Malaysia and 'religious authority'

malaysia-chronicle.com, Just who is this 'prominent' Saudi Islamic scholar Umno is promoting? "The Internet's wide reach is such that a name search of any prominent person would return a continuous stream of search engine results. Alas, that is not the case with one Sheikh Sulaiman Saloomi, being heralded by the pro-UMNO media as a prominent Saudi Arabian ulama from the holy city of Makkah." Op-ed

'Malaysia's youth energises political landscape'

Radio Australia, Malaysia's youth energises political landscape, 11 Oct 2011 "Malaysia's youngest sitting politician says his generation of leaders is ready to move away from race-based politics. "Politics in Malaysia is centred on race and religion, with the Malay UMNO dominating a multi-racial political coalition." Refers to blogs, and the impact of the internet in this audio interview with Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Malaysia: Islam and/as Politics

Simon Roughneen, Asia Times Online, Islam as politics in Malaysia, 1 Oct 09

"UMNO and BN is struggling to make sense of a Malaysia where the new politics involves opinion-forming and issue-driving over the Internet, by using alternative news sites and blogs, and bypassing the often-deferential pro-UMNO print newspapers.

"Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad wrote on his blog three weeks ago that the BN was heading for "the rubbish heap of history" unless it upped its game. Sim Tze Tzin is a Keadilan member of the Penang state legislature and an advisor to opposition leader Anwar. He told Asia Times Online that "BN and UMNO has not changed, even if its leadership has. Najib's reforms are cosmetic and there is a lack of real substance.""

Useful article, with plenty of discussion points.