Islamic party puts moderate foot forward in newly won state<\/p>\n
By Ranjan Roy<\/p>\n
KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia (AP): In his turban and long robe,
\nAbdul Hadi Awang looks very much the Islamic preacher he is.<\/p>\n
So, many people were surprised when his first act as head of
\nthe new Islamic-oriented government in the northern state of
\nTerengganu was to cancel plans for a huge mosque, calling it un-
\nIslamic extravagance.<\/p>\n
The bespectacled 53-year-old leader of the Pan-Malaysian
\nIslamic Party directed that the 100 million ringgit (US$26
\nmillion) budgeted for the mosque be spent on scholarships for
\npoor children and improvements in villages.<\/p>\n
Abdul Hadi formed his administration in December after his
\nparty won a state election victory over the nationally dominant
\nUnited Malays National Organization (UMNO) of Prime Minister
\nMahathir Mohamad. It is widely seen as a test case of whether the
\nPan-Malaysian Islamic Party will run a moderate government and
\nput its Islamic agenda on hold.<\/p>\n
In this Southeast Asian country, where about 40 percent of the
\npeople are not Muslims, the attitude of the Islamic party toward
\nminorities could determine its prospects in future elections.<\/p>\n
The imposition of Islamic codes like amputation of limbs for
\npetty crimes, and constitutional amendments that would make
\nMalaysia an Islamic state would likely alienate Chinese
\nChristians and Buddhists and Indian Hindus.<\/p>\n
Mahathir and his allies tried to portray Abdul Hadi's party as
\na collection of religious extremists and fanatics who would undo
\nMalaysia's spectacular economic gains by shutting out the world.<\/p>\n
But riding a wave of discontent among Muslims over Mahathir's
\ntreatment of ousted deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, the
\nIslamic party made a dent in mainstream politics for the first
\ntime in years, winning control of two northern states and more
\nthan tripling its seats in Parliament from eight to 27 in the
\n193-seat assembly.<\/p>\n
The party contested the elections in a coalition with three
\nmoderate opposition groups, including one formed by Anwar's
\nsupporters. That helped expand its support among Malays who do
\nnot necessarily support an Islamic program.<\/p>\n
Abdul Hadi's government says its focus is less on Islam than
\non helping people in the state, which has remained poor despite
\nbeing one of the largest oil-producing regions in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Unlike more prosperous cities in the south, Kuala Terengganu
\nhas just a few high-rise buildings. Most people still live in
\ntraditional Malay homes built of wood on stilts and live off
\nfarming or fishing.<\/p>\n
\"We will abide by what is permissible and what is prohibited
\nin Islam,\" Abdul Hadi said at his 16th-floor office where he sits
\nfacing a computer fitted with microphones for video conferencing.<\/p>\n
His administration has predictably outlawed drinking alcohol
\nin public places and declared gambling illegal, but it has not
\ncracked down on the few pubs and nightclubs that cater mostly to
\nnon-Muslims and tourists.<\/p>\n
\"Moderation is the basis for Islam,\" Abdul Hadi said. \"We
\nrecognize the right of non-Muslims to consume alcohol, although I
\ndon't think any religion condones alcoholism.\"<\/p>\n
By contrast, in the overwhelmingly Muslim state of Kelantan,
\nwhere it has governed for nearly a decade, the party has
\nrestricted the sale of alcohol, banned lotteries, promoted
\nsegregation of sexes in public and even tried to impose Hudud,
\nthe Islamic criminal code, and a law that punishes those who
\nconvert from Islam.<\/p>\n
Terengganu, too, is open to Islamic approaches. Muslims live
\nmostly in villages and remain largely conservative. Men shun
\nalcohol and women wear headscarves and most businesses and
\noffices are shut on Friday, Islam's Sabbath.<\/p>\n
But Abdul Hadi's party wants to set an example in this state
\nof model governance rather than one of a theocratic
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Asked about his priorities, he listed developing the economy,
\nattracting investment and promoting openness in government.<\/p>\n
\"We have some hardcore poor to take care of, people who are
\nhomeless, students who can't go to the university because of
\nfinancial problems, and infrastructure in villages,\" Abdul Hadi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
There is no agenda to make its society more Islamic, he added.
\n\"All we want to do is to infuse moral values in the
\nadministration.\"<\/p>\n
For now, the state's Chinese residents -- Christians and
\nBuddhists who constitute about 10 percent of the region's one
\nmillion people -- aren't worried. Pork, considered impure by
\nMuslims, is available. Non-Muslims also are allowed to buy, sell
\nand drink alcohol, and there are no prohibitions on temples and
\nchurches.<\/p>\n
\"At first there was some concern,\" said Low Kian Chuan, a
\nprominent businessman. \"But now the Chinese community as a whole
\nis more comfortable.\"<\/p>",
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