Prime Minister Weighs In as Malaysia Awaits Court Ruling

Malaysia's Prime Minister,
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
As Christians in Malaysia await a high court ruling on the legality of Malay citizens becoming Christians (follow the links on Malaysia's Country Report), the country's Prime Minister has entered the debate and called for stricter enforcement of laws barring the preaching of other faiths to Malaysia's Muslims. On August 21, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on states to "take whatever actions are needed" to prevent the proselytizing of Muslims. 

While most Malaysian states have laws outlawing any attempt to convert Muslims to another religion, there is no such law in three states and in federal laws. Badawi urged all states to consider instituting such laws to "preserve racial harmony."

Pray that Malaysians will recognize that Christ is only one source of true peace (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray that the Christians in Malaysia will be bold regardless of the pressures facing them (Acts 4:29).

For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Malaysia, click here.

  • Country Information

    Population
    34,219,975 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Bumiputera (63.8 - Malays and indigenous peoples), Chinese (20.6), Indian (6), others (0.6), non-citizens (9)

    Religion (%)
    Muslim (63.5), Buddhist (18.7), Christian (9.1), Hindu (6.1), Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions (0.9), Other (1.8),

    Leader
    King Sultan Ibrahim ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (2024)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Court at request of supreme head of the federation

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Malaysia

    Pray that Christians will stand firm in their faith, despite opposition

    Pray that Malaysian Christians will be free to practice their faith in Jesus Christ.

    Pray that all Christians in Malaysia will be able to freely access the Bible.

Malaysia News

  • Raymond Koh's Wife Demands Answers
    Raymond Koh is posing with his wife, two daughters, and son.
    Raymond Koh and his family.
    Photo: VOM USA

    Pastor Raymond Koh was no stranger to persecution when he was abducted off the streets of Malaysia on February 13th, 2017. The incident was caught on security cameras and, although no information about Pastor Raymond's captors has ever been released by the authorities, it is believed that government security forces were responsible for the incident. Video footage of the abduction is available here. For previously published reports about the missing pastor, see this list.

  • Fifth Anniversary of Pastor Raymond Koh's Disappearance
    Pastor Raymond Koh, Jonathan (son), Susanna (wife), and Esther (daughter)
    Pastor Raymond Koh, Jonathan (son),
    Susanna (wife), and Esther (daughter)
    Photo (family): Free Malaysia Today

    On February 13th, 2017, surveillance cameras captured Pastor Raymond Koh being forced to bring his vehicle to a sudden stop before masked men abducted him in an operation that appeared to be executed with military precision. The abducted pastor has not been seen nor heard from since the incident. Under suspicion of state police for attempting to convert ethnic Malays to Christianity, Pastor Raymond and his wife Susanna received death threats prior to the incident.

  • "Release Raymond Koh" Petition
    Where is Raymond Koh?

    On February 13th, 2017, Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted from the streets of Malaysia. He hasn't been seen or heard from since, and his car has never been located. Video footage of the entire crime was captured by nearby security cameras.

  • State Police Found Responsible for Disappearances
    Pastor Raymond Koh - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Pastor Raymond Koh

    Pastor Raymond Koh disappeared on February 13th, 2017 when his car was forced to stop and he was abducted in broad daylight by masked men (see this report). On April 3rd of this year, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia released findings that placed blame for the attack on the "Special Branch" of the state police.