Malaysia: who is converting whom?
In Malaysia, the religious landscape is delicately balanced. Around 60% of Malaysians are Muslims with the other 40% being divided among Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians (9%), Taoists, Confucianists and several other minority faiths.
Peter Riddell, Vice Principal (Academic) at the Melbourne School of Theology, and is a Senior Fellow of Kairos Journal.
In spite of a constitutional statement providing freedom of religion, Islam in Malaysia — as the religion of the indigenous Malay population — is protected in theory and in practice. Minority faiths are banned by law from attempting to convert Muslims; in contrast, laws and government institutions actively facilitate the conversion of non-Muslims to Islam. Such Muslim outreach is driven by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), an arm of the Federal Government.
