Jihad Salafi: Similar Ideology but Politically Different Strategies in the Southeast Asian Region

摘要

Presently Jihad Salafi (JS) and its movement has become prominent in the eyes of Western and secular perception, interpretation and definition. The latest analysis carried out by RAND Corporation has identified about 60 groups which related to Jihad Salafi’s ideology. In a specific sense, Western states are mainly concerned with ideology, international networking, structure and capabilities, growing numbers of JS groups, leadership pattern, and support elements which could threaten their states, coalition, allies, and other interests’ mainly in international economic activities. A deep understanding of JS teaching is still ambiguous among Western policy makers, their people and their political systems. Misunderstanding of the word `jihad’ has jeopardised the true meaning of Islam and the content of holy Qur’an. Furthermore, JS in a true sense has brought different political objectives interpretation and perception among international terrorist groups and separatist movements particularly in the Southeast Asian region. In fact, some other separatist movement groups in the Southeast Asian region are not categorized into terrorist groups due to their differences of political objective to liberate their motherland from central government i.e. Southern Thailand, Southern Philippines and Aceh conflicts. The government of Malaysia and Indonesia has had experience by putting a strong effort to deny a negative perception about JS and Islam religion which always been accused sponsoring and encouraging extremism and terrorism activities.