Establishing an Islamic State : Ideals and Realities in the State of Kelantan, Malaysia (<Special Issue>Islam in Southeast Asia)

Abstract

This paper observes an experience in establishing an Islamic State in the State of Kelantan, Malaysia, undertaken by the Malaysian Pan-Islamic Party (PAS)-led government. From the outset of its establishment, PAS holds to the ideals that political and governing power, hence an Islamic State, is indeed an important means in executing a complete law of Allah. Without political power, PAS believes, not only an establishment of an Islamic State is impossible, but the execution of the laws of Allah that binds the complete Islamic way of life would also be unachievable. In the State of Kelantan, the ideal of having the governing and political power has already been accomplished. But this is inadequate. The PAS-led government is facing with two unfavourable realities. Firstly, the realities that are related to external factors, from outside the Party, and secondly to internal factors, from within the Party and the PAS-led government themselves. In the former, one witness the role of the Federal Barisan Nasional government, especially through its Federal Development Department established in the State, in interrupting the endeavours undertaken by the PAS-led government. In the latter, PAS is suffering from at least five realities, viz. leadership identity crisis, lack of practical experience and expertise, the existence of unmotivated civil servants, absence of either a blueprint or a proper operational guideline, and refusal to welcome help from other sympathised Islamic movements. Consequently, the idealism of the PAS-led government in establishing an Islamic State in the State of Kelantan has yet to be fully realised. Beside these shortcomings, however, the Kelantanese have certainly proved to at least attempt to determine their own lifestyles according to their self-determining character, culminating in the existence of the beauty of Islam already partly felt in the State, with relatively more peacefulness, tranquility and friendly atmosphere.