Malaysia has always struggled with polarisation over race, religion and political reform. Attacks on churches and temples and viral racist and xenophobic posts on social media have been common for years. When photos appeared on social media last month of Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) members marching in the street armed with swords, spears and shields, there were fears they would stoke tensions ahead of this year’s state elections.
The party defended the parade by claiming it was a ‘historical cosplay’. The weapons were fake. Party president Abdul Hadi Awang called critics ‘Islamaphobes’. But the fear won’t go away easily, especially as Malaysia’s government has taken a hard approach recently toward marginalised groups such as migrants.
Sexism is another simmering issue. Even among MPs.
