Malaysian Islamists using cartoon row to silence independent media

I’ve commented on how I believe that the riots…I mean "protests"…in Pakistan by hardline Islamists are more about their desire for political influence within Pakistan than piety.  (Zahir, who recently returned from Pakistan, told me how many of the Islamists he interviewed not only hadn’t seen the infamous cartoons, but didn’t even know they were from Denmark.  Some spoke about the "American cartoons"!)

In a similiar vein, this report leaves the impression that Malaysia’s Islamist parties are colluding with the political old guard is milking the cartoon controversy for all its worth to shut down newly independent media whose exposes of corruption and other illegalities have embarassed elites and cronies of the dictatorship of Mahatir Muhammad.

"Cartoon Row Blunts Media Edge":

The Prophet Muhammad cartoon controversy is trailing blood in Malaysian newsrooms at a time when mainstream media showed signs of emerging into the sunshine, after two decades of serving as the mouthpiece of the dictatorial former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

[…]

They allege that pro-Muslim associations, individuals and the opposition Pan Malaysian Islamic Party or PAS that pushed the crackdown have other motives besides defending Islam. 

”What many Malaysians find distressful and ominous is that the net result of the furore over the cartoons will be a rollback of freedom of information and expressionàthat has only taken its first few baby-tottering steps,” said Lim Kit Siang, opposition leader in parliament.

”Bigger and more significant battles are being waged behind the furore over the cartoons,” he told IPS separately. 

Like Lim, others see a tussle between supporters of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s reform programmes and powerful interest groups within the system that want the old order perpetuated and are uncomfortable with Malaysia’s new, questioning media. 

Under the liberal policies of Badawi, Malaysian media quickly developed a bold and stridently questioning tone. For the first time in two decades it gave wide coverage to opposition political parties, civil society groups and others pushing for greater freedom, accountability and transparency.