Preface

Summary

This edited volume comprises of specially commissioned chapters and selected papers from a 2015 workshop entitled “Islamic Developments in Southeast Asia”. The workshop was jointly organized by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). All selected papers from the conference have been revised to include any new developments related to Muslims living in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

This book would not have been possible without funding support from KAS. I also wish to thank the former Director of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Mr Tan Chin Tiong, for initiating this project to understand contemporary issues in Southeast Asian Islam. The original aim of the project is to examine the Middle East impact on the region. Its scope has, however, been expanded to uncover regional and local dynamics in shaping Islamic discourses in the Malay-speaking world. I also wish to express my appreciation to Dr Terence Chong, Deputy Director of the Institute, for providing useful comments on the book concept. He was also the co-convenor for the 2015 workshop.

I also wish to express my gratitude to Ms Pearlyn Y. Pang for her editorial assistance. I am also grateful to the excellent work by the ISEAS Publishing team, particularly Mr Ng Kok Kiong, Ms Rahilah Yusuf, and Ms Sheryl Sin Bing Peng for providing useful feedback in the overall production of this book.

Finally, I wish to record my deepest appreciation to all contributors in this volume. May their efforts offer new insights on Islam in the region.