How the Madani government is trying to build a ‘Vatican style” institutionalised Islam in Malaysia

First there was centralism in government, now we are seeing centralism of Islam

Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani government has been moving at a quick pace to centralise Islam within peninsula Malaysia.

Islam is principally a state responsibility, where the respective rulers are the custodians of Islam in their respective states. The YDPA or king is the custodian of Islam over the Federal territories.

The Madani government is seeking to become the Islamic gatekeeper, defining what forms of Islam can be practiced in Malaysia, and who are deviants. In addition, the Madani government is moving quickly to further Islamize the civil service, and create an Islamic criminal justice system, by enhancing the jurisdiction and power of punishment of the Syariah courts.

Defining the nature of Islam

Last Month, the Minister for Islamic Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Na’im Mokhtar introduced three new bills to the Dewan Rakyat. In the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territory) Bill 2024 defines Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, sourced from the Al-Asyairah, Al-Maturidiah and Syafie Madhab as the madhabs that should be practiced in the Federal Territories. This excludes dozens of other Islamic sects, narrowing down the type and form of Islam Malaysians in the Federal Territories can practice.

Article 3 (1) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia states that Islam is the religion of the Federation. The impending bill is now restricting this to the above madhabs. Thus, Islamic authorities will be able to deem any Muslim who practices any other Madhab, as a deviant.

The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail has described the bill as not being inclusive with the narrow definition. Any Muslim outside the bounds of the definition, can be designated a deviant, taken to court, prosecuted and punished.

Increasing the power of JAKIM

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) is now being given a greater role in national policy making. According to the prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, JAKIM leaders have been charged with drafting a national development policy framework, based on the Malaysia Madani framework. This includes involvement in the framing of budgets and five-year plans. This is on top of the new censorship powers JAKIM has been given over social media. JAKIM has the power to declare any Islamic teachings or discussion as deviant, if it doesn’t fit the definitions.

This is the most radical change in the way Malaysia is governed since the New Economic Policy (NEP) was launched back in 1971. Secularism has been cast aside, where Islamic apparatchiks will have a major say in the running of the state, and take power away from the parliament and executive. JAKIM representatives are now being placed in all government ministries and departments.

Imposing an Islamic criminal judicial system

The RUU 355 bill, also known as the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act Amendment Bill was presented to the Dewan Rakyat in July to increase the sentencing powers of the Syariah courts. In addition, the bill gives the power to Syariah Courts to hear criminal matters. Finally, the bill gives Syariah courts the power to administer punishments deemed appropriate under Islamic law.

The Conference of Rulers have hesitations, where they want the bill to be considered deeply before it is fully drafted. The bill also has little support from Malaysia’s Muslims.

If such a bill became law, the Syariah courts would have equal status to the secular criminal court system. Malaysia would effectively have a uniform Islamic criminal judicial system. This is effectively the Islamic state politicians have long been talking about.

The above incremental moves by the Madani government are an attempt to centralise the institution of Islam under a ‘Vatican style’ system of hierarchy and control that doesn’t exist under Islam. This is institutionalized political Islam.

The Muftis and Ulama are in fear of speaking up. There is now no freedom of speech in Islam.

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