*Muhammad Raqib Mohd Sofian, Safiyyah Ahmad Sabri, Muhamad Zaki Mustafa

Abstract:

Islam often dominates media headlines, particularly following the events of 9/11, sparking an upsurge in negative opinions about the religion, both in Western contexts and among Malaysian citizens. In addition to being linked to violence and terrorism, sharia law, particularly hudud punishments, is frequently portrayed negatively due to its perceived harshness, contributing to unfavourable views of Islam. In Malaysia, sharia law applies exclusively to Muslims and includes penalties such as stoning for adultery, whipping for abortion, and amputation for theft. This study examines how Malaysian English news portals report on sharia law, with a focus on PAS, an Islamic political party committed to enforcing hudud punishments, particularly in Kelantan, which has sparked contentious media debates. Using an ideological critical discourse analysis, the findings reveal that The Star and Malaysiakini adopt distinct approaches.

Keywords: Sharia law, critical discourse analysis, Malaysian media, Malaysian news portals, Islam