What proportion of Malaysian Muslims believe the Quran should replace the Federal Constitution?

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More Than 70 Per Cent of Malaysian Muslim Youth Surveyed Favoured Quran Replacing Federal Constitution

A survey conducted between October and November 2010 indicated that over 70 per cent of Malaysian Muslim youth respondents believed the Quran should replace the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. This sentiment was less pronounced in Sabah and Sarawak, where only half of the surveyed individuals held this view. The survey involved 1,060 Malaysian Muslim youths aged between 15 and 25.
Support for Quranic Law

The survey, detailed in the report "Values Dreams Ideals ― Muslim Youth in Southeast Asia; Surveys in Indonesia and Malaysia," explored various opinions among young Malaysian Muslims. Beyond the question of replacing the Federal Constitution, a significant majority also expressed strong agreement with specific Islamic legal punishments. For instance, 71.5 per cent agreed with "cutting off the hands as a punishment for thieves," and 92.4 per cent agreed with "whipping for alcohol drinkers."
Regional Differences in Opinion

While the overall figure for Malaysian Muslim youth favouring the Quran to replace the Federal Constitution was over 70 per cent, regional variations were noted. Specifically, the survey found that in the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, the proportion of respondents holding this view was approximately half of that found nationally. This suggests a potential geographical divide in attitudes towards religious law and constitutional governance within the country.
Broader Context of Islamic Law Preference

Previous surveys have also highlighted a strong preference among Malaysian Muslims for Islamic law. A 2013 Pew Research Centre report noted that 86 per cent of Malaysian Muslims favoured making Islamic law the official law in Malaysia. Another survey from 2005, conducted by Associate Professor Patricia Martinez among over 1,000 randomly selected Malaysian Muslims in peninsular Malaysia, found that 63.3 per cent opted for the Shariah to remain as it is under the Constitution, while the alternative of the Shariah replacing the Constitution was also an option.

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What proportion of Malaysian Muslims believe the Quran should replace the Federal Constitution?

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