A framework of good governance in regulating religious extremism in Malaysia

Akhmetova, Elmira and Aminudin, Rabi'ah and Ahmad, Nadzrah and Sy Shiekh, Syahirah Sharifah and Jaafar, Muhammad Izzuddin (2021) A framework of good governance in regulating religious extremism in Malaysia. Intellectual Discourse, 29 (2). pp. 283-312. ISSN 0128-4878 E-ISSN 2289-5639

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Abstract

This paper presents a framework for regulating religious extremism based on principles of good governance. The first part provides a general study into the definitions of extremism and religious extremism. It asserts that religious sentiment can be utilised by terrorist organisations and radical movements to mobilise the masses. The paper further suggests that religious extremism is becoming a severe concern in Malaysia, which was for decades hailed as an oasis of moderate Islam. The second part of the paper analyses the factors contributing to the rise of religious extremism in Malaysia using a quali-quantitative method that incorporates survey data gathered in KL in 2019 by the authors, expert interviews, and secondary literature. It identifies two levels of factors, individual and socio-cultural/governance, that contribute to the spread of extremist understanding of religion. It suggests that human behaviour has become more receptive to violence and that the individual and collective understanding of religion has become more radical today due to personal grievances, social environment and global realities. Thus, the process of reducing extremism and radicalism in the Muslim world should encompass the individual, societal and transnational stratum. Extremism and radicalisation of societies are the manifestation of the absence of good governance. Thus, the last part of the paper highlights that adhering to good governance assists authorities in regulating societies’ immoderate behaviour by providing wellbeing, safety and happiness to the overwhelming majority of the population. It proposes a framework that can provide a moderate and authentic understanding of Islamic principles and serve as an instrument in creating an amicable and harmonious social and political environment in Malaysia. This framework can improve national security by promoting the basic principles of good governance such as transparency, participation, equality, justice, moderation and accountability, which are ingrained in the spirit of Islam.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	religious extremism in Malaysia, framework to regulate extremism, correlation between extremism and good governance, Islam and good governance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) > H10 Societies
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Political Science Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Qur’an and Sunnah
Depositing User:	DR MUHAMMAD IZZUDDIN JAAFAR
Date Deposited:	28 May 2025 16:29
Last Modified:	28 May 2025 16:29
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/121233

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