According to some observers, Southeast Asian Islam is undergoing a conservative turn. This means voices that champion humanist, progressive or moderate ideas are located on the fringes of society. Is this assessment accurate for a region that used to be known for promoting the "smiling face of Islam"? Alternative Voices in Muslim Southeast Asia examines the challenges facing progressive voices in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore today. It examines their discourses, which delve into how multiculturalism and secularism are the way forward for the diverse societies of these three countries. Moreover, it analyses the avenues employed by these voices in articulating their views amidst the dominance of state and quasi-state religious officials who seek to restrict and discipline them. Contributors to the volume include scholars, activists and observers, some of whom are victims of repression and discrimination. While most of the chapters cover developments of the last decade, some of them go back to the previous century, capturing the emergence of modernist thinkers influenced by parallel movements in the Middle East and the wider region. Others respond to recent developments concerning Islam and Muslims in the three countries: the Pakatan Harapan coalition victory in the 2018 Malaysian election, the re-election of Joko Widodo as Indonesia's president in 2019, and recent religious rulings passed in Singapore. Readers should come not only to reflect on the struggles faced by this group but also to appreciate the humanist traditions essential for the development of the societies of these countries in the midst of change.
Norshahril Saat is Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme at the ISEAS -Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. He is also Adjunct Lecturer with the Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore. Azhar Ibrahim is Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore.
Overview - Opinion Pieces 1. The politics of Islamic discourse in Malaysia, by Norshahril Saat 2. Civil society-state engagements on religion in Malaysia, by Dina Zaman 3. Religious Orientations in contemporary Indonesia, by Pradana Boy 4. Inhibited Reformistic Voices: The Challenge of Developing Critical Discourse in Singapore, by Azhar Ibrahim Progressive Islam As Alternative Voices 5. Religious Resurgence amongst the Malays and Its Impact: The Case of Singapore, by Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman 6. The Trials of the Progressive: Malay literary and cultural expressions in Singapore, by Azhar Ibrahim 7. The Meaning and Objectives of Progressive Islam, by Syed Farid Alatas 8. Mainstreaming alternative Islamic voices in Malaysia, by Norshahril Saat Challenges Facing Alternative Voices 9. Democracy and the "conservative turn" in Indonesia, by Zainal Abidin Director and Azis Anwar Fachrudin 10. Contemporary issues on human rights in Indonesia, by Ahmad Suaedy 11. Sunni-Shias relations in contemporary Malaysia: Future for reconciliation? by Mohd Faizal Musa 12. Ahmadiyah and Islamic Revivalism in the 20th Century Java, Indonesia: A Neglected Contribution, by Ahmad Najib Burhani
