Yea, I've also been to Malaysia. I remember seeing a muslim couple where the girl is wearing a hijab and the guy is grabbing her butt, in public.
Nonetheless, I found that Malaysia had kinda a "sad vibe". People didn't smile much. People didn't seem happy. I also noticed that Sharia law applied. For example, on bars, you would see signs that said: "Must be 21+ and non-muslim".
As you are probably also aware, there is a kind of affirmative action for the Muslim Malay majority. They are preferred for spaces at universities (I met many Chinese Malysians studying in Singapore probably for this very reason!), they get discounts on land, business ventures must have at least one Muslim Malay partner, etc. This system kinda holds Malaysia back and I believe it was one of their major disagreements with Singapore. Hence why Singapore is a separate country today. (And much more economically successful!)
But contrast Malaysia with Indonesia. They speak almost the same language and Indonesia is actually 87% muslim (more than Malaysia) but Indonesia is a lot poorer (they have got their own problems). However... Indonesian Muslims are much more "chill" than Malaysian Muslims. For example, I rarely saw the hijab and when I did it (for example, on a televised concert), was often loose and didn't cover all the girl's hair (Muslim cleavage? Haha). Also, I remember reading an article about an alcohol shortage in Indonesia. They had a state-run corporation that imported alcohol. A spokesman for the company said they based the quantities on the numbers of tourists and non-muslims. Then, they interviewed a bar owner who said: "well, there you go! That's the problem right there! Most of my customers are Muslims!" Hahaha!
And generally, I found Indonesians were happier than Malaysians. Despite being a lot poorer. Honestly, Indonesians seemed a lot more like Filipinos than Malaysians.
Sir, if you get the opportunity, you should visit Indonesia. (And Philippines while you're at it!)
Yeah Malaysia is a weird one as it's moderate only in comparison to Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan. I was thinking the Islamic states of Indonesia, Albania, and Bosnia as better examples. Hell even Jordan, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, and Egypt are more moderate than Malaysia.
The Philippines are an interesting one as in I've long felt if the south wins it's going full on caliphate for awhile before settling into something closer to Malaysia than Indonesia. Filipinos are highly conservative, regardless of religion, as are all Hispanics.
I don't think you are far off the mark. Although as you say it is difficult to strip out the capital city effect. Kabul was a lot more moderate seeming than Herat or Jalalbad!
Research indicates that anti-Semitism is a significant issue in Malaysia, though it’s important to acknowledge the complexity of the situation and the nuance within Malaysian society.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:
1. Prevalence and endorsement
Anti-Israel and anti-Semitic discourse is widespread in Malaysia, despite the absence of a Jewish community in the country.
Authorities have often openly endorsed this anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, in particular, was known for his long-standing hostility towards Jews and Israel, which he frequently expressed publicly and without denial.
He even claimed that “anti-Semitic is a term invented to prevent people from criticizing the Jews for doing wrong things”.
Malaysia has also banned the playing of Jewish songs and music composed by Jews.
2. Connections to political power and nationalism
Some researchers suggest that anti-Semitism in Malaysia is linked to internal forms of racism, including the persecution of the Chinese and Indian populations.
Political actors and organizations in Malaysia have been known to utilize the Palestinian cause to gain political success and maintain power by simultaneously demonizing Israel and Jews.
Supporting Hamas, a group with close ties to Malaysia, has also been a tactic for securing political power, especially during periods of declining popularity for certain political parties and leaders.
This has sometimes taken the form of using performative religion and constructing Hamas as Islamic freedom fighters to garner support from Malay Muslims.
3. Challenging and questioning anti-semitism
Despite the dominant anti-Semitic discourse, there are Malaysians, including progressive and minority citizens, who are critical of these views and seek to challenge the authorities and advocate for a more liberal and diverse Malaysia.
Access to the internet and social media has enabled some Malaysians to educate themselves about Israel and Judaism, thereby questioning the government's narratives.
Some young Malaysians are using social media to learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Holocaust.
Efforts have been made to introduce a more nuanced perspective on the Holocaust in educational settings, at least for some students.
4. Nuance within public opinion
It's important to recognize that the rhetoric of politicians and the media may not always reflect the entirety of public opinion in Malaysia.
There's evidence to suggest that some citizens hold more complex and nuanced views on Judaism and Israel than the official Malaysian stance might indicate.
In conclusion, anti-Semitism in Malaysia is a complex issue deeply intertwined with political maneuvering and nationalist sentiments. However, it's essential to also acknowledge the emergence of dissenting voices and the efforts by some Malaysians to challenge these dominant narratives and promote a more nuanced understanding of the situation.
Oh, and if this what a "moderate" Muslim-majority is like regarding Jews imagine, I dunno, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, etc.
I have a brother who lives in Malaysia. He once told me that some Malay women take off their hijabs when they go into the gym, which would be utterly unthinkable in the Middle East.
Yea, I've also been to Malaysia. I remember seeing a muslim couple where the girl is wearing a hijab and the guy is grabbing her butt, in public.
Nonetheless, I found that Malaysia had kinda a "sad vibe". People didn't smile much. People didn't seem happy. I also noticed that Sharia law applied. For example, on bars, you would see signs that said: "Must be 21+ and non-muslim".
As you are probably also aware, there is a kind of affirmative action for the Muslim Malay majority. They are preferred for spaces at universities (I met many Chinese Malysians studying in Singapore probably for this very reason!), they get discounts on land, business ventures must have at least one Muslim Malay partner, etc. This system kinda holds Malaysia back and I believe it was one of their major disagreements with Singapore. Hence why Singapore is a separate country today. (And much more economically successful!)
But contrast Malaysia with Indonesia. They speak almost the same language and Indonesia is actually 87% muslim (more than Malaysia) but Indonesia is a lot poorer (they have got their own problems). However... Indonesian Muslims are much more "chill" than Malaysian Muslims. For example, I rarely saw the hijab and when I did it (for example, on a televised concert), was often loose and didn't cover all the girl's hair (Muslim cleavage? Haha). Also, I remember reading an article about an alcohol shortage in Indonesia. They had a state-run corporation that imported alcohol. A spokesman for the company said they based the quantities on the numbers of tourists and non-muslims. Then, they interviewed a bar owner who said: "well, there you go! That's the problem right there! Most of my customers are Muslims!" Hahaha!
And generally, I found Indonesians were happier than Malaysians. Despite being a lot poorer. Honestly, Indonesians seemed a lot more like Filipinos than Malaysians.
Sir, if you get the opportunity, you should visit Indonesia. (And Philippines while you're at it!)
Yeah Malaysia is a weird one as it's moderate only in comparison to Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan. I was thinking the Islamic states of Indonesia, Albania, and Bosnia as better examples. Hell even Jordan, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, and Egypt are more moderate than Malaysia.
The Philippines are an interesting one as in I've long felt if the south wins it's going full on caliphate for awhile before settling into something closer to Malaysia than Indonesia. Filipinos are highly conservative, regardless of religion, as are all Hispanics.
I don't think you are far off the mark. Although as you say it is difficult to strip out the capital city effect. Kabul was a lot more moderate seeming than Herat or Jalalbad!
Nice to join you in this trip down memory lane, but in 2025 Malaysia is a hot bed of anti-Semitism: [AI Summary of sources] https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=anti-semitism+in+Malaysia&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Research indicates that anti-Semitism is a significant issue in Malaysia, though it’s important to acknowledge the complexity of the situation and the nuance within Malaysian society.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:
1. Prevalence and endorsement
Anti-Israel and anti-Semitic discourse is widespread in Malaysia, despite the absence of a Jewish community in the country.
Authorities have often openly endorsed this anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, in particular, was known for his long-standing hostility towards Jews and Israel, which he frequently expressed publicly and without denial.
He even claimed that “anti-Semitic is a term invented to prevent people from criticizing the Jews for doing wrong things”.
Malaysia has also banned the playing of Jewish songs and music composed by Jews.
2. Connections to political power and nationalism
Some researchers suggest that anti-Semitism in Malaysia is linked to internal forms of racism, including the persecution of the Chinese and Indian populations.
Political actors and organizations in Malaysia have been known to utilize the Palestinian cause to gain political success and maintain power by simultaneously demonizing Israel and Jews.
Supporting Hamas, a group with close ties to Malaysia, has also been a tactic for securing political power, especially during periods of declining popularity for certain political parties and leaders.
This has sometimes taken the form of using performative religion and constructing Hamas as Islamic freedom fighters to garner support from Malay Muslims.
3. Challenging and questioning anti-semitism
Despite the dominant anti-Semitic discourse, there are Malaysians, including progressive and minority citizens, who are critical of these views and seek to challenge the authorities and advocate for a more liberal and diverse Malaysia.
Access to the internet and social media has enabled some Malaysians to educate themselves about Israel and Judaism, thereby questioning the government's narratives.
Some young Malaysians are using social media to learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Holocaust.
Efforts have been made to introduce a more nuanced perspective on the Holocaust in educational settings, at least for some students.
4. Nuance within public opinion
It's important to recognize that the rhetoric of politicians and the media may not always reflect the entirety of public opinion in Malaysia.
There's evidence to suggest that some citizens hold more complex and nuanced views on Judaism and Israel than the official Malaysian stance might indicate.
In conclusion, anti-Semitism in Malaysia is a complex issue deeply intertwined with political maneuvering and nationalist sentiments. However, it's essential to also acknowledge the emergence of dissenting voices and the efforts by some Malaysians to challenge these dominant narratives and promote a more nuanced understanding of the situation.
Oh, and if this what a "moderate" Muslim-majority is like regarding Jews imagine, I dunno, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, etc.
Hmmm. If something was true once in time and place, then we know it can be true again even in a different time and place---or so you seem to say.
How is that different from the belief encapsulated in MAGA?
Malaysia has a long history of anti-semitism.
I have a brother who lives in Malaysia. He once told me that some Malay women take off their hijabs when they go into the gym, which would be utterly unthinkable in the Middle East.
"KL bookstore I wandered carried "
What happened to the PREPOSITION?