Mahathir under pressure to define Islam's role at party assembly

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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad faces a ruling party general assembly this week under pressure to define Islam's role in the government of this multi-cultural nation.

The Chinese-based opposition DAP has objected to his definition of Malaysia as an "Islamic state", and its leader Lim Kit Siang is facing sedition charges over the issue.

The hardline PAS, on the other hand, is putting Mahathir's declaration to the test by trying to impose strict Islamic Syariah law in two states it controls.

The status of religion in government has become central to Malaysian politics in the wake of the Sept 11 terror attacks on the United States and a crackdown on Islamic militants here.

Just a year ago, the 1998 sacking and jailing of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim still dominated local politics, draining support from Mahathir's Umno.

The treatment of Anwar, widely seen as having been framed on sex and corruption charges to prevent a challenge to Mahathir, 76, who has been in power for 21 years, drove many Malay voters into the arms of PAS.

The Islamic party tripled its parliamentary seats in 1999 elections, becoming the official opposition, and took power in a second of the country's 13 states.

It was also a key member of a multi-ethnic opposition alliance challenging Mahathir's similarly cross-cultural Barisan Nasional coalition.

Militancy fears

But shortly after the Sept 11 attacks the Chinese DAP pulled out of the alliance over PAS's plan to impose a theocratic Islamic state, and Mahathir has since deftly used fears of Islamic militancy against PAS.

The government has detained without trial 62 suspected local militants, including some PAS members, winning praise from the United States for its cooperation in the "war on terrorism'.

Mahathir, previously a scourge of western ways, has also polished his image as an internationally-respected moderate Muslim leader with recent visits to the White House, European capitals and the Vatican.

Analysts have suggested he may take advantage of PAS's perceived weakness to call an early general election, which is not scheduled until 2004.

Campaigning on the Islamic issue has already begun, with PAS scorning Mahathir's declaration last September that Malaysia is an "Islamic state" and using the Sharia law issue to embarrass the government.

The PAS state authorities in Terengganu have declared their intention to enact Syariah criminal law, including amputation of limbs for theft and stoning to death for adultery, next month.

The chief minister of Terengganu, Abdul Hadi Awang, said the introduction of Syariah law would allow people to "assess the earnestness" of Mahathir's commitment to Islam.

The chief minister of the other PAS-ruled state, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, has said Mahathir's declaration made Malaysia an "instant Islamic state just like instant noodles".

In return, Mahathir has accused PAS of wanting to introduce an oppressive Islamic state along the lines of that run by the Taliban in Afghanistan before their overthrow last year.

Second class citizens

At the same time, he has criticised the Chinese-based DAP for urging him to retract his declaration that Malaysia is already an Islamic state.

"How does the DAP suffer as a result of this country being declared a Muslim country?" he asked last week.

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang,60, was arrested for distributing leaflets on the issue on June 6, and is on bail after being charged with sedition.

Lim has said Mahathir's declaration meant a fundamental change to the constitution, and could turn non-Muslims into second class citizens.

Muslims make up 60 percent of Malaysia's 23 million population, but large Chinese and Indian minorities follow Buddhism (19 percent), Christianity (nine percent) and Hinduism (six percent).

The veteran premier kicks off the UMNO assembly with a closed-door briefing to delegates today, followed Wednesday by meetings of the youth and womens' wings and the official opening on Thursday.



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