Inspired historically by Iran, SE-Asia’s Islamist groups mourn Khamenei’s death but remain at arm’s length

Analysts say Iranian influence in Malaysia’s PAS has waned and remains absent in Indonesia due to the Sunni–Shia schism." Read more at straitstimes.com.

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KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA – South-east Asia’s Islamist groups – historically inspired in part by the 1979 Iranian revolution that led to the establishment of an Islamic republic – have offered condolences for the death of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while condemning the US and Israel strikes against Tehran.

At the same time, analysts note that Iran’s influence in Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia is severely circumscribed, and that expressions of sympathy remain just that.

Malaysia’s opposition party Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), which had modelled its leadership structure after Iran’s, was one of the first political organisations in the region to extend its condolences, followed by the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), the nation’s top body of Islamic scholars.

PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Moktar wrote on his Facebook page on the morning of March 1: “It’s a great loss to the Muslim community. Al-Fatihah.” Datuk Seri Samsuri took over as chairman of opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional on Feb 22.

His political mentor, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the US and Israel’s aggression over Mr Khamenei’s assassination.