East Malaysia’s Uneasy View of Islam’s Rise

Sabah, Sarawak remain staunchly secular

By: Lee Weng Chung

As institutionalized Islam grows in Peninsular Malaysia, the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are looking on in growing concern, raising questions if they can serve as a restraint to move the country away from its dangerous slide toward religious extremism, or if they might drift toward a de facto independence, departing as S…