Abstract

Since the emergence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2013, the number of Malaysian women joining the militant group in conflict zones began growing, with some even being prepared for suicide bombing missions. However, Malay-Muslim women joining ISIS generally retained their conservative conception of gender roles. In examining why this conception holds, this paper looks at the socio-cultural and political context of Malaysia. It posits that the Islamisation of Malaysia and state-driven narratives about Malay-Muslim supremacy have in fact served to undercut ISIS’s appeal. The paper ends by cautioning that continued vigilance is necessary nonetheless, given growing political and economic instability, both locally and globally, which could undermine the state’s legitimacy at the expense of ISIS.

About the Author

Ms Piya Sukhani is a Research Analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. She is affiliated with the Malaysia Programme, under the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, where she closely examines Malaysian domestic politics and has worked on themes such as Malaysia’s religious and ethnic terrain, the dynamics of gender and Islam in the Malaysian socio-political milieu, and federalism post the new governance in Malaysia. Piya completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nottingham, graduating with First Class Honours. Her final year dissertation examined the intersectionality of ideological and identity politics within a religious discursive environment and won the Best Dissertation Prize. She was also awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award and the Nottingham Advantage Award. Her research interests lie in critical and political theory, and in analysing the symbiosis of racial/religio-political discourse and subjectivities.