There is federalism in Malaysia, particular on matters of local concern, which apparently also includes religion. Sharia doesn't make a distinction between law and religion and morality but the party currently in control of this state (PAS) is the most hardline Islamic party in Malaysian politics. They haven't done too well in recent elections because of their hardline stance and have been marginalised nationally in part because of the ruling party (UMNO) view and advocacy of a much more moderate form of Islam (more personal than political). Go to any other part of Malaysia and it becomes very obvious that Terengganu is much more of an outlier than any Southern state in the US could be.

Haven't said which, there is a huge problem about freedom of religion. The current constitutional belief is that freedom of religion means freedom to practice religion but not to deconvert from it (particularly from Islam and its notion of apostasy. The current Prime Minister basically shut down an interfaith dialogue on this issue because he was of the opinion that it was creating too much tension and dissension within society.

Perhaps you are thinking of Saudia Arabia where in public women must wear black coats which cover them wrist to ankle but they can still expose parts of their faces and (last I checked) hands.

I would like to point out that before the Taliban came along, Saudia Arabia was considered the worst place in the world for women's rights (recall that Osama bin Laden was from there as where many of his cohorts). And, it is well documented that our current federal administration is very cozy with the ruling family (see books such as, "House of Bush, House of Saud").

I don't want to say how much money I could generate for the Malaysian economy, but it is enough that they are losing out on a substantial gift. Too bad for them. When they wake up and stop state sponsored terrorism through religion, I might reconsider. Until then, I believe a country gets the government it deserves. The Malaysians have to make the change and demand freedom from bigots!

In any case, I'm not convinced whether a tourist boycott would have the desired effect. Are there any prior examples of this tactic working? I'd feel pretty sick if they ended up like Afghanistan, growing opiates. At least tourism encourages the mixing of cultures and ideas. Then again I can't think of any better way to exert influence in this situation.

"People say, 'Don't buy wine from Mordor', but that's not going to hurt Sauron, is it?" - That Mitchell and Webb Sound. :)

Human nature sublimates the impulses it thwarts;
A healthy sex-life mitigates lusts of other sorts

Piet Hine.

It's just another tool for theists to exert control. The poor bastards a too busy thinking how they can get laid without sin, that they haven't the time to realize hoe thoroughly they are getting screwed.