Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Development in Middle East & debate in M'sia

Regional relations and development in the Middle East, in the form of Israel's existential legitimacy, has again become a fairly popular point of political debate in Malaysia. Scholar Shanti Nair''s great monograph Islam in Malaysian Foreign Policy could assist younger journalists and commentators, who may need a historical context to locate the issue. Dr. Kamarulnizam Abdullah''s book, 'Politics of Islam in Contemporary Malaysia '( Bangi, Penerbit UKM, '2003 )' also provides valuable views. What have changed ('in Malaysia, the Middle East and world at large') since the publication of these two books '? 'What remain unchanged '? What ought to be changed '? What ought to be kept and maintained ? Asking and answering these four questions can help all of us to grow.