Kuala Lumpur: Islamist Pas party a thorn in Anwar government's side
The fundamentalist formation won the most seats in the election with a message focused on religion. In the Federation states where it is in power, it has banned cinemas and allowed the caning of homosexuals. The new premier said he wants to work instead for inclusion among different ethnicities and faiths.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Leading a multi-ethnic "progressive" coalition, Anwar Ibrahim has succeeded in gaining the leadership of the government, but the hidden winner of this week's elections is Pas (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia), an Islamist formation that won the most seats in parliament: 49 out of a total of 222.
Once dominant in the north of the country, Pas has become a national force, able to intercept the vote of the more conservative fringe of the Malay ethnic majority. In the states of the Malaysian Federation where he rules, he has adopted fundamentalist measures such as banning cinemas and caning homosexuals.
He has put religion at the center of his campaign in a state characterized by deep ethnic and religious diversity. While the Malay majority is overwhelmingly Muslim, citizens of Chinese and Indian origin are largely Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu.
The main formation of Anwar's coalition is the Chinese Democratic Action Party. It is no coincidence that once he received the post from King Al-Sultan Abdullah, the newly appointed prime minister immediately launched a message of inclusion. A Malay of the Islamic faith, he promised to confirm Islam as the state religion while ensuring the defense of "the rights of all."
Malaysia has a "hybrid" system of law: criminal and family-related laws applicable to Muslim citizens sit alongside civil laws. According to several analysts, the growth of a force such as Pas could jeopardize the country's social resilience. Even before the vote, authorities had noticed a growth in ethnic tensions, fueled mainly on social media.
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22/03/2024 16:27
