Christian Children Books Seized

Malaysia

According to the news website www.malaysiakini.com, state officials from the Internal Security Ministry recently confiscated English language Christian children's books from three Malaysian Publishing House (MPH) bookstores. The books were said to contain caricatures of prophets that "offend Muslim sensitivities." In mid-December, a total of 29 books were seized from the MPH outlet in the town of Senawang, reportedly after Islamic authorities complained about their offensive content. The six titles have been sent to the department's headquarters in Putrajaya for investigation. On January 3, at least ten books were taken off the shelves in the MPH bookstore in Ipoh Kinta City. Books were also recently seized from MPH stores in the city of Johor Bahru.
Pray that God will strengthen Malaysian Christians to lovingly and boldly proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20). Pray that the religious freedom of all people will be truly recognized in Malaysia.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Malaysia, go to the Malaysia Country Report.

  • 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.