The evolution of Islamic rhetoric in Malaysian political discourse

Mohamad Jamil, Siti Nurnadilla and Mohamad Shukri, Syaza Farhana (2026) The evolution of Islamic rhetoric in Malaysian political discourse. In: The Transformation of Political Oratory Argumentation and Style in the Modern Era. The Language of Politics . Springer Nature, Singapore, pp. 207-228. ISBN 978-981-95-6174-2

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Abstract

This chapter delves into the evolution of political oratory in Malaysia, focusing on the transformation of Islamic issues from the 1980s onwards. Traditionally, Malaysian political discourse was shaped by bureaucratic perspectives under United Malay Nasional Organization’s (UMNO) regime, using Islamic issues to maintain its political dominance and socio-political stability. However, this landscape underwent significant changes in the face of Islamic revivalism and the subsequent global maelstrom of Islamophobia that popularized a more appealing rhetoric of “moderate Islam” since the early 2000s. In 2022, the Anwar Ibrahim administration revisited Islamic rhetoric under the Malaysia Madani (“Civilized Malaysia”) framework, showcasing the perpetual link of Islamic rhetoric within Malaysian politics. This chapter analyzes significant speeches by selected prime ministers—Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak, and Anwar Ibrahim—immediately after becoming prime minister or winning an election to illustrate their roles in this rhetorical shift. The analysis draws on critical discourse analysis, focusing on homiletics, as persuasive religious rhetoric to convey moral or spiritual teachings. In politics, this translates into aligning Islamic rhetoric with audiences’ values to strengthen the speaker’s authority and political legitimacy amid growing religio-political conservatism.

Item Type:	Book Chapter
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
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 English Language & Literature Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Political Science
Depositing User:	Dr Siti Nurnadilla Mohamad Jamil
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2026 16:05
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2026 08:17
Queue Number:	2026-04-Q2789
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/128017

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