Role of Islam in Malaysia

Riz Khan

From Kuala Lumpur Riz Khan discusses what it means to be an 'Islamic state'.

Last Modified: 23 Sep 2007 12:37 GMT

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Malaysian Muslims [EPA]

Malaysia's constitution protects religious freedom but also notes that Islam is the 'official religion'. Federal law gives special economic and educational benefits, a type of affirmative action, for 'Malays' - who are, by definition - Muslim.

Those factors and recent claims by some government officials that Malaysia is, in fact, an 'Islamic State' have caused concern among the country's non-Muslim population. It is a discussion that is deemed so sensitive that the country's mainstream media is banned from discussing it.

We take the show to Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, and ask: What is the role of Islam in Malaysia and what does it mean to be an 'Islamic state'?

Joining our live broadcast are Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, the president of the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia or HAKAM, and Haji Sulieman Abdullah, the former president of the Malaysian Bar Council.

Watch this episode of Riz Khan here:

Watch this episode of Street Talk here:

This episode of Riz Khan aired on 08 August 2007

Don't miss Riz Khan live at 19:00GMT, when you can call with your questions and comments. Riz Khan is also shown every day at 00:00GMT, 05:00GMT, and 09:30GMT.

Your comments:

Are the leaders of Malaysia whether Malays, Chinese or Indians or Others, blind ,deaf and dumb (sometimes), to the changing circumstances in Malaysia ? The 50 years of affirmative action and race bias are not acceptable anymore by the new generation of Malaysians. The continued provocation by the policies being perpetuated by this government are leading the country to potential chaos and racial strife. Can the leaders learn from the experiences in other countries. Whether elections are won by landslide margins or not, a very portent shift in non-Malay votes will be obvious in future.
Augustine - Ipoh

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