Islamic Revivalism and Politics in Malaysia : Problems in Nation Building

This book describes the Islamisation process that has unfolded in Malaysia over the last fifty years and provides feedback from in-depth interviews with 100 individuals from Malaysia's "educated classes", or the "elite", regarding their reactions to the changes that have accompanied Islamisation and how they feel it has impacted them. It includes a brief overview of Islamisation globally and a brief history of Malaysia, focusing especially on those aspects relevant to the book's subject. The book gives a comprehensive explanation of how and why Islamisation occurred in Malaysia and illustrates the extent of change that has accompanied it. The feedback from the research participants includes special analysis of reactions from Muslim women and non-Muslims. The reasons behind there being so little public debate about Islamisation and the concerns that this group of people have about what is happening is also explained. Finally, the author gives his opinion on the impact the change in government in May 2019 is likely to have. Robert Henry Olivier is an advisor to the Centre for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia. He is also a Member of the Senate of the University. Recently retired, he spent 24 years in PA Consulting Group, in Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia, his last position being Head of the South-East Asia Region. As founder, owner and Executive Chairman, he then spent 25 years with ASPAC Executive Search, one of Malaysia's leading search firms. He was a Director of the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce for 21 years This book describes the Islamisation process that has unfolded in Malaysia over the last fifty years and provides feedback from in-depth interviews with 100 individuals from Malaysia's "educated classes", or the "elite", regarding their reactions to the changes that have accompanied Islamisation and how they feel it has impacted them. It includes a brief overview of Islamisation globally and a brief history of Malaysia, focusing especially on those aspects relevant to the book's subject. The book gives a comprehensive explanation of how and why Islamisation occurred in Malaysia and illustrates the extent of change that has accompanied it. The feedback from the research participants includes special analysis of reactions from Muslim women and non-Muslims. The reasons behind there being so little public debate about Islamisation and the concerns that this group of people have about what is happening is also explained. Finally, the author gives his opinion on the impact the change in government in May 2019 is likely to have. -- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Bob Olivier)....Pages 1-7 Some Background to Malaysia (Bob Olivier)....Pages 9-28 Islamisation: The Global Scene (Bob Olivier)....Pages 29-57 The Factors Driving Islamisation in Malaysia (Bob Olivier)....Pages 59-92 Manifestations of Islamisation (Bob Olivier)....Pages 93-126 Overall Reaction to the Islamisation Phenomenon (Bob Olivier)....Pages 127-157 Impact on Muslim Women (Bob Olivier)....Pages 159-183 Impact on Non-Muslims (Bob Olivier)....Pages 185-213 Participants’ Concerns and Reluctance to Speak Out (Bob Olivier)....Pages 215-256 Conclusion (Bob Olivier)....Pages 257-265 Back Matter ....Pages 267-286