KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Muslim-majority Malaysia may one day be ruled by the ‘ultra kiasu’ ethnic Chinese, controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah claimed today amid a row over proposed law to strengthen the Shariah court’s punitive powers.

The Chinese Muslim convert who has a twice-weekly column in Malay daily Sinar Harian alleged that opposition to Islamic laws is the clearest sign that Chinese Malaysians, whom he labelled “ultra kiasu”, is keeping Muslims away from practising their religious rights.

"Whatever that has to do with Islam will always be opposed by the ultra kiasu. Whether they are within the Barisan Nasional or without. Then they were united in silence. But today, they dare to express unity openly.

"This is because they know Muslims can never unite and be strong. What else now that the Malays are split 50-50. Into five groups. Even 10 groups possibly. Not surprising one day they will one day be the ruler and the pribumi the one ruled," he said in his column.

The lecturer at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UnisZA) noted the strong opposition in response to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 that was fast-tracked to the Dewan Rakyat last week.

He argued further that Muslims had nothing left if they could not even claim the right to their way of life and laws.

He also purported that locals accepted Western or communist culture but are opposed to Islamic laws.

“Why can we embrace western or communist culture but deem Islam to be offensive? Have Muslims taken away the rights of non-Muslims? Show me proof,” he demanded.

Tee argued that if the ultra kiasu deemed Islam to be degrading, then western laws have also done the same, citing China's ban on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter as proof.

He also alleged the ultra kiasu have never criticised China for the censorship.

"Why else would they ban it if not because of the morally corrupting elements from the West. And how come the ultra kiasu have never criticised China for this?" he asked.

China's official censorship on social media began in 2009 following a bloody riot in Xinjiang. Chinese officials claimed social media site like Facebook helped abet the riots, but rights groups claimed the ban had more to do with crushing dissent and economic control instead.

Tee suggested that the Malaysian government "is too nice" by allowing Malaysians access to social media.

"We are too nice. Imagine if the government followed in the footsteps of China. I am sure Parliament will collapse because of the noises made by the ultra kiasu," he said.