Constitutional problems in the formation of an Islamic state in Malaysia and its solutions

Of late, the present government is giving serious attention to the development of the Islamic law in this country. Several steps and actions like the ‘implementation of Islamic values’ in the government administration and the setting up of several Islamic oriented institutions such as Bank Islam, International Islamic University (IIU), Takafful (Islamic Insurance) etc. denotes the seriousness of such efforts. Nevertheless, the writer thinks, the most significant question for the reader to ask is why is the establishment of a full fledge Islamic state in our country remained a distant hope? We were riddled with many serious misunderstanding and confusions. What is infect Islamic law and Islamic State? Can the Shariah or Islamic State fulfill the requirements of our modern state and society in this twentieth century? What about the feelings of the non-Muslims and even some of the Muslims who will never tolerate the dominance of the Islamics law and will resist it with all the force at their command?