Malaysia’s sectarian divide: A string of racial and religious incidents in the Southeast Asian country has brought concerns of rising Islamic conservatism to the fore, intensifying friction between Muslims and non-Muslims as the government plays on identity issues ahead of what is expected to be a jarring and contentious election season, Nile Bowie writes. Religion has become increasingly central to Malaysian public life in the past decade, as religious institutions steadily expand their jurisdictions in favor of a narrow interpretation of Islam and Muslim identity. Though long part of the political landscape, the politicization of Islam has increased in recent years. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Najib Razak has been accused of coddling religious hardliners, and while he tries to cultivate a global reputation as a moderate Muslim leader in the fight against extremism, Malaysia’s reputation as a tolerant Islamic country has ebbed under his leadership. READ THE STORY HERE
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