Attacks on U.S. sharpen divisions in Malaysia<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Fallout from the terror attacks on the
\nUnited States has sharpened political and religious divisions in
\nMuslim-majority Malaysia, intense public debate showed on Monday.<\/p>\n
Conflict emerged over Afghanistan's call for an Islamic
\n'jihad' or holy war against the United States if it is attacked,
\nas an opposition alliance here disintegrated over the question of
\nan Islamic state.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's religious adviser Abdul
\nHamid Othman urged Muslims not to respond to calls for jihad
\nagainst the United States.<\/p>\n
\"Our advice to Muslims in Malaysia is that for the moment
\ndon't get involved. Let's not act hastily,\" he was quoted as
\nsaying by the New Straits times, as newspapers continued to
\ndevote massive coverage to the aftermath of the attacks.<\/p>\n
But the spiritual leader of the increasingly-powerful
\nopposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), Nik Aziz Nik Mat, said
\nthe world's Muslims would feel duty-bound to support any Islamic
\nnation that was victimized.<\/p>\n
They could show their support by sending people or money to
\nsuch countries or by praying for the people there, he was quoted
\nas saying by the Sun newspaper.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has threatened military action if Afghanistan refuses
\nto hand over Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden, named as the
\nprime suspect behind the September 11 attacks on New York and
\nWashington.<\/p>\n
The ruling Taliban regime responded by warning that it would
\ncall a jihad, in which all Muslims would be urged to wage war
\nagainst the U.S. if it carried out its threat.<\/p>\n
The split between the moderate Islamic position of Prime
\nMinister Mahathir Mohamad's government and a more extreme view
\nwas also reflected in the break-up of the opposition Alternative
\nFront alliance.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Action Party (DAP), which draws the bulk of its
\nsupport from Malaysia's ethnic-Chinese minority, pulled out of
\nthe alliance at the weekend because of plans by one partner, PAS,
\nto create an Islamic state.<\/p>\n
Although the possibility of a rift had been on the cards for
\nsome time, a DAP spokesman said Monday the attacks on the U.S.
\nhad convinced some waverers within the party to finally abandon
\nPAS.<\/p>\n
\"They feel the heat of Islamic fanaticism, including the
\nvisions of the Taliban, Iran and Iraq,\" said DAP adviser Chen Man
\nHin.<\/p>\n
Like many leaders of Muslim states, Mahathir faces powerful
\nopposing forces in Malaysian society in the wake of the attacks
\non the U.S., with revulsion for terrorism competing with
\nresentment over perceived Western injustices against Islamic
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Mahathir has pledged support for the war against terrorists,
\nbut warned that \"oppression\" must first be eradicated before
\nterrorism can be beaten.<\/p>\n
\"If (we) want to wipe out terrorism, the problem in Palestine
\nmust be eradicated as well as that in Iraq and Chechnya. Only
\nwhen there is no fresh oppression will the problem of terrorism
\nbe overcome,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Analysts say the fallout from the terror attacks could
\nstrengthen Mahathir's hand against PAS, which gained dramatically
\nincreased support in the last general elections in 1999.<\/p>\n
\"It is certainly going to have a significant effect in terms
\nof the Islamic challenge to the present government,\" National
\nUniversity of Malaysia political scientist P.Ramsamy told AFP.<\/p>\n
\"The government will try to somehow link Muslim militants with
\nthe PAS-type of Islam\" and capitalize on the backlash against
\nterrorism, he said.<\/p>\n
Even before the attacks on the U.S., Mahathir's government had
\nlinked PAS to what it says is a local militant organization known
\nas the \"Malaysian Mujahideen Group\" and has detained 10 alleged
\nmembers without trial. Seven of the detainees are members of PAS.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/attacks-on-us-sharpen-divisions-in-malaysia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}