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.

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