Page 40 - Conflict, Terrorism, and the Media In Asia

Struggle for moderate Islam in Malaysia 29
causing those who feared terrorism to wonder if Washington and London were
actually perpetuating terrorism. At the same time, quite a number of Malaysian
Muslims sympathise with Islamist movements as they feel that their Muslim
brothers have been suppressed and victimised by their Governments. To make
matters worse, while some freedom fighters and separatists are true to their ideals
and struggles, there exists in their movements those who believe that terror is the
way to achieve their objectives. Then, there are the infiltrators who use these
groups as vehicles for terrorism. Sympathy for the JI abounds. Some believe that
JI, like other Islamic-based movements, is a victim of a conspiracy by the US and
other foreign nations to wipe out believers of the faith. Washington’s behaviour
and manner in its war against terror, has convinced most of these Muslims of
their suspicions of a conspiracy. This has created a siege mentality in Muslims
throughout the world, Malaysians included. For as long as Muslims feel they are
under siege, the birth of individuals who resort to terror will prevail.
(New Straits Times 2003b)

The suggestion of a causal relationship between terrorism and the actions of
governments is also examined by the internet journalist M.G.G. Pillai who writes
columns for Harakah Daily and Malaysiakini. He suggests that, ‘For when the
United States has no compunction to killing innocent men, women and children in
its military adventures; so why should terrorists and others fighting back bother
killing Western men, women and children?’ (Pillai 2002b). Whilst not necessarily
condoning terrorism itself, this reporting is essentially condoning its justifications.
The Malaysian government is in a difficult position because it opposed the exten-
sion of the ‘war on terror’into Iraq and supports the Palestinian and Chechen causes,
yet it needs to keep radical attitudes within the population in check. Consequently
the government communicates its support for these causes through the media and in
doing so puts itself forward as a champion of oppressed Muslim communities.
A recurrent theme in government speeches is that Islam is being attacked and
is on the defensive. In a speech in Damascus in 2003, former Prime Minister,
Mahatir argued that

In the wake of the Sept 11 attacks on the US, Islam is perceived as a religion
that promotes acts of terror. The Muslims are weak and divided and are being
discriminated against in the West. Islamic countries were invaded on the
pretext of either harbouring terrorists, or on mere suspicion of possessing
weapons of mass destruction. Several more Islamic countries are now being
threatened or targeted for regime change. It is unfortunate that in the unipo-
lar world we live in today, there exists a trend for the law of the jungle, where
might is right, to be applied in resolving international disputes. Weak and
least developed nations, many of them Islamic nations, are vulnerable and
could become easy prey for invasion and colonisation. The events of Sept 11,
which triggered the war on terrorism followed by the invasion of Afghanistan
and Iraq, should serve as a loud wake-up call for us Muslims.
(New Straits Times 2003d)