He could lose votes in the states of Sabah and Sarawak which have larger Christian populations. Sarawak has 31 MPs and Sabah 25, home to just two opposition MPs. The government has 137 seats in a 222-member parliament.
By Niluksi Koswanage, Reuters
Malaysian Muslims rallied on Friday to protest against Christians using the word "Allah" for God after a spate of attacks on churches which threatened to stoke racial and religious tensions.
Following are some questions and answers on what lies ahead in this majority Muslim Southeast Asian country of 28 million.
IS THERE A RISK OF ETHNIC CLASHES?
The risk is small but analysts do not discount tensions coming to a boil between the majority Malays who are Muslim and ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities who practice a range of faiths such as Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.
It mostly depends on whether Prime Minister Najib Razak's government comes down hard on the arsonists who attacked the churches. Usually at any sign of trouble the government uses the Internal Security Act that allows detention without trial.
The government says the attacks have been carried out by disaffected or criminal youths and that they are not coordinated.
What may hold back ethnic clashes is the memory of the bloody 1969 riots that divided the country.
Protests on Friday at mosques against the non-Muslim use of the word Allah have been peaceful although the language on banners and speeches suggests growing anger.
ARE RELIGIOUS TENSIONS IN MALAYSIA AN INVESTMENT RISK?
After the arson attempts against the churches, possibly. Religious disputes are a risk mostly in their potential to increase ethnic tensions, making it important for investors to see how the government handles the issue.
Investors have been avoiding Malaysia due to the lacklustre government of Najib's predecessor and Najib is working hard to implement economic reforms to win back investment.
Malaysia was one of the worst-performing stock markets in Asia in 2009, ranked fourth from the bottom. Malaysia's benchmark share index rose 45 percent in 2009.
During a meeting with investors in New York last year, Najib was asked about the government's stand over the caning sentence meted out to a Muslim woman for drinking beer under rarely-enforced Islamic criminal laws.
An escalation of religious tensions in Malaysia could weaken Najib's ability to push through economic reforms.
WHAT COULD HAVE SPARKED THE PROTESTS, CHURCH ATTACKS?
The issue stems from a Malaysian Catholic newspaper's successful legal bid last week to overturn a government ban against the paper's use of the word "Allah" to describe the Christian God in its Malay language edition.
Their argument is that use of the word Allah has been common among non-English speaking Malaysian Christians in the Borneo island states of Sabah and Sarawak for decades.
The government since has obtained a stay of execution on the judgment this week amid growing Malay-Muslim anger. The case is also before the Appeal's court and the verdict there can still be challenged at the Federal Court, Malaysia's top court.
It is illegal for non-Muslims to proselytise to Muslims but freedom of worship for the mainly Buddhist, Christian and Hindu religious minorities, who make up 40 percent of the country's population, is guaranteed under the constitution.
WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S STANCE?
The coalition, which ruled Malaysia for 52 years, suffered its worst-ever setbacks in national and state elections in 2008 after being abandoned by non-Malays in part due to unease over an increasing Islamisation.
Religious tensions will jeopardise Prime Minister Najib Razak's ability to win back ethnic Chinese and Indian voters in the next general election, which must be held by 2013. The opposition and some political commentators say that Najib failed to show leadership on the church issue.
He could lose votes in the states of Sabah and Sarawak which have larger Christian populations. Sarawak has 31 MPs and Sabah 25, home to just two opposition MPs. The government has 137 seats in a 222-member parliament.
AND THE OPPOSITION?
The three-party opposition People's Alliance led by former Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim is regarded as having played the religious row much more skilfully than the government.
While stressing its Muslim credentials, the Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has appealed for tolerance as has Anwar. PAS has also managed to keep its Islamic credentials intact.
(Reporting by Razak Ahmad, Niluksi Koswanage and Soo Ai Peng; Editing by David Chance and Sugita Katyal)
Comments (16)
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written by popuri, January 11, 2010 14:11:22
written by popuri, January 11, 2010 14:11:22
Now you know why so many terrorism came from Muslim countries. They'd loss it.
I did not want to speak of them badly. But they brought this on themselves.
I did not want to speak of them badly. But they brought this on themselves.
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written by Wakeupmsia, January 11, 2010 01:11:45
written by Wakeupmsia, January 11, 2010 01:11:45
If UMNO and it's powerless wagging dogs (MCA, MIC, gerakan, PPP, etc) still rule at the next GE13, then I think that there's totally NO HOPE for this country. Let's us all give Pakatan Rakyat an opportunity to rule Malaysia.
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written by Davy McChester, January 10, 2010 01:31:15
written by Davy McChester, January 10, 2010 01:31:15
Hello please read the history of Sabah and Sarawak and how UMNO manipulated the native leaders, A lot of the native leaders betrayed the natives for the sake of power gerrymandered by the UNMO schemers. The native lost of power today is the consequence of native leadership being in bed with UMNO. Protect your rights or be decimated ,strangled by UMNO schemers. Get united ,be a man ,rather than UMNO's males prostitutes.
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written by Hello Keithy, January 09, 2010 22:38:52
written by Hello Keithy, January 09, 2010 22:38:52
2012, you are right. The UMNO goons will run amok if they lose power in control. They will destroy everything rather than giving the rule to PR. But that does not intimidate us from voting for PR. My support for PR stays no matter what. I hope all Malaysians will follow suit.
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written by StevenO, January 09, 2010 18:49:57
written by StevenO, January 09, 2010 18:49:57
UMNO is bankrupt of ideas to win the hearts of the voters!! The UMNo led government is powerless to protect the citizens and property. The only thing they are capable of is big time corruption!
With the way the drama is playing out, I'll vote PAS any time!!!
With the way the drama is playing out, I'll vote PAS any time!!!
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written by 2012, January 09, 2010 17:53:10
written by 2012, January 09, 2010 17:53:10
What's next.....
They will do whatever it takes to stay in power..
Even if PR wins the next GE..
that's the real 'what's next'.....
They will even destroy country to stay in power..
They will do whatever it takes to stay in power..
Even if PR wins the next GE..
that's the real 'what's next'.....
They will even destroy country to stay in power..
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written by capricorn, January 09, 2010 16:42:59
written by capricorn, January 09, 2010 16:42:59
"What's next after church attacks in Malaysia?" I have a dream. I have a dream that in the year 2013, a massive tsunami by the people from East And West M'sia swept the ruling BN govt led by Najib out of Putrajaya. I dreamt that the new govt of PKR was sucessfully sworn in by the Agung. PKR promised to overhaul the PDRM, the judiciary, MACC. All top officials will had been asked to step down and go on indefinite leave while due diligence on their performance were carried out. Well FELLOW MALAYSIANS, We must DARE TO DREAM!!!!!!
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written by passion, January 09, 2010 15:10:55
written by passion, January 09, 2010 15:10:55
sometimes it keeps me wondering what is in the mind of those supporting the goons? it must be sheer selfishness (those with self interest) or damn stupid, malaysian are really stupid beyond imagination.
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written by betasigma, January 09, 2010 14:49:58
written by betasigma, January 09, 2010 14:49:58
sarawak n sabah should not be najis n his goons' fixed deposit' ;no more!!no More!!NO MORE!!!
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written by gindow, January 09, 2010 14:17:45
written by gindow, January 09, 2010 14:17:45
Well...Sabahans & Sarawakians,its done now,Churches has been torched down,
and those moronic demonstrators promised to burn down more churches,all because
you people
I do hope that all of you East Malaysians will not become their *FIX DEPOSIT* no more
Please stand united and vote them out in the next GE to come...
Start your campaign right now,starting with your family and extended families!!!!
and those moronic demonstrators promised to burn down more churches,all because
you people
I do hope that all of you East Malaysians will not become their *FIX DEPOSIT* no more
Please stand united and vote them out in the next GE to come...
Start your campaign right now,starting with your family and extended families!!!!
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written by NSTPravda, January 09, 2010 14:14:48
written by NSTPravda, January 09, 2010 14:14:48
What's next after church attacks in Malaysia?
Elementary Mat$on, with our 1Leader being 1Powerle$$, prepare for 1F**kedupMess.
$emua-nya OK!
Elementary Mat$on, with our 1Leader being 1Powerle$$, prepare for 1F**kedupMess.
$emua-nya OK!
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written by storm62, January 09, 2010 13:32:08
written by storm62, January 09, 2010 13:32:08
I dare you idiots in umno to come to Sabah & Sarawak to burn some churches !!!
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written by panca, January 09, 2010 13:14:55
written by panca, January 09, 2010 13:14:55
A leader of true quality do not fark with the lives and future of the People regardless of beliefs. Do not play with politics with the people and divide them with race and religion. The is a right of vote to decide who govern through the people power's rule.
Sabah and Sarawak people and components parties of all political divide, regardless of religons must come together to decide the future and if you thought the worst cannot come to you, think again.
To the Sabah and Sarawak people's power
Q : Did you ever think when you first gave your vote that you would be getting a government with barbaric treatment that your wisdom had already advised you against but you chose to ignore?
A : You burnt yourself with your vote!
Sabah and Sarawak people and components parties of all political divide, regardless of religons must come together to decide the future and if you thought the worst cannot come to you, think again.
To the Sabah and Sarawak people's power
Q : Did you ever think when you first gave your vote that you would be getting a government with barbaric treatment that your wisdom had already advised you against but you chose to ignore?
A : You burnt yourself with your vote!
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Even if they did, I'm confident that their pathetic efforts will not tear us apart. Sabahans will stick together, this is what we have that they don't.