Studying differential perception among ethnic Malays: a case study of Hudood Laws (Islamic Laws)

Abstract

Malaysia is a multiracial society consisting of five major ethnic groups - the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban and Kadazan. All Malays are Muslims and the others are Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus. The issue on religion among the Malays is a sensitive issue and it is being manipulated in order to obtain political support and also in drawing out policies that involve the Malays and Islam. In this context, religious issue involves individual and personal matters such as dressing codes, marital law, permissible and illicit (halal and haram) and also political aspects that relate to administration, implementation of Islamic Law that would lead for the formation of Malaysia as an Islamic country. Two main political parties that represent the Malay are UMNO and PMIP (Pan Malaysian Islamic Party or better known as PAS). UMNO is the dominant member of the ruling coalition party (Barisan Nasional-BN) which is in power since independence 1957. PAS is one of the oldest political party that composed of Malay dominant and their struggle has always been consistent, namely to introduce Islam in all matters of state. PAS is popular among the Malay states like Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. In the 1990 General Election PAS captured all the parliamentary and states seats In Kelantan and in 1999 General Election PAS managed to re-capture Terengganu from UMNO. Current development in Malaysia ever since the 1999 General Election indicates a drastic change in which two states are moving towards implementing Islamic Laws by introducing Hudood Laws in two states that is Kelantan in 1993 and Terengganu in 2002.