Freedom of belief and the paradox of “Islam Hadhari”: Perspective of an Indonesian

• Main Author: Assyaukanie, Luthfi
• Other Authors: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
• Format: Commentary
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/82515; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/40049
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

THE LAST-MINUTE cancellation of an international inter-faith conference in mid-May underscored the current unease over issues related to religion in Malaysia. The inability of the conference to proceed as planned reflects a certain paradox in the government’s policy of Islam Hadhari. Under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Malaysian government has been enthusiastically promoting Islam Hadhari or Civilizational Islam to emphasise the universal values and pro-development aspects of Islam. The goal is to present Malaysia as a moderate Muslim country which could be a role model for other Muslim countries in promoting harmony, progress, and economic development.