Much has been said about Islamic fundamentalism which is intolerant and exclusivist, like the Taliban. However, there is another brand of extremist and distorted form of Islam which also deserves the attention of moderate Malaysians, including Muslims themselves. It is the nationalistic Islam as preached and practiced by Umno.

The nationalistic Islam of Umno is actually doubly exclusivist. First, it discriminates against non-Muslims, and second, it excludes non-Malays. Thus, while we see there are Chinese Muslims in PAS, and non-Muslims and non-Malays, like Chinese Christians and Indian Hindus in Keadilan, Umno is closed to all non-Muslims and non-Malays.

In fact, there is also the real exclusion of non-English educated and non-Westernised Malay/Muslim masses from the elite circle and leadership of Umno. In this sense, the nationalistic Islam preached and practised by Umno is triply exclusivist.

On ethnic questions and language policy, both the brands of universalist Islam of PAS, and moderate and humanistic Islam of Keadilan are in fact more tolerant and flexible than the nationalistic Islam of Umno which dreams of one-language assimilation, not integration based on universal and humanistic integration.

On economic development, the nationalistic Islam of Umno attempts to copy ultra right-wing free market policies of the West that only benefit big capitalists to the disadvantage of the middle- and lower-incoming groups in the society. On the contrary, the more egalitarian Islam of PAS and Keadilan are in favour of the marginalised and down-trodden of all races.