MALAYSIAN Muslims say the growing division between conservative and moderate followers of Islam extends to daily life.
When a government officer visiting another department last week declined the offer of the surau, the prayer room, saying he did not have the time, he provoked a discussion about whether it was necessary to pray five times a day, in line with accepted practice.
Alluding to recent remarks by the Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, suggesting there was too much emphasis on religious rituals, the visitor said he believed it was acceptable to pray only three times a day.
Later, a senior officer said he would tell the official's department head that he was unsuitable to hold a responsible job.
Most of the government servants present agreed with the course of action, implicitly rejecting Dr Mahathir's arguments.
At the general assembly of the United Malays National Organisation, the dominant government party, last week the premier called for Islamic moderation.