Krebse, Currys, Nudeln – das Beste aus Malaysia und Singapur | 2012

Dec 1, 2022 | Auf der malaysischen Halbinsel, auf halbem Weg zwischen Indien und China, kommen seit Jahrhunderten alle möglichen kulinarischen Einflüsse zusammen. Dazu kommt ein Reichtum an Nahrungsmittel und Gewürzen, wie man ihn nur in tropischen Küstenregionen findet. Das Resultat ist eine variantenreiche Küche der Superlative. NZZ Format stellt einige der Highlights aus Malaysia und Singapur vor.

Inside Story - What's the Reason for Malaysia's New Security Law?

Malaysia's controversial new security law comes into effect, giving Prime Minister Najib Razak sweeping powers.

A Stricter Islam Displaces Old Ways in Malaysia

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Conservative Wahhabi doctrines are redefining the way Islam is practiced; some rituals have been banned

KUALA LUMPUR—Kelana Indra Sakti is one of Malaysia’s most successful shamans. Framed testimonials from his customers hang from his office walls. In the driveway of his house he keeps a stretch Mercedes-Benz limousine given to him by a grateful client. His name, meaning “Adventurer, Heavenly Magic,” was bestowed on him by one of Malaysia’s wealthy sultans.

Lately, though, Mr. Kelana has supplemented his consultations with readings from the Quran.

“People just expect it these days, so I do it,” said the 70-year-old shaman.

Islam in Malaysia, and Southeast Asia, is taking a more conservative turn. The Muslim faith, brought here by Arab traders hundreds of years ago, has coexisted for generations with Malay customs such as shamanism, other forms of traditional medicine and the country’s sizable Buddhist, Christian and Hindu communities.

But more recently, conservative Wahhabi doctrines, often spread by Saudi-financed imams, are redefining the way Islam is practiced and, for some, eroding the tolerance for which the country has been known. » | James Hookway | Thursday, January 14, 2016

Muslim Gymnast Criticised for 'Revealing' Leotard as She Wins Double-Gold

THE TELEGRAPH: Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, 21, has come under fire for wearing a leotard at the Southeast Asia games, where she won a total of six medals

A Muslim gymnast has been criticised by religious leaders for wearing a ‘revealing’ leotard during a double-gold victory at the Southeast Asia Games.

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, 21, represented Malaysia at the competition, where she won six medals, including two golds.

But she was rebuked by leaders and social media trolls for showing her “aurat” – an Islamic word referring to the genitalia and thighs.

Cleric Harussani Zakaria told one local paper: “Gymnastics is not for Muslim women. It is clear that exposing one's aurat and the shape of one's body is haram (forbidden in Islam).

“If Muslim women want to participate in gymnastics, they have to find outfits which cover the aurat and this, in turn, might not be suitable for the sport.” » | Radhika Sanghani | Thursday, June 18, 2015

Islam No Joking Matter, Malaysian Stand-up Comics Say amid Creeping Conservatism

Comedian Harith Iskander speaking at The Cooler Lumpur
Festival in Kuala Lumpur, June 13, 2015.

MALAY MAIL ONLINE: KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Jokes about race, religion and sex often form the magic bag of comedians worldwide but Malaysian comics are giving Islam a wide berth for fear of arrest and even death, as conservatism takes roots in this multicultural nation.

Comedian Jason Leong said he and fellow comics have lampooned Christianity and Buddhism, but not Islam, the predominant religion in Malaysia.

“What is difficult is making jokes about Islam, or as my friend calls it, Muslimism; we don’t wanna get arrested, we don’t wanna die,” Leong told a packed audience at a session titled “Killing Sacred Cows: Comedy in the Age of Offence” at the Cooler Lumpur Festival here yesterday.

Another popular comedian Harith Iskandar, who was also at the session, said topics related to Muslim culture would have to be packaged in layers so as to have safeguards.

“If someone is videotaping it, we could get into serious trouble, regardless of whether I myself am a Malay-Muslim,” he said. » | Boo Su-Lyn | Sunday, June 14, 2015

Malaysian Church Removes Publicy-layed Cross after Muslims Complain

BREITBART.COM: Residents in Taman Medan, Malaysia protested outside of a church due to the cross on top of the building, claimimg the cross is “challenging Islam.”

The protest took place during a 10am service and remained peaceful. The people believe the cross “could sway the faith of the youth” since the majority of residents are Muslim.

“After meeting with the priest, the church agreed to take down the cross by next Sunday,” announced group leader, Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar. “If they have the authority to run, we cannot stop it. But we ask out of concern, being a Malay area, that they take down the cross.”

Church leaders removed the cross a few hours later. » | Mary Chastain | Monday, April 20, 2015

In Malaysia, ‘Allah’ Is Reserved for Muslims Only

Pupils at a Christian kindergarten in Kota Kinabalu, on Borneo,
are among non-Muslims not allowed by Malaysian law
to use the Malay word for God.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia — As the students knelt in a circle at a Christian kindergarten near the shores of the South China Sea, a 6-year-old girl in pigtails read out a chapter from a children’s Bible: “Sepuluh hukum dari Allah” – God’s Ten Commandments.

Technically, she broke the law.

According to a series of government orders and rulings by Malaysia’s Islamic councils, the word for God in the Malay language – “Allah” – is reserved for Muslims. Malay-language bibles are banned everywhere except inside churches. State regulations ban a list of words, including Allah, in any non-Muslim context.

Malaysia, with its collage of ethnic groups and religions, has a long history of tensions over issues ranging from dietary differences to the economic preferences enshrined in Malaysian law for the Malay Muslim majority.

But there is probably no dispute more fundamental and more emotionally charged than who owns the word God.

For Malaysia’s religious minorities, the government’s ban on non-Muslims using the word Allah, and the repeated seizures by government officials of Malay-language Bibles, is enough to make a smiling and cheery kindergarten teacher snap in anger. » | Thomas Fuller | Monday, November 03, 2014

Malaysian Muslim Groups Call for Jihad on Cadbury after Pork Traces Found in Chocolate

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Islamic groups angry at Cadbury Malaysia after two batches found to contain pork DNA

Muslim groups are calling for a boycott of Cadbury after two of its products sold in predominately Islamic Malaysia were found to contain traces of pork.

The discovery was made during a periodic check for non-halal ingredients in food products by the country's Ministry of Health, which confirmed porcine DNA traces in bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond.

Cadbury Malaysia, like most food makers in the country where Muslims make up more than 60 per cent of the population, has all of its products certified halal to conform with Islam's dietary restrictions, one of which is a prohibition on pork. » | Josie Ensor | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Valentine's Day 'Leads to Fraud and Baby-dumping', Says Malaysia's Islamic Watchdog

A number of Acehnese Muslim senior high school students
students hold a protest against Valentine's Dat celebrations
in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Muslim authorities in Malaysia blame Valentine's Day for social ills from abortion to alcoholism, but members of minority Chinese community celebrate with mass wedding

Malaysian Islamic authorities took their annual swipe at Valentine's Day Friday, calling it a threat to Muslim values, but 138 couples took part in a mass wedding to mark the date.

In its official Friday sermon text distributed to mosques in the Muslim-majority country, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department blamed Valentine's Day for everything from alcoholism to abortion.

"Social ceremonies such as this are a stepping-stone towards greater social ills such as fraud, mental disorder caused by alcohol, abortion and baby-dumping, and other negative ills that can invite disaster and moral decay among youths," it said.

Known by its Malay-language acronym JAKIM, the department is an official watchdog of Muslim values. It regularly denounces Valentine's Day as encouraging vice and promiscuity. » | AFP | Friday, February 14, 2014 | Valentine’s Day

Malaysia King Says ‘Allah’ Is Only for Muslims

The 14th king of Malaysia, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah

RUSSIA TODAY: Only Muslims can use the word Allah to refer to God, the Malaysian King has declared adding fuel to the long-running dispute and raising questions over rights of religious minorities in the country where Islam is followed by about 60 % of the population.

Intervening in the dispute for the first time, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah urged Sunday representatives of all other communities to respect Muslims’ exclusive right in order to maintain stability and harmony in Malaysia.

“In the context of a pluralistic society, religious sensitivities especially related to Islam as the religion of the federation should be respected,” the King said in a speech, cited by Malaysian state news agency Bernama.

“Confusion and controversy can be averted if there is adherence to the provisions of the law and judicial decisions,” he added.

The term ‘Allah’ came to the language used by the nation’s dominant Malay ethnic group from Arabic and is used to describe ‘God’ by people of all faiths.

Sultan Abdul Halim, 86, is one of the nine sultans who take turns every five years to serve as head of state.

The king’s role in Malaysia is largely ceremonial and his powers are limited. However, he is considered a defender of Islam and enjoys the respect of the Muslim population. » | Published: Sunday, January 19, 2014 | Edited: Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Malaysia: Non-Muslim Ban on Using 'Allah'

EXPRESS: A government ban on non-Muslims in Malaysia using the word "Allah" to refer to God has been upheld by an appeal court.

The country's Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities had complained the ban infringed their constitutional right to practice religion freely, which the government denies.

"Allah" is the Arabic word for God and is commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God. But the government insists that "Allah" should be exclusively reserved for Muslims because of concerns its use by others would confuse Muslims and could be used to convert them.

The judgement in the Court of Appeals overturns a decision by a lower court nearly four years ago that ruled against the government ban. Anger over that ruling sparked a string of arson attacks and vandalism at Malaysian churches and other places of worship. » | AP | Monday, October 14, 2013

Non-Muslims Can’t Use 'Allah', Says Malaysian Sultan
ZEE NEWS: Kuala Lumpur: The Sultan of the Malaysian state of Selangor has barred non-Muslims in the state from using “Allah”, saying it is a sacred word exclusive to Muslims.

A statement from Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) secretary Mohd Misri Idris said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had expressed shock and regret over a lawmaker, Lim Guan Eng’s recent statement urging the government to allow the word “Allah” to be used in the Malay version of the Bible. » | ANI | Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Malaysia Muslims Call for 'Immoral' Elton John to Be Banned
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A Malaysian Muslim political party is demanding that Elton John be barred from performing in the country later this week because he is homosexual.

Nasruding [sic] Hassan Tantawi, head of the youth wing of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS), said the concert "must be cancelled".

"Artists who are involved in gay and lesbian activities must not be allowed to perform in Malaysia as they will promote the wrong values," he said.

Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia, where almost two-thirds of the 28 million population are Muslim, and is punishable by caning and up to 20 years in prison.

Mr Nasrudin said that the PAS "will demand that the authorities cancel this immoral performance to protect our society from social degradation." » | David Eimer, Bangkok | Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Islamic Radicalism a Real Threat in Malaysia
RADIO AUSTRALIA: Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced an exchange programme between Australia and Malaysia, which he says aims to foster moderate Islam.

Under the programme, six Australians with Islamic backgrounds will travel to Malaysia and their counterparts will visit Australia.

A prominent Islamic moderate in Malaysia has applauded the proposed programme.

Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, who's a cardio-thoracic surgeon by profession, is also director of the Islamic Renaissance Front.

He says Islamic radicalism poses a real threat to Malaysia and the region, and that some people are using it for political ends.

Presenter: Sen Lam

Speaker: Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, director of the Islamic Renaissance Front. Dr Farouk is also a cardio-thoracic surgeon at the Monash University Medical School, Malaysia (+ audio) » | Monday, November 05, 2012

Malaysia – The Islamic State
FREE MALAYSIA TODAY: A dark humour piece on a perceived puritan Islamic state which PAS is insistent on championing one day in the future.

The Muslims in this country have certainly come of age. Lovingly protected by the government against the pitfalls of sin and eternal damnation, today a growing majority of Muslims are attracted to the beautiful notion of being governed by the hudud penal code and becoming a true Islamic nation.

It is wonderful to know that a Muslim NGO has called for the banning of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s “My Name Is Khan” movie which confuses Muslims as it promotes liberal Islam and religious pluralism. It has also warned Malaysian broadcasters against airing the hit film and called for the blocking of the distribution of the film CD.

Malay right-wing group Perkasa also called for Muslims nationwide to boycott award-winning singer Jaclyn Victor for singing the Malay-language Christian song “Harapan Bangsa”.

PAS Youth has done its bit to ban Valentine’s Day, a well-known Western celebration and live concerts which promote a loose lifestyle. And now it wants to meet the King, because the MCA president refuses to apologise for purportedly insulting Islam.

PAS is also ready to hold a discussion with former Perlis mufti Prof Madya Mohd Aszri Zainul Abidin on the “Ayatollah” issue should it ever come to power.

Malay bibles have been banned in the Peninsula and the government is serious to disallow Allah’s name to be uttered by non-Muslims.

Maybe, the time is ripe for the Muslims in this country to have an Islamic state.

Umno and PAS

Umno has been instrumental in the past to Islamise this nation, and it is satisfied that Malaysia is already a thriving Islamic state. It has even planned a mandatory mosque law to build a mosque in every new housing estate.

PAS, however, feels that more should be done and that the hudud penal code be part and parcel of an Islamic state.

Both parties agree that Muslims in Malaysia are weak and open to the temptations of the world. Some form of “state control” is needed to ensure that Muslims do not breach religious etiquette or go over the line.

Weak Muslims cannot be allowed to go through life without the state monitoring their progress and to provide them spiritual guidance. » | Iskandar Dzulkarnain | Monday, November 05, 2012

Malaysia, Australia Launch Young Muslim Exchange Programme
AUSTRALIA NETWORK NEWS: Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr says six young Australians with Islamic backgrounds will be able to hone their leadership skills during an exchange program with Malaysia.

Senator Carr and his Malaysian counterpart, Anifah Aman, signed off on the Australia-Malaysia Young Muslim Exchange Programme after recent talks in the Malaysian state of Sabah.

Under the programme - which is based on a model Australia has run with Indonesia and Thailand - participants from Malaysia will also travel to Australia.

Senator Carr says fostering cultural understanding is important for the future of both countries.

"I think it's one of the most important challenges we face today - getting a dialogue with the forces of moderate Islam," he said.

"To a large extent, the clash we see in the world today reflected in the forces of terrorism and unrest is a clash within Islam and we want to be engaging with the forces of moderate Islam." (+ audio) » | ABC | Monday, November 05, 2012

The Obedient Wives Club - Malaysia

Irshad Manji’s Book to Be Banned If It Contravenes Teachings of Sunnah Wal Jamaah
BORNEO POST: KUALA LUMPUR: The government will issue a ban on Irshad Manji’s book and publication if their content contravened the teachings of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah, Home Ministry Publication and Quranic Text Control Division secretary Abd Aziz Md Nor said.

Irshad’s book, entitled ‘Allah, Liberty and Love”, which was translated into Malay language, had also been forwarded to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department to be studied.

“This is because the book is believed to have contained elements that can deviate Muslims from their faith and elements which insulted Islam,” he said in a statement here. Read on and comment » | Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Related »

Malaysia: Probe Book by Liberal Islamic Activist, Ministry Urged
THE STAR: ALOR SETAR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has called on the Home Ministry to carry out an immediate probe into a book authored by liberal Islamic activist Irshad Manji.

He said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) analysis of the book, entitled Islam, Liberty and Love, revealed that it was filled with words insulting Islam.

“The decision to ban the book is the prerogative of the Home Ministry. We (Jakim) can only advise them as our analysis found that the book is dangerous for the Muslims,” he said yesterday.

Irshad, who openly supported Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) lifestyles, was reported to have arrived in Malaysia on Thursday to launch her new book.

The launch of the Bahasa Malaysia version of the book under the title Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta took place at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Saturday.

She left for New York on Saturday night.

Irshad had also authored a book entitled The Problem With Islam Today which offended Muslims worldwide and contained the same idealism as Salman Rushdie, the author of the novel The Satanic Verses. »

THE JAKARTA POST: Irshad Manji injured in mob attack in Yogya » | The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thursday, May 10, 2012

Lien en relation avec les articles »

Islam and Democracy Can Co-exist, Says Anwar Ibrahim's Daughter
Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of freed Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, says the Arab Spring has shown that Islam and democracy can co-exist and propel the opposition into power in Malaysia at elections later this year.

Read the article here | Barney Henderson | The Sunday Telegraph | Sunday, February 19, 2012
Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom » | Mark Alexander | Friday, April 20, 2007