It’s always the quiet ones: Malaysia’s moderate Muslims

For the past several decades, all bumiputras have enjoyed numerous government-sponsored financial breaks, including special access to housing, jobs, and college scholarships, regardless of their financial standing. The consequences of this program were both negative and positive: ethnic Malays experienced tremendous economic betterment over a generation, but Malaysia’s Chinese and Indian minorities felt excluded.

Decades later, with the economic condition of ethnic Malays largely stabilized, Najib has decided it’s time to upgrade the way Malaysia assists its lower classes.  He recently announced plans to revamp the system so that it benefits the poor of all races, not just native Malays.  Though he does not intend to do away with the original affirmative action system entirely, as he believes its approach is basically sound, he does plan to make it more transparent and market based.

It’s not the only step Malaysia is taking.  Najib told US officials over the weekend that he’d like to set up a program in which American college graduates in need of jobs could be paid to teach English to students in Malaysia.  Not only would Malaysia’s young people become more proficient in the language, thus increasing Malaysia’s ability to compete internationally, but the US would benefit from the economic and social advantages gained by sending young graduates overseas for a time.

It’s easy to miss Malaysia in the celebration of extremes that is the 24-hour news cycle, but the United States — and the world — does so to its own detriment.  Malaysia stands as one of the world’s only moderate Muslim-majority nations, and as such it deserves a second look.  Let’s hope the world is paying attention.

Rachel Motte is a freelance writer, journalist and editor specializing in social issues, educational affairs, and international religious freedom. Her work has appeared at CNN.com, The Evangelical Outpost, The New Ledger, and multiple radio stations nationwide. She is an alumna of Biola University, the Torrey Honors Institute, the Leadership Institute, and the World Journalism Institute.