DR Mahathir Mohamad’s past record indicates he will take a pragmatic approach towards Islam, but an increasingly conservative Malay-Muslim population could pose challenges, a Straits Times columnist writes.

Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat said Dr Mahathir’s second time in power comes after conservative voices dominated public discourse under the Najib Razak government.   

PAS’ Islamist agenda also gained new life under Najib, supporting efforts in Parliament to empower shariah courts to mete out more severe punishments. 

He said unlike previous prime ministers, Dr Mahathir is not fond of using catchphrases, like Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) and Najib’s Islam Wasatiyyah (Moderate Islam), to promote Islam.

“As gleaned from his (Dr Mahathir’s) published works, The Malay Dilemma (1970) and The Challenge (1986), Dr Mahathir sees Islam as being in line with development and enterprise. What it should not be, in his view, is a faith fixated on the practice of rituals and external pieties,” Norshahril said.

He said Dr Mahathir, during his first period as prime minister, had resisted moves to introduce hudud but he did introduce Islamisation in other ways. 

“Dr Mahathir set up Islamic institutions such as Ikim (Malaysian Institute for Islamic Understanding) and Islamic universities and think-tanks such as the International Islamic University of Malaysia and Istac (International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation). It was also under his administration that the federal agency, Jakim (Department of Islamic Development), was expanded.”

Dr Mahathir also courted Islamic figures to join his government, such as Anwar Ibrahim.

Norshahril said Malay-Muslim society has changed since Dr Mahathir’s first time in power, with people now more conservative.

He said PAS retaining Kelantan, capturing Terengganu and making inroads in Kedah could mean that the hudud issue could crop up again, as support for the Islamic law extends beyond PAS’ strongholds.

“Last year, findings from a survey conducted by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute of Johor citizens suggest that the demand for hudud laws for Muslims is high among the Malays, at 75% of 573 respondents.”

Dr Mahathir must not overlook the challenge posed by conservative religious forces as he tackles the economy and strives to create jobs, Norshahril said. – May 25, 2018.