Download Malaysia : Growth of Terrorism

End of Asia Unit
MALAYSIA : GROWTH OF TERRORISM
HISTORY


Evidence of human habitation in
Malaysia dates back 40,000 years.
Traders and settlers from India and
China arrived as early as the 1st century
AD, establishing trading ports and towns
in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.


This resulted in strong Indian and Chinese
influence on the local cultures, and the
people of the Malay Peninsula adopted the
religions of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Sanskrit inscriptions appear as early as the
4th or 5th century.
In the early 15th century, Parameswara,
a prince of the former Srivijayan empire,
founded the Malacca Sultanate,
commonly considered the first
independent state in the peninsula.


Parameswara became a Muslim, and due to
this the conversion of Malays to Islam
accelerated in the 15th century.
Malacca was an important commercial
centre during this time, attracting trade
from around the region
GOVERNMENT


Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective
monarchy. The system of government is closely
modeled on that of the Westminster
parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial
rule.
The head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,
commonly referred to as the king.


The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year
term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers
of the Malay states; the other four states, which
have titular Governors, do not participate in the
selection
Legislative power is divided between federal and
state legislatures. The bicameral federal
parliament consists of the lower house, the
House of Representatives and the upper house,
the Senate.



The 222-member House of Representatives is
elected for a maximum term of five years from
single-member constituencies, which are
determined based on population.
All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are
elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the
remaining 44 are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong upon the Prime Minister's recommendation.
The parliament follows a multi-party system and
the government is elected through a first-past-thepost system. Since independence Malaysia has
been governed by a multi-party coalition known as
the Barisan Nasional
LAW CODE






Malaysia's legal system is based on
English Common Law.
Although the judiciary is theoretically
independent, supporters of the
government hold many judicial positions.
The highest court in the judicial system
is the Federal Court, followed by the
Court of Appeal and two high courts, one
for Peninsular Malaysia and one for East
Malaysia.
Malaysia also has a special court to hear
cases brought by or against Royalty.
Separate from the civil courts are the
Syariah Courts, which decide on cases
which involve Malaysian Muslims and
run parallel to the normal court system.
The Internal Security Act allows detention
without trial, and the death penalty is in
use for crimes such as drug trafficking.
MUSLIM INFLUENCE







The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom
of religion while making Islam the state religion.
According to the Population and Housing Census
2000 figures, ethnicity and religious beliefs
correlate highly. Approximately 60.4% of the
population are practicing Islam. 19.2%
Buddhism; 9.1% Christianity; 6.3% Hinduism;
and 2.6% practice Confucianism, Taoism and
other traditional Chinese religions.
All ethnic Malays are considered Muslim by law
of the Constitution
Muslims are obliged to follow the decisions of
Syariah courts in matters concerning their
religion. The Islamic judges are expected to follow
the Shafi`i legal school of Islam, which is the
main madh'hab of Malaysia.
The jurisdiction of Shariah courts is limited only
to Muslims in matters such as marriage,
inheritance, divorce, apostasy, religious
conversion, and custody among others.
No other criminal or civil offences are under the
jurisdiction of the Shariah courts, which have a
similar hierarchy to the Civil Courts.
Despite being the supreme courts of the land,
the Civil Courts (including the Federal Court) do
not hear matters related to Islamic practices
INFLUENCE OF ISLAM



The Sunni Islam of the Shafi'i
school of thought is the
official, and legal form in
Malaysia, although syncretist
Islam with elements of
Shamanism is still common in
rural areas.
Mosques are an ordinary
scene throughout the country
and adhan (call to prayer) from
minarets are heard five times
a day.
Government bodies and
banking institutions are closed
for two hours every Friday so
Muslims workers can conduct
Friday prayer in mosques.

The Malaysian authorities
have strict policies against
other Islamic sects including
Shia Islam. Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community has faced
persecution in Malaysia. A
notable sect that has been
outlawed is Al-Arqam.
ISSUES TODAY

Persons Trafficking


Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a
source and transit country for women and children
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual
exploitation, and men, women, and children for
forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a destination
country for men, women, and children who migrate
willingly from countries including Indonesia, Nepal,
India, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Burma,
Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam to
work, some of whom are subjected to conditions of
involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in
the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation,
and industrial sectors; a small number of
Malaysian citizens were reportedly trafficked
internally and abroad to Singapore, China, and
Japan for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of
Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking;
however, it is making significant efforts to do so;
while the government increased the number of
convictions obtained under the Anti-Trafficking in
Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act
during the year and continued public awareness
efforts on trafficking, it did not effectively
investigate and prosecute labor trafficking cases,
and failed to address problems of government
complicity in trafficking and lack of effective
victim care and counseling by authorities (2011)

Drug Trafficking

prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties;
heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic
drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy
and methamphetamine producer for domestic
users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug
market
ISLAMIC INFLUENCE

The term "Islam Hadhari" ("Civilizational Islam") is
a type of progressive Islam heavily promoted by
former Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi to emphasize the central role of
knowledge in Islam. This doctrine espouses a
belief in hard work, honesty, good administration
and efficiency are equally valued and appeals to
Muslims to be inclusive, tolerant and outwardlooking.

Manhaj Islam Hadhari aims to achieve ten
main principles:












Faith and piety in God
A just and trustworthy government
A free and independent people
Mastery of knowledge
Balanced and comprehensive economic
development
A good quality of life
Protection of the rights of minority groups and
women
Cultural and moral integrity
Environment safeguarding
Strong defenses
Abdullah Mohd Zain, a minister in the prime
minister's department, says, "It emphasizes
wisdom, practicality and harmony." He added
that "It encourages moderation or a balanced
approach to life. Yet it does not stray from the
fundamentals of the Qur'an and the example
and sayings of the Prophet."
There are however Muslims in Malaysia that
disagree with this concept, as the teachings of
Islam are already complete and thus, they feel
that Islam does not need a new name or face.
INDONESIA

Background






The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early
17th century; Japan occupied the islands from
1942 to 1945.
Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's
surrender, but it required four years of intermittent
negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN
mediation before the Netherlands agreed to
transfer sovereignty in 1949.
Free and fair legislative elections took place in
1999 after decades of repressive rule.
Indonesia is now the world's third most populous
democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state,
and home to the world's largest Muslim population.
Current issues include: alleviating poverty,
improving education, preventing terrorism,
consolidating democracy after four decades of
authoritarianism, implementing economic and
financial reforms, stemming corruption, holding the
military and police accountable for human rights
violations, addressing climate change, and
controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of
global and regional importance.
In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace
agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which
led to democratic elections in Aceh in December
2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity
armed resistance by the separatist Free Papua
Movement.
INDONESIA





Although Muslim traders first traveled through
South East Asia early in the Islamic era, the
earliest evidence of Islamized populations in
Indonesia dates to the 13th century in northern
Sumatra.
Other Indonesian areas gradually adopted
Islam, and it was the dominant religion in Java
and Sumatra by the end of the 16th century.
For the most part, Islam overlaid and mixed with
existing cultural and religious influences, which
shaped the predominant form of Islam in
Indonesia, particularly in Java.
The first regular contact between Europeans
and the peoples of Indonesia began in 1512,
when Portuguese traders, led by Francisco
Serrão, sought to monopolize the sources of
nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.
Dutch and British traders followed. In 1602 the
Dutch established the Dutch East India
Company (VOC) and became the dominant
European power. Following bankruptcy, the VOC
was formally dissolved in 1800, and the
government of the Netherlands established the
Dutch East Indies as a nationalized colony.
HISTORY



For most of the colonial period, Dutch control
over the archipelago was tenuous outside of
coastal strongholds; only in the early 20th
century did Dutch dominance extend to what was
to become Indonesia's current boundaries.
Despite major internal political, social and
sectarian divisions during the National
Revolution, Indonesians, on the whole, found
unity in their fight for independence.
Japanese occupation during World War II ended
Dutch rule, and encouraged the previously
suppressed Indonesian independence
movement.



A later UN report stated that four million people
died in Indonesia as a result of famine and forced
labor during the Japanese occupation.
Two days after the surrender of Japan in August
1945, Sukarno, an influential nationalist leader,
declared independence and was appointed
president.
The Netherlands tried to reestablish their rule,
and an armed and diplomatic struggle ended in
December 1949, when in the face of
international pressure, the Dutch formally
recognized Indonesian independence (with the
exception of the Dutch territory of West New
Guinea, which was incorporated into Indonesia
following the 1962 New York Agreement, and the
UN-mandated Act of Free Choice of 1969).
HISTORY








Sukarno moved Indonesia from democracy towards
authoritarianism, and maintained his power base by
balancing the opposing forces of the military and the
Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI).[
An attempted coup on 30 September 1965 was
countered by the army, who led a violent anti-communist
purge, during which the PKI was blamed for the coup and
effectively destroyed.
Around 500,000 people are estimated to have been
killed.
The head of the military, General Suharto, outmaneuvered the politically weakened Sukarno, and was
formally appointed president in March 1968.
His New Order administration was supported by the US
government, and encouraged foreign direct investment in
Indonesia, which was a major factor in the subsequent
three decades of substantial economic growth. However,
the authoritarian "New Order" was widely accused of
corruption and suppression of political opposition.
Indonesia was the country hardest hit by the late 1990s
Asian financial crisis. This increased popular discontent
with the New Order and led to popular protest across the
country.
Suharto resigned on 21 May 1998.In 1999,
East Timor voted to secede from Indonesia, after a
twenty-five-year military occupation that was marked by
international condemnation of repression of the East
Timorese.



Since Suharto's resignation, a strengthening of
democratic processes has included a regional
autonomy program, and the first direct presidential
election in 2004.
Political and economic instability, social unrest,
corruption, and terrorism slowed progress, however, in
the last five years the economy has performed
strongly.
Although relations among different religious and ethnic
groups are largely harmonious, sectarian discontent
and violence has occurred .A political settlement to an
armed separatist conflict in Aceh was achieved in
2005
GOVERNMENT







Indonesia is a republic with a presidential system. As a
unitary state, power is concentrated in the central
government.
Following the resignation of President Suharto in 1998,
Indonesian political and governmental structures have
undergone major reforms.
Four amendments to the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia
have revamped the executive, judicial, and legislative
branches.
The president of Indonesia is the head of state,
commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed
Forces. and the director of domestic governance, policymaking, and foreign affairs. The president appoints a
council of ministers, who are not required to be elected
members of the legislature.
The 2004 presidential election was the first in which the
people directly elected the president and vice president.
The president may serve a maximum of two consecutive
five-year terms.
The highest representative body at national level is the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Its main
functions are supporting and amending the constitution,
inaugurating the president, and formalizing broad
outlines of state policy. It has the power to impeach the
president.
The MPR comprises two houses; the People's
Representative Council (DPR), with 560 members, and
the Regional Representative Council (DPD), with 132
members.

The Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung) is the
country's highest court, and hears final cessation
appeals and conducts case reviews.

Other courts include:



the Commercial Court, which handles bankruptcy and
insolvency
a State Administrative Court (Pengadilan Tata Negara)
to hear administrative law cases against the
government; a Constitutional Court (Mahkamah
Konstitusi) to hear disputes concerning legality of law,
general elections, dissolution of political parties, and the
scope of authority of state institutions
Religious Court (Pengadilan Agama) to deal with codified
Sharia Law cases.
ISLAM



Modern Indonesia has the
largest Muslim population in
the world.
Together with Malaysia and
the Philippine islands, this
area is home to over 250
million Muslims.
Historically, the region has
been referred to as the East
Indies, but we will use the
term “archipelago” to
include the modern nations
of Indonesia,
TERRORISM






Recent Terrorism in Indonesia can in part be
attributed to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jemaah
Islamiyah Islamist terror group.
Since 2002, a number of 'western targets' have
been attacked. Victims have included both
foreign—mainly Western tourists—as well as
Indonesian civilians.
Terrorism in Indonesia intensified in 2000 with
the Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing, followed by
four more large attacks.
The deadliest killed 202 people (including 164
international tourists) in the Bali resort town of
Kuta in 2002.
The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings
issued by other countries, severely damaged
Indonesia's tourism industry and foreign
investment prospects.
However, after the capture and killing of most of
its key members and leaders, most notably Imam
Samudra, Amrozi, Abu Dujana, Azahari Husin,
and the latest one, Noordin Top, the terrorist cells
in Indonesia are more and more insignificant