga Julai depan, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Keputusan laporan interim nahas helikopter TLDM minggu depan
Laporan interim nahas dua helikopter Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) yang mengorbankan 10 pegawai dan anggotanya pada 23 April lepas dijangka siap minggu depan.
Kerajaan Joe Biden digesa bertindak segera
57 anggota Dewan Perwakilan Amerika Syarikat Parti Demokrat menandatangani surat bagi menggesa kerajaan pimpinan Joe Biden menghentikan serangan Israel di Rafah.
Jakim buka talian khas terima aduan hina Islam
Jakim telah mewujudkan talian khas 24 jam sebagai platform untuk menyalurkan aduan berkaitan isu penghinaan terhadap agama Islam.
PM yakin kenaikan gaji lulus bergaya di Parlimen
Perdana Menteri turut membidas pihak terbabit sebagai 'haprak' dan tidak boleh diterima kerana mengkritik usaha kerajaan untuk menaikkan gaji penjawat awam selepas 12 tahun ia tidak dilaksanakan.
PM arah agensi MCBA jalan tugas serta-merta
Perdana Menteri berkata, semua jabatan dan kementerian berkaitan perlu meletakkan pegawai masing-masing walaupun rang undang-undang (RUU) berkaitan dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada Julai depan.
Papagomo mengaku tidak bersalah, hasut kebencian Agong
Blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris atau Papagomo mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen pada Khamis.
Ia atas pertuduhan menghasut yang mendatangkan kebencian terhadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
Ia atas pertuduhan menghasut yang mendatangkan kebencian terhadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
Laporan interim nahas helikopter TLDM siap minggu depan
Laporan interim nahas dua helikopter Tentera Luat Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) terhempas di Lumur, Perak yang mengorbankan 10 pegawai dan anggotanya pada 23 April lalu dijangka siap minggu depan.
Pas kutuk serangan Israel ke atas Pejabat Kaunselor Iran di Syria
Sewajarnya dunia Islam mengutuk Israel yang bukan sahaja dalang di sebalik serangan ini, malah sedang melakukan jenayah perang di Gaza, kata Abdul Hadi.
Pas harap Prabowo buka dimensi baharu hubungan Malaysia-Indonesia
Abdul Hadi berkata, pihaknya berharap hubungan antara Malaysia dan Indonesia akan menjadi lebih baik dan harmoni di bawah pentadbiran Prabowo.
Umat Islam tidak bersatu angkara penjajah - Abdul Hadi
Penjajahan tersebut berjaya memecahbelahkan perkauman pada generasi kini, tegas Abdul Hadi.
Kertas siasatan Hadi Awang telah dihantar kepada AGC - KPN
PDRM mengesahkan kertas siasatan membabitkan kenyataan Abdul Hadi bertajuk 'Ketinggian Islam wajib dipertahankan' telah dihantar kepada AGC.
Isu pencen: 'Ucapan Abdul Hadi tidak tepat, kelirukan orang ramai' - Nik Nazmi
Ucapan Presiden Pas Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang berkaitan isu pencen penjawat awam mengelirukan orang ramai, kata Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
'Kerajaan ibarat burung tiung, burung kakak tua' - Hadi Awang
Ahli Parlimen Marang itu turut melabel pemimpin di bawah kerajaan sebagai burung kakak tua dan menurutnya, walaupun tua tetapi tidak tahu bercakap.
Abdul Hadi Awang beri kerjasama, polis ambil masa sejam rakam keterangan - Setiausaha Politik
Presiden Pas, Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang hari ini telah memberikan kerjasama sepenuhnya kepada pihak polis yang mengambil keterangan di Ibu Pejabat Pas di Jalan Raja Laut.
Polis rakam percakapan Abdul Hadi esok - KPN
Pegawai khas Abdul Hadi sudah memaklumkan keadaan kesihatan Ahli Parlimen Marang itu kepada polis dan menetapkan keterangan diambil esok.
Tahap kesihatan Abdul Hadi bertambah baik - Setiausaha Politik
Tahap kesihatan Presiden Pas, Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang semakin baik dan beliau dapat meneruskan rutin mingguan menyampaikan kuliah dhuha di Masjid Rusila,pada Jumaat.
Jangan guna agama capai hasrat politik - Zahid
Ahmad Zahid berkata nasihat itu bukan ditujukan kepada individu dan pemimpin parti politik sahaja, sebaliknya juga kepada pemimpin dalam UMNO.