Closed-Door Workshop on “Religion and Liberal Thought in Malay Society”

Kuala Lumpur, 9–12 May 2025 – INITIATE.MY participated in the closed-door regional workshop “Religion and Liberal Thought in Malay Society,” organised by Sisters in Islam (SIS). The event brought together civil society actors, religious leaders, legal professionals, and researchers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore to examine liberal thought in Muslim-majority contexts and reflect on how state and religious actors securitise and misrepresent it.

Facilitators presented Islamic concepts such as maqasid (higher objectives of Islamic law), maslahah (public interest), and mubadalah (reciprocal justice) as internal ethical tools. Participants engaged with these frameworks as grounded in Islamic tradition—not external ideas, and used them to challenge exclusionary narratives. They explored how far-right and extremist actors weaponise terms like “liberalism” through emotional rhetoric, selective scripture, and institutional gatekeeping.

Participants identified how institutionalised religion across all major faiths often prioritises control over inclusion. They discussed how these dynamics shrink civic space, discourage diversity of belief, and create environments that undermine trust and resilience. In Malaysia, participants reflected on how dual legal systems (civil and Syariah) affect both Muslims and non-Muslims, and how state policies often politicise religion in ways that marginalise minority communities and reinforce identity-based divisions.

Through polling, reflection exercises, and Forum Theatre, participants examined real-world scenarios involving discrimination, moral policing, and institutional exclusion. These sessions reinforced the need for community-based approaches to PCVE that focus on root causes such as injustice, identity insecurity, and lack of civic trust rather than reactive or security-heavy responses.

Speakers from Indonesia and Singapore offered comparative insights, showing how decentralised religious authority and open public discourse create more pluralistic and inclusive societies. Participants also called on interfaith leaders to hold their own traditions accountable, challenge internal biases, and resist identity-based political agendas.

INITIATE.MY used the space to deepen the team’s understanding of how ideological control and religious politicisation fuel societal polarisation and strengthen the policy and community work in promoting resilience against extremism. 

Participants of the workshop were united in challenging exclusionary narratives and strengthening community-centered approaches to justice and resilience across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.