The leap from religious extremism to terrorism is tangible. If Putrajaya, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and religious institutions like the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) cannot accept the fine line between religious intolerance and militant tendencies, they will never curb terrorist activity. Where do you start, when our leaders and clerics are in denial about religious extremism, and appear to condone it?

In 2014, the Global Terrorism Index reported that the main driver of terrorism was religious extremism. In 2013, deaths from terrorist activity, rose by 60 percent to 18,000. The report blamed the killings on the rise of Islamist groups like Islamic State (IS), Boko Haram, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda in countries like Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

At home, Muslim organisations and Muslim individuals have failed to condemn and halt extremism. The average Malay is afraid to criticise as he fears a backlash from other Malays.

Our leaders have failed to show leadership. They don’t condemn the radicalisation of Muslim youths. In the home state of the PM, the Pahang mufti, Abdul Rahman Osman, has urged Muslims to slay kafir harbi. We have yet to hear the PM speak out against the mufti.

Last week, two former students of the Malaysian campus of Monash University allegedly massacred 22 people in a restaurant in Bangladesh. They were allegedly influenced by the teachings of the controversial Muslim preacher, Zakir Naik. Hostages who could recite the Quran were spared. The rest were tortured before they were killed. Back home, the majority of Muslims continued their silence. Were they gripped by shame, denial or fear of being ostracised?

Various muftis, from Selangor to Perlis, have stressed that Zakir does not encourage terrorism. Which is worse? Zakir, or the Malays who believe in Zakir’s innocence?

What about the role of our rulers? Since time immemorial, religious clerics and royalty have shared power over the people; from Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Brunei, from ancient Mesopotamia to the Mayan kingdom.

Kings are not normally subject to the will of the people, but they are acutely aware they must keep the clerics happy by giving them important positions in the administrative hierarchy.

Whilst kings, sultans and emperors consider it their divine right to rule, clerics use their divine knowledge to regulate the power of the royals. It is a match made in heaven. For what purpose? Both do it to amass great fortunes, and to wield influence. The common man is just a pawn in the royals’ and clerics’ quest for power.

Sometimes, one wonders why people like the Perak and Pahang muftis are allowed to get away with the allegedly inflammatory statements. Why are authorities fearful of censuring them?

After the IS attack on a KL nightclub, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar said that they were monitoring the madrasah (religious institutions) for militant activities.

Unprecedented flurry of activity

The flurry of activity in Putrajaya was unprecedented. Ministers issued many statements, but their words lacked depth, clarity and sincerity.

International Trade and Industry Minister, Mustapa Mohamed, said that investment and tourism are unaffected by threats from IS. Tell that to the people of Sabah who risk kidnapping from Abu Sayyaf as they go about their daily business. Tell that to the people of Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), Sousse (Tunisia) and Istanbul (Turkey), who have no customers.

Higher Education Minister, Idris Jusoh, said that his ministry would monitor students for militant tendencies. Mara chairperson, Annuar Musa, said Mara students who were linked with terrorist activities would be expelled.

How will schools and colleges monitor students? Will lecturers be keeping tabs on social media sites, or tapping phones? Expulsion will only drive the militants underground. How will radicalised students be re-indoctrinated into society? Will the people who groom the students, allegedly including the mullahs and religious teachers, be tracked down?

Ahmad Zahid claimed that so far, no religious schools showed militant tendencies. Of course not! The Putrajaya and Jakim mindset cannot recognise religious extremism, even though it is staring them in the face. Is intolerance against non-Muslims considered religious extremism? Probably not.

Money buys favours and clouds our leaders’ vision. Saudi Arabia’s petrodollars fund various Malaysian Muslim charities and madrasahs. In exchange for this funding, the intolerant form of Saudi Islam is allowed to permeate our society. Social injustice fuels extremist ideologies. Disgruntled people are easily influenced. Our fractured society provides a lethal breeding ground for extremism.

For decades, our leaders have laid a solid foundation for dividing the nation, sowing seeds of hate, and promoting intolerance.

To be effective in our fight against terrorism, our MPs first need to define what constitutes religious extremism, because there exists only a fine line between religious extremism and terrorism.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.