Islam in Malaysia

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 10

Islam in Malaysia

Malaysia’s religious authorities have ordered Muslim husbands and wives to carry their wedding certificates at all times. The aim is to trap unmarried couples committing the offence of “khalwat,” a rather broad definition of adultery which includes being found in “lonely places in suspicious circumstances.” It carries a jail sentence of up to six months and a fine of SUSSOO. The move applies only ■to Muslims, whose behaviour in Malaysia is governed by Islamic law. However, there is increasing pressure for the present British-based common; law system to be exchanged for strict Koranic law.- . ■ -■ ■’ ■ , This was highlighted at a seminar two years ago on whether adulterers should be whipped and stoned to death. While the f ede r a 1 . Government winced, there was little it darde say in reply. There are 10 separate Islamic jurisdictions in Malaysia. .The resulting patchwork is one of the problems the federal Government faces in stemming the growing I s 1 a m i o fundamentalist trend, which has strengthened since the Islamic revolution in Iran. ■ Any attempt to curb religious control oyer... indi-. vidual freedom ’ would be

seen as unlslamic by the largely Muslim electorate. The fact that most members of the federal Cabinet are English-educated helps to explain why they are usually on the defensive when Islam is discussed by their opponents. The erosion of secular control is being hastened by the State governments, who each compete to prove their “Islamicness” by being a step ahead of the others in tightening local Islamic laws. The Islamic movement has attracted support among the young, who see

it as a way of expressing national pride and as a vehicle for their grievances against the authorities.. The Government has tried to get on the Islamic bandwaggon, in the hope of broadening its political base., As a result, it is common for such television series as “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Return of the Saint” to be interspersed with compulsory readings from the Koran. That will not be enough to appease those who want to stone adulterers. — Copyright, L.O.S.