Islamic Modernity in Malaysia-Russia Space Cooperation: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study examines how Malaysia–Russia space cooperation is discursively constructed in government documents, media reports, official speeches, and religious guidelines associated with Malaysia's National Astronaut Programme. Employing Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this research analyzes the three dimensions of discourse: text, discursive practice, and social practice. The findings reveal that the Astronaut Programme functions not merely as a scientific project but as a diplomatic instrument that constructs Malaysia's image as a modern Muslim nation capable of integrating Islamic values with scientific and technological advancement. The discourse surrounding Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's mission to the International Space Station (ISS) repeatedly represents the astronaut as a symbol of national pride, religious identity, and scientific progress. Through lexical choices such as "Muslim astronaut," "national achievement," and "strategic partnership," the texts construct a narrative in which Islam and science are presented as mutually supportive rather than contradictory. The analysis also demonstrates that the mission served as a form of space diplomacy, strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and Russia while promoting a global image of Islam compatible with modern scientific development. At the level of social practice, the discourse reflects broader negotiations concerning Islamic modernity, national identity, and Malaysia's position within the international community. This study contributes to the understanding of how language constructs meaning, identity, and power relations in contemporary science diplomacy and religious discourse.