AP:

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The 10 young men have washed corpses according to Islamic rites, cried while counseling unmarried pregnant women and joined a police crackdown on teenage motorcycle racers — all before judges on national TV.
A Malaysian cable station has given a reality show makeover to its Islamic programming, and it’s taking this moderate Muslim-majority country by storm.
The show, called “Imam Muda” or “Young Leader,” is halfway through a 10-week run. With its blend of doctrine and drama, it is a natural fit for Malaysia, a Southeast Asian nation that has tried to defend its Islamic traditions while also welcoming high-tech industry and Western culture. It’s these parallel strains in society that the program taps so successfully.
The producers say they want to find a leader for these times, a pious but progressive Muslim who can prove that religion remains relevant to Malaysian youths despite the influence of Western pop culture.
Even the prizes combine both worlds: An all-expenses-paid pilgrimage to Mecca and a car.