Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Reviving the Caliphate in Malaysia

2009; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 32; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/10576100902945527

1521-0731

Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman,

Education and Islamic Studies

Abstract Operating in over 43 countries in the world, Hizbut Tahrir (HT) is presently active in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and more recently in Asia. Today, HT is becoming increasingly prominent in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia. Yet despite its rapid growth in the region, little is known about HT chapters in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. In light of the dearth in scholarship on Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia (HTM), this article aims to shed some light on the HTM and analyze the likelihood of its emergence as a political force in the country. Notes 1. Conversation with a member of UMNO in June 2007. 2. The author has utilized interviews and personal communications with members of the HTM between 2005 and 2007 for the purposes of this article. He also attended several seminars and forums conducted by the HTM in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Johor Bahru. Due to the secretive nature of the party in Malaysia, the author will keep the names of some of the HTM members anonymous. 3. Sheikh Talib Awdallah, The Beloved by Allah: Emergence of Light from Al-Aqsa Mosque Launch of Hizb ut-Tahrir March (London: Khilafah Publications, 2006), p. 23. 4. For his criticism of the Muslim modernist thinkers Muhammad Abduh, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, and Rashid Rida, see Al-Qasidat Al-Raiyya Al Sughrafi Dhamm Al-Bidati Wa-Ahliha Wa-Madhi Al-Sunnati Al Gharra (The Minor Rhyming Poem on the Blame of Innovation and the Praise of the Radiant Sunna) (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmeyah, 2001). 5. Suha Taji-Farouki, A Fundamental Quest, Hizb al-Tahrir and the Search for the Islamic Caliphate (London: Grey Seal, 1996), pp. 64–65. 6. Vicenzo Olivetti, Terror's Source: The Ideology of Wahhabi-Salafism and its Consequences (Birmingham: Amadeus Books, 2002), pp. 22–29. 7. Taji-Farouki, Fundamental Quest, pp. 65–66. 8. Available at http://www.mykhilafah.com/hizbut_tahrir/index.htm 9. Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, The Method to Re-Establish the Khilafah and Resume the Islamic Way of Life (London: Al-Khilafah Publications, 2000), pp. 88–110. 10. Interview with Burhan Haniff, member of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, June 2007. 11. The movement activities in Central Asia were captured in Zeyno Baran, Hizb ut-Tahrir: Islam's Political Insurgency (Washington: Nixon Center Monograph. December 2004) and Ahmed Rashid, Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2002), pp. 115–137. 12. Interview with Maajid Nawaz, former member of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, October 2007. 13. Es Husain, The Islamist (London: Penguin, 2007), pp. 92–93. 14. For more on criticism of the book, see Noman Haniff, “Ed Hussein: A British Conservative in Sufi Clothing,” available at http://liberationparty.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7 (accessed 10 July 2008) and Inayat Bungawala, “Review of The Islamists,” available at http://www.mcb.org.uk/library/article_24-05-07.php (accessed 10 July 2008). 15. Olivier Roy, Globalised Islam: The Search for a New Ummah (New York: Columbia University Press, 2004), p. 238. 16. Personal communications with Hizb ut-Tahrir Malaysia members. 17. Available at http://www.mykhilafah.com/hizbut_tahrir/index.htm. The Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia is now a prominent Islamic group in the country with its membership estimated at a few hundred thousand. They have also establish chapters in various parts of the country incuding Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Aceh. 18. For more on Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, see A. Maftuh Abegebriel, A. Yani Abeveiro, and SR-Ins Team, Negara Tuhan: The Thematic Encyclopedia (Jakarta: SR-Ins Pub., 2004), chap 8. 19. Interview with Muhammad al-Khaththath, HTI Leader, August 2007, Jakarta. 20. Interview with Dr. Sharifuddin, HTM Leader, December 2006, Kuala Lumpur. 21. Ibid. 22. Interview with Hafidz Abdurrahman, Chairman of HTI, August 2007, Jakarta. 23. Conversation with members of HTM, October 2005, Johor Bahru. 24. Conversation with Hakim Osman and Ahmad Mustafa, leaders of HTM, June 2006, Kuala Lumpur 25. Hafidz Abdurrahman, chairman of HTI, noted that the growth of HT in Malaysia is faster than its growth in Indonesia during the formative years. 26. Author's personal acquaintance with these members. 27. Interview with Dr. Sharifuddin, December 2006. 28. Mohamed Azree was a well-known HT figure in the United Kingdom. Virtually all the senior members of HT in the United Kingdom knew Azree personally. Interviews with Burhan Haniff and Abu Ismael, members of HT Britain in June and October 2007 confirmed this. 29. Personal observation of author at the Malaysian House in June and October 2007. 30. Personal communication with Mohamed Azree in June 2006, Kuala Lumpur. 31. For more on the leadership structure of HT, see Taji-Farouki, Fundamental Quest, p. 116. 32. Interview with Muhammad Al-Khathath. 33. Interview with Maajid Nawaz. 34. Hadi Hanif, ed., Al-Afkar: Penyatu Fikrah Umat (Batu Caves: IKIN Publishers, 2005). 35. For examples of these papers, see IKIN, Seminar Agenda & Masa Depan Umat Islam (Batu Caves: IKIN Publishers, 2006). 36. The book was published under the author's Dr. Sallehuddin's pseudonym, Idris Syafie. See Idris Syafie, Menggilap Potensi Pemuda-Pemudi Muslim Berfikir Islami (Johor Bahru: IKIN, 2005). 37. For examples of these postings, see http://www.geocities.com/ummahonline/suratpembaca/suratpembaca05.htm and http://www.melayu.com/v2/sembang2/mesej.php?thread=15184 (accessed 30 December 2007). 38. For examples of these clips, see http://youtube.com/user/sufyan01 (accessed 30 December 2007). 39. Personal observation of author on the Facebook website. 40. The author personally attended these seminars held in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. 41. Examples of such seminars are Khilafah Dan Alam Melayu (Sejarah Yang Disembunyikan) held on 3 September 2006 at Hotel Pontian, Pusat Perindustrian Pontian, Johor and Sempena Hari Kemerdekaan (Merdeka Menjadi Sekular Atau Merdeka Menjadi Islam) held on 11 June 2006 at Audiotorium, Muzium Negeri Sultan Alam Shah. However, HTM also capitalize on international issues such as the Israeli–Lebanese conflict in 2006 to galvanize support for the group. For instance, they held a seminar Selamatkan Pelestin Dan Lubnan (Isu-Isu Sejagat Kaum Muslimin) on 10 September 2006 at Wisma Darul Manar Al-Islamiyyah, Parit Sakai, Jalan Temenggung Ahmad, Muar, Johor. 42. Conversation with Dr. Sharifuddin, August 2007. For more on the seminar, see http://www.mykhilafah.com/modules.php?name=Media&pa=papar&cid=9 (accessed on 30 December 2007). 43. HTM members are secretive about these student organizations. The author discovered the existence of these groups from sources in PAS and UMNO. 44. A video of HTM's demonstration can be found at http://youtube.com/results?search_query=seruan%20hizb%20ut&search=Search&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&spell=1 (accessed 30 Dece mber 2007). 45. For more on the demonstration, see http://www.mykhilafah.com/modules.php?name=Media&pa=papar&cid=1 (accessed on 30 December 2007). 46. Nikki Keddie, “Islam and Society in Minangkabau and in the Middle East: Comparative Reflections,” Sojourn, 2(1) (1987), pp. 3–4. 47. Jacob Cornelis van Leur; translated by James S. Holmes and A. van Marle, Indonesian Trade and Society: Essays in Asian Social and Economic History (The Hague: Van Hoeve, 1955). 48. The seminar was held on 3 September 2006 at Hotel Pontian, Pusat Perindustrian Pontian, Johor. 49. See Anthony Reid, “The Ottomans in Southeast Asia,” Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series; T. W. Arnold, The Caliphate (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1924), pp. 173–177; C. Snouck Hurgronje, The Holy War “Made in Germany,” translated by J. E. Gillet (New York: Putnam and Sons, 1915), pp. 23–27. 50. For more on the British–Johore relations, see K. Sinclair, “The British Advance in Johore, 1885–1914,” Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, XL(Pt. 1) (1967). 51. For more on the history of Johore, see R. O. Winstedt, with a final chapter by Khoo Kay Kim, A History of Johore, 1365–1941 (Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society by Academe Art & Printing Services Sdn. Bhd, 1992), pp. 93–110. 52. Personal observation at seminar. 53. Sautun Nahdah, “Kemiskinan atau Pemikisnan,” Vol. 7, 25 February 2005, pp. 1–2. 54. For more on this case see The Star, 25 June 2007. 55. Sautun Nahdah, “Sijil Mati Untuk Lina Joy,” “All Eyes on Lina Joy Case”, Vol. 125, June 2006. 56. See Sautun Nahdah, “Air Mata Darah di Myanmar,” Vol. 143, October 2007 and Sautun Nahdah, “Rintihan Umat Islam di Selatan Thailand,” Vol. 43, September 2005. 57. Satun Nahdah, “Assabiyah dan Wathaniyah: Pencetus Malapetaka dan Perpecahan,” Vol. 138, September 2007. 58. For a more detailed analysis of HT's transnational linkages see Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman, “Transnational Network of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia,” paper presented at the Asian Studies Association Conference, Atlanta, 3–6 June 2008. 59. Interview with Muhammad Al-Khaththath, Jakarta, August 2007. 60. Muhammad Al-Khaththath had mentioned this in passing but did not elaborate who these leaders were or when exactly they had come. 61. Interview with Muhammad Al-Khaththath. 62. Interview with Hafidz Abdurrahman, Jakarta, August 2007. 63. Ibid. 64. Interview with HTM and HTI leaders. 65. Ibid. 66. Interview with Hafidz Abdurrahman. 67. See http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/40318F5A-64B7-44D4-BFC0-EF523266BCDF.htm for details of the deportation (accessed 27 December 2007). 68. Interview with Dr. Imran Waheed, London, United Kingdom, 27 October 2007. 69. Ariel Cohen, Hizb ut-Tahrir: An Emerging Threat to U.S. Interests in Central Asia. Heritage Foundation Backgrounder, No. 1656 (30 May 2003) and Zeyno Baran, Hizb ut-Tahrir: Islam's Political Insurgency (Washington: Nixon Centre, 2004). 70. Suha Taji Farouki, “Islamists and the Threat of Jihad: Hizb al-Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun on Israel and the Jews,” Middle Eastern Studies, 36(4) (October 2000), p. 29. 71. Jean Francois Meyer, “Hizb ut-Tahrir—The Next al-Qaeda Really?” PSIO Occasional Paper 2004/4 (Geneva: PSIO, 2004), p. 23. 72. Frank Hyland, “Source Compromise Exposes Probable Connection Between Al Qa'ida and Hizb ut-Tahrir,” available at http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/11/source_compromise_exposes_prob.php (accessed 2 December 2007). 73. Sautun Nahdah, “Kita Belum DiPerintahkan Berperang,” Vol. 10, July 2005, p. 1. 74. Ibid., p. 2. 75. Ibid., p. 4. 76. Seminar organized by HTM titled “America Post Sept 11: Ally or Adversary,” session held on the 11 September 2005. 77. Conversation with former PAS Deputy President Ustaz Hassan Shukri and former PAS Youth Chief Ustaz Abu Bakar Chik, March 2008. 78. Conversation of HTM member who was a former PAS member. 79. Conversation with former PAS Deputy President Ustaz Hassan Shukri. 80. HTM leaders had approached PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Mat Isa to request a slot to speak during the demonstrations. Other Malaysian Islamic groups were allowed to speak. However, PAS did not agree to allow HTM leaders to speak. 81. Interview with HTM members. 82. Hizbut Tahrir Seminar on HIJRAH: Titik Mula Islam Sebagai Tamadun Baru Dunia, 20 January 2007, Malaysian Islamic College Mosque, Seksyen 16, Petaling Jaya. In his address, Esa Abdullah, an HTM member, openly gave his salaam to members of the Malaysian Security Branch, even waving his hands at two gentlemen who were filming the whole seminar. 83. These Muftis are the Mufti of Johor, Dato’ Nooh Gadut and Mufti of Perak, Dato’ Harrunsani. 84. Conversation with Dato’ Harrunsani, June 2006. 85. For more on PAS's moderating stance, see Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman, “PAS: From Islamism to Post-Islamism,” Jakarta Post, 17 March 2008.