Walking The Silk Road Malaysia Kazakhstan Ties And The Path To Muslim Unity

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From Shakila Yacob
Malaysia’s foreign policy has long emphasised fostering ties with the Muslim world, more recently with Central Asian States (CAS), as part of its strategic pivot toward deepening ties with the region.
This commitment was evident in 2024 when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim embarked on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, underscoring Malaysia’s renewed focus on deepening engagement with CAS.
These high-level exchanges were further reinforced by the recent visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Malaysia, signalling a strategic recalibration amid global uncertainties marked by the US’s fluctuating trade policies, rising Islamophobia in far-right Europe and the US, and the Gaza genocide.
Malaysia’s move to diversify its international partnerships is both timely and pragmatic. While trade, halal industries, and Islamic finance dominate discussions, the critical yet underexplored area of religious governance offers a unique opportunity to foster Muslim solidarity.
From the ancient Silk Road to modern diplomacy, Central Asia and the Malay Archipelago have been historically connected through trade, culture, and shared Islamic heritage. These ties were severed under Soviet rule but rekindled after the USSR’s dissolution.
In 1992, under then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia swiftly re established relations with Kazakhstan and other Central Asian republics. By 1996, Malaysia opened its embassy in Almaty, signalling a commitment to reviving historical bonds through trade, Islamic solidarity and shared progress.
While Malaysia is renowned for its halal industry and Islamic finance, the deeper potential lies in fostering collaboration on governance models that balance tradition, state authority, and modernity. The pressing question remains: How can Muslim nations institutionalise faith without fracturing unity or ceding to extremism?
Shared roots, diverging paths
Malaysia and Kazakhstan may sit on opposite ends of the Muslim world, but their shared Sunni tradition offers fertile ground for collaboration. Yet, their approaches to religious governance could not be more different.
In Malaysia, Islamic law operates within a decentralised federal system, granting states autonomy over religious matters. This has allowed for flexibility in addressing local needs but has also sparked tensions over issues like apostasy, conversion and minority rights.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan adheres to a secular model shaped by seven decades of Soviet-imposed atheism. This cautious approach reflects its post-Soviet legacy, even as the nation experiences a quiet revival of Islamic consciousness.
Malaysia’s institutional frameworks, which includes the Islamic development department (Jakim) —and its dual legal system, blending shariah and civil law, provide valuable lessons for Kazakhstan as it navigates its post-Soviet Islamic revival.
Conversely, Kazakhstan’s Islamic heritage, shaped by centuries of coexistence and tempered by Soviet secularism, offers Malaysia fresh perspectives on managing diversity without fracturing unity.
More than just trade
Spanning over 150 countries, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents a golden opportunity to strengthen Muslim solidarity across continents. With 50 Muslim-majority nations involved, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are strategically placed along BRI corridors to boost connectivity across G2G, B2B, and P2P levels.
The real prize lies in intellectual and institutional exchange. Malaysia can share expertise in Islamic finance, halal industries, and multi-jurisdictional governance, while learning from Kazakhstan’s efforts to balance state authority with rising religious consciousness. Together, they could craft models that resonate far beyond their borders, offering solutions for Muslim-majority nations grappling with similar challenges.
A call for unity amid fragmentation
While interfaith dialogue has long been a priority for both countries—Malaysia through its Centre for Civilisational Dialogue (1996) and Kazakhstan via the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions (2003)—the greater challenge today lies within the Muslim community itself. Competing interpretations of Islam risk dividing younger generations and fuelling extremism.
A bold idea? Establish a “Centre for Muslim Unity and Dialogue” in Kazakhstan—a neutral platform to unite leaders from various sects and counter external exploitation of divisions. Such an initiative would foster understanding and create a united front against challenges like geopolitical competition and socio-economic instability.
Partnering with Malaysia’s International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) and International Institute for Muslim Unity (IIMU), this centre could bridge divides, drawing on Malaysia’s institutionalised governance model to promote unity and cooperation across Muslim communities.
The bigger picture: leadership in global Islamic governance
Religious governance in Malaysia and Kazakhstan offers an intriguing parallel, with both nations exhibiting high levels of state regulation of religion, according to the Pew Research Center. Rather than viewing these regulatory frameworks as constraints, they can serve as tools for fostering unity while shaping the evolving role of public life, offering valuable lessons in balancing tradition, modernity and state authority.
The real challenge lies in moving beyond surface-level engagements to focus on deeper institutional architecture—how Malaysia has operationalised religious authority, navigated multi-jurisdictional governance, and balanced faith with statecraft. This experience provides a model for Kazakhstan as it recalibrates its post-Soviet Islamic identity.
For Malaysia, this is an opportunity to step onto the global stage—not just as a commercial hub but as a thought leader in Islamic governance. It is about engaging in meaningful policy dialogues that address the interplay between religion, governance and modernity.
This is not about exporting Malaysia’s model wholesale but fostering structured exchanges that respect local contexts.
A new chapter in Islamic diplomacy?
History has given Malaysia and Kazakhstan a second chance to walk the Silk Road—not as travellers, but as architects of a new era.
By leveraging platforms like the BRI, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation and establishing a “Center for Muslim Unity and Dialogue” they have the potential to lead the global Muslim community toward cohesion. The journey ahead is promising—and essential. - FMT
Shakila Yacob is a professor at Sunway University’s Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia and formerly served as director of the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue in Universiti Malaya.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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