Political Islam: Why the religious conservatism wave is rising in Malaysia but ebbing in Indonesia

In neighbouring Indonesia, concerns over the rise of political Islam and religious conservatism, especially in the lead-up to its latest election last month, appear to have cooled.

All three pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates did not succumb to the use of identity politics to garner votes, observers noted. 

The three pairs are: Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan who teamed up with chairman of the Islamic National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar; current Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and Solo mayor…