Islam is the official religion of Malaysia. According to 2006 U.S. State Department figures, approximately 60.4 percent of the population practiced Islam; 19.2 percent Buddhism; 9.1 percent Christianity; 6.3 percent Hinduism; and 3 percent Confucianism, Taoism, and other traditional Chinese religions [3]. The remainder includes adherents of animism, Sikhism, and the Bahá'í Faith. [4]. As required by Malaysian law and defined in the Constitution of Malaysia, a Malay would surrender his ethnic status if he were not Muslim. However the reverse is not legally true; one does not legally become a Bumiputra by converting to Islam. Malaysian Muslims are primarily Malays although there are substantial numbers of Indian and Pakistani Muslims and increasing numbers of ethnic Chinese converts. ^{[citation needed]} For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Department of State redirects here. ... A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... A Confucian temple in Wuwei, Peoples Republic of China. ... Taoism (or Daoism) is the English name referring to a variety of related Chinese philosophical traditions and concepts. ... Chinese traditional religion is the blend of religious practices most Han Chinese practiced for thousands of years. ... The term Animism is derived from the Latin anima, meaning soul.[1][2] In its most general sense, animism is simply the belief in souls. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... This article is about the generally-recognized global religious community. ... The law of Malaysia is mainly based on the common law legal system. ... The Constitution of Malaysia, comprising more than 180 articles, is the supreme law of Malaysia. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Bumiputra or Bumiputera (Malay, from Sanskrit Bhumiputra; translated literally, it means son of the soil), is an official definition widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays as well as other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak. ...

A number of young Muslims, especially those from a more secular or westernized background are less-than-practicing Muslims. They observe the practice of a holy month (Ramadan), when fasting during daylight hours is mandatory, and abstain from pork, yet may not pray five times a day nor visit mosques frequently. At the same time, increasing numbers of Malays are becoming more religious, with Islamic banking and use of the tudung (headscarf) in accordance with the laws of hijab (modesty) becoming increasingly common. This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... Generally, a Muslim is defined by faith in the religion of Islam; however, in the modern world there are religiously unobservant, agnostic or atheist individuals who still identify with the Muslim culture due to family background or personal experiences. ... This article is about Islamic religious observances in the month of Ramadan. ... For other uses, see Pork (disambiguation). ... Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with Islamic law (Sharia) principles and guided by Islamic economics. ... External Hijab is a phrase used to denote garments (typically female) associated with the modest dress of Muslims. ... Turkish women in eastern Turkey wearing the non-Islamic yemeni headscarfs. ... “Higab” redirects here. ...

Islam forms

Sunni Islam

Sunni Islam of the Shafi`i school of thought is the official, legal form in Malaysia, although syncretist Islam with elements of Shamanism is still common in rural areas. Mosques are an ordinary scene throughout the country and adhan (call to prayer) from minarets are heard five times a day. Government bodies and banking institutions are closed for two hours every Friday so Muslims workers can conduct Friday prayer in mosques. However, in certain rural states such as Kelantan the weekends fall on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. The Malaysian authorities have strict policies against other Islamic sects including Shia Islam.^[1] A notable sect that has been outlawed is Al-Arqam.^[2] Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... The Shāfi‘ī madhab () is one of the four schools of fiqh, or religious law, within Sunni Islam. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the practice of shamanism; for other uses, see Shaman (disambiguation). ... Sign in a rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China An artists rendering of an aerial view of the Maryland countryside: Jane Frank (Jane Schenthal Frank, 1918-1986), Aerial Series: Ploughed Fields, Maryland, 1974, acrylic and mixed materials on apertured double canvas, 52... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Adhan (Azaan) (أَذَان) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Salat redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... State motto: Berserah kepada Tuhan Kerajaan Kelantan State anthem: Selamat Sultan Capital (and royal capital) Kota Bharu Ruling party PAS  - Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra  - Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat History    - Siamese control 1603   - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942-1946   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 14... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Al-Arqam was a former religious movement in Malaysia. ...

Islam Hadhari

The term "Islam Hadhari" ( "Civilizational Islam") is a type of progressive Islam heavily promoted by Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to emphasize the central role of knowledge in Islam. This doctrine espouses a belief in hard work, honesty, good administration and efficiency are equally valued and appeals to Muslims to be inclusive, tolerant and outward-looking. Islam Hadhari (Arabic الإسلام الحضاري) or Civilizational Islam is a theory of government based on the principles of Islam as derived from the Quran. ... The Prime Minister of Malaysia (in Malay Perdana Menteri) is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. ... Dato Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi[1] (born November 26, 1939 in Kepala Batas, Penang) is the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia. ...

Islam Hadhari aims to achieve ten main principles:

1. Faith and piety in God
2. A just and trustworthy government
3. A free and independent people
4. Mastery of knowledge
5. Balanced and comprehensive economic development
6. A good quality of life
7. Protection of the rights of minority groups and women
8. Cultural and moral integrity
9. Environment safeguarding
10. Strong defenses

Abdullah Mohd Zain, a minister in the prime minister's department, says, "It emphasizes wisdom, practicality and harmony."^{[citation needed]} He added that "It encourages moderation or a balanced approach to life. Yet it does not stray from the fundamentals of the Qur'an and the example and sayings of the Prophet."^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Faith (disambiguation). ... Allah is the Arabic language word for God. ... For the 1986 American crime film, see Wisdom (film). ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: , literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ...

There are however Muslims in Malaysia that disagree with this concept, as the teachings of Islam are already complete and thus, they feel that Islam does not need a new name or face.

History

It is commonly held that Islam first exists in Malay peninsular since Sultan Muzaffar Shah I (12th century) of Kedah was the first ruler to be known to convert to Islam. In the 13th century, the Terengganu Stone Monument was found at Kuala Berang, Terengganu where the first Malay state to receive Islam in 1303 A replica of the Terengganu Inscription Stone at the National Historical Museum in Kuala Lumpur. ... Kuala Berang is the main town of Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. ... State motto: Islam Hadhari Terengganu Bestari State anthem: Terengganu State Anthem Capital (and royal capital) Kuala Terengganu Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin1  - Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 12,955 km² Population  - 2005... // Events 24 February: Battle of Roslin 20 April: Pope Boniface VIII founds the University of Rome La Sapienza Edward I of England reconquers Scotland (see also: William Wallace, Wars of Scottish Independence) The Khilji Dynasty conquers time travel Births Saint Birgitta, Swedish saint (died 1373) Gegeen Khan, Mongol emperor of...

Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah, known as Parameswara prior to his conversion, is the first Sultan of Melaka. He converted into Islam after marrying a princess from Pasai, of present day Indonesia. The conversion of the Sultanate of Malacca into Islam is the milestone of Islamification of Malay people in Malaysia. People by name Parameshwara: The fourteenth century Indian mathematician. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Map of Pasai. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The tudung is a relatively recent introduction and was not prominent until the rise of worldwide Islamism in the 1970s. Some commentators have found it jarring to see Malay women donning the tudung and at the same time wearing tight-fitting T-shirts. This article is about political For the religion of Islam, see Islam. ... T-Shirt A T-shirt (or tee shirt) is a shirt with short or long sleeves, a round neck, put on over the head, without pockets. ...

Cultural role

Islam is central to and dominant in Malay culture. A significant number of words in the Malay vocabulary can trace their origins to Arabic which is the chosen language of Islam. This is, however, not exclusive and words from other cultures such as Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch, Sanskrit, Tamil, English, and French can also be found in the Malay language. Islam is so ingrained in Malay life that Islamic rituals are practiced as Malay culture. Muslim and Malays are interchangeable in many daily contexts. Arabic redirects here. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid ul-Fitr) is an important festival celebrated by Malaysian Muslims. Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also Hari Raya Puasa, literally Fasting Day of Celebration) is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. ... Eid ul-Fitr or Id-Ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. ...

The interpretation of Islam in Malaysia is relatively liberal in contrast to the popular conception of Islamic nations. Muslim women generally wear the tudung (hijab or headscarf) over their heads. These tudungs do not cover the face. Malay women not wearing any head gear are not reprimanded or penalised. Prominent Malaysian female examples are Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, International Trade and Industry Minister and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad. However, with the influx of Arabic travellers, foreign Muslim women (Arabs) wearing hijab that leave only their eyes exposed are often spotted in tourist attractions, not the least at the shopping malls. At certain Malaysian institutions such as the International Islamic University, wearing of the tudung is mandatory; however for non-Muslim students this usually amounts to a loosely worn piece of cloth draped over the back of the head. “Higab” redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mahathir bin Mohamad (born December 20, 1925 in Alor Star, Kedah) was the Prime Minister of Malaysia from July 16, 1981 to 2003. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predominantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Alawite Islam, Druzism, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism Footnotes a Mainly in Antakya. ... “Higab” redirects here. ... The International Islamic University is an important Islamic university located in Islamabad, Pakistan. ...

The tudung, or the hijab, is a symbol of a Muslim woman. This is such because it represents the modesty of a woman's way, as described by the religion.

Some find the tudung to be an indication of Arabic influence in Malay Muslim culture, and point to other incidents such as the banning of the traditional Malay wayang kulit in the state of Kelantan (which is ruled by the Islamist PAS) for being "un-Islamic". ^[3] Wayang is the Indonesian term for puppet, and the term refers to any and all of the numerous varieties of puppetry found in the archipelago. ... State motto: Berserah kepada Tuhan Kerajaan Kelantan State anthem: Selamat Sultan Capital (and royal capital) Kota Bharu Ruling party PAS  - Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra  - Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat History    - Siamese control 1603   - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942-1946   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 14... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... The Islamic Party of Malaysia (commonly known as PAS or Pas, from the Malay Parti Islam SeMalaysia) is an Islamist political party in Malaysia and is currently headed by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. ...

In general, males and females can mix easily like any other liberal Western countries. However, desiring to expose the body and intimacy such as kissing is still rare among Muslims in public. In conservative states where PAS has more influence, such as Kelantan, different genders are at least theoretically segregated in public places like the cinema and supermarket. The Kiss by Francesco Hayez A kiss is the touching of the lips to some other thing; usually another person. ... Packaged food aisles in a Fred Meyer store in Portland, Oregon A supermarket is a departmentalized self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise. ...

Political position

Definition of Malay

As defined by the constitution of Malaysia, Malays must be Muslim, regardless of their ethnic heritage; otherwise, legally, they are not Malay. Consequently, apostate Malays would have to forfeit all their constitutional privileges, including their Bumiputra status, which entitles them to affirmative action policies in university admissions, discounts on purchases of vehicles or real estate, etc. It is legally possible to become a Malay if a non-Malay citizen with a Malaysian parent converts to Islam and thus claim all the Bumiputra privileges granted by Article 153 of the Constitution and the New Economic Policy (NEP), etc. However, the convert must "habitually speak the Malay language" and adhere to Malay culture. A textbook for tertiary Malaysian studies following the government-approved syllabus states: "This explains the fact that when a non-Malay embraces Islam, he is said to masuk Melayu (become a Malay). That person is automatically assumed to be fluent in the Malay language and to be living like a Malay as a result of his close association with the Malays." ^[4] The Constitution of Malaysia, comprising more than 180 articles, is the supreme law of Malaysia. ... Bumiputra or Bumiputera (Malay, from Sanskrit Bhumiputra; translated literally, it means son of the soil), is an official definition widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays as well as other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak. ... This box:      Affirmative actionrefers to policies intended to promote access to education or employment aimed at a historically socio-politically non-dominant group (typically, minorities or women). ... Bumiputra or Bumiputera (Malay, from Sanskrit Bhumiputra; translated literally, it means son of the soil), is an official definition widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays as well as other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak. ... In 2005, UMNO Youth Chief Hishamuddin Hussein brandished the keris (traditional Malay dagger) in defense of ketuanan Melayu, the social contract and Article 153. ... Under the Malaysian New Economic Policy, Bumiputras are given discounts on real estate. ...

Islam in Malaysia is thus closely associated with the Malay people, something an Islamic scholar has criticised, saying that Malaysian Islam is "still clothed in communal garb; that Muslims in Malaysia have yet to understand what the universal spirit of Islam means in reality."^[5]

Sharia legal system

Parallel to the civil courts, there are Sharia courts which conduct legal matters related to religious (Islam) and (Muslim) family issues. Legal issues like Muslim divorce and Muslim apostasy are conducted in Sharia Court. Non-Muslims are not affected by this. This article is about Islamic religious law. ... Apostasy (from Greek αποστασία, meaning a defection or revolt, from απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ...

Official religion

Nine of the Malaysian states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Kedah, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, Johor and Negeri Sembilan have constitutional Malay monarchs (most of them styled as Sultans). These Malay rulers still maintain authority over religious affairs in states. The states of Penang, Malacca, Sarawak and Sabah do not have any sultan, but the king (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) play the role of heads of Islam in those states as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. State motto: Berserah kepada Tuhan Kerajaan Kelantan State anthem: Selamat Sultan Capital (and royal capital) Kota Bharu Ruling party PAS  - Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra  - Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat History    - Siamese control 1603   - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942-1946   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 14... State motto: Islam Hadhari Terengganu Bestari State anthem: Terengganu State Anthem Capital (and royal capital) Kuala Terengganu Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin1  - Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 12,955 km² Population  - 2005... State anthem: Pahang State Anthem Capital Kuantan Royal capital Pekan Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Ahmad Shah  - Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob History    - Federated into FMS 1895   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 35,964 km² Population  - 2005 estimate 1,372,500  - Density 38. ... State anthem: Allah Selamatkan Sultan Mahkota Capital Alor Star Royal capital Anak Bukit Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim  - Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 9,426 km² Population  - 2003 estimate 1,778,188  - Density... For other uses, see Perak (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Malaysian state. ... State motto: Dipelihara Allah State anthem: Duli Yang Maha Mulia Capital Shah Alam Royal capital Klang Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Sharafuddin  - Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo History    - Federated into FMS 1895   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 7,956 km² Population  - 2005... State motto: Kepada Allah Berserah State anthem: Lagu Bangsa Johor Capital Johor Bahru Royal capital Pasir Pelangi1 Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Iskandar  - Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman History    - Johor Sultanate 14th century   - British control 1914   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 19,984... State anthem: Berkatlah Yang DiPertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Capital Seremban Royal capital Seri Menanti Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Jaafar  - Menteri Besar Mohamad Haji Hassan History    - Federated into FMS 1895   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 6,645 km² Population  - 2007... State motto: Bersatu dan Setia (United and Loyal) (formerly Let Penang Lead) State anthem: Untuk Negeri Kita (For Our State) Capital George Town Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tuan Yang Terutama Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas  - Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon History    - Ceded by... This article is about the state in Malaysia. ... For the river, see Sarawak River. ... For other uses, see Sabah (disambiguation). ... Flag of the Supreme Head of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a Malay title usually translated as Supreme Ruler or Paramount Ruler, is the official title of the constitutional head of state of the federation of Malaysia. ... Wilayah Persekutuan is the Malay term for Federal Territory. ... Nickname: Motto: Maju dan makmur (English: Progress and Prosper) Location in Malaysia Coordinates: , Country State Establishment 1857 Granted city status 1974 Government  - Mayor (Datuk Bandar) Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan From 14 December 2006 Area  - Total 243. ... Motto: Coordinates: Country Malaysia State Wilayah Persekutuan Made into Federal Territory 16 April 1984 Government  - Administered by Perbadanan Labuan Labuan Corporation  - Chairman Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman Area  - City 92 km²  (35. ... Motto: Bandar raya Taman, Bandar raya Bestari (English :Garden City, Intelligent City ) Coordinates: , Country State Establishment 1995, October 19th Made into Federal Territory 2001, February 1st Government  - Administered by Perbadanan Putrajaya Putrajaya Corporation  - Chairman Samsudin Osman Area  - City 46 km²  (17. ...

Originally, the draft Constitution of Malaysia did not specify any official religion for the state. This move was supported by the rulers of the nine Malay states, who felt that it was sufficient that Islam was the official religion of each of their individual states. However, Justice Abdul Hamid of the Reid Commission which drafted the Constitution came out strongly in favour of making Islam the official religion, and as a result the final Constitution named Islam as the official religion of Malaysia.^[6] The Constitution of Malaysia, comprising more than 180 articles, is the supreme law of Malaysia. ... Abdul Hamid is the name of two sultans of the Ottoman Empire: Abdul Hamid I (1774 - 1789) Abdul Hamid II (1876 - 1909) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Reid Commission was an independent commission responsible for drafting the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya prior to Malayan independence from Britain on 31 August 1957. ...

As the religion embraced by the most populous ethnic class of Malaysia, Islam plays an important part in Malaysian politics. Islam is seen by the Malay as a subject which can not be challenged conventionally or constitutionally.

The newest format of the Malaysian Identity Card (MyKad) divides Malaysians into various religious groups, i.e. Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist. The introduction of this card caused an uproar in Malaysian politics and is deemed discriminative by non-Muslims. This issue has, however, since abated and been accepted (although unwillingly) by non-Muslims. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Currently, one of the Malaysia's states, Kelantan, is governed by PAS which is a conservative Islamic political party, with a proclaimed goal of establishing an Islamic state. Terengganu was briefly ruled by PAS from 1999 to 2004, but the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has since won back the state. To counter Islamic fundamentalism as supported by PAS, the head of the Barisan Nasional, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, has proposed Islam Hadhari. State motto: Berserah kepada Tuhan Kerajaan Kelantan State anthem: Selamat Sultan Capital (and royal capital) Kota Bharu Ruling party PAS  - Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra  - Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat History    - Siamese control 1603   - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942-1946   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 14... Political Parties redirects here. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN) is a political coalition in Malaysia. ... Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (born November 26, 1939) is the current prime minister of Malaysia, succeeding Mahathir bin Mohamad. ...

There is also an Islamic university in Malaysia called the International Islamic University Malaysia, and a government institution in charge of organizing pilgrimages to Mecca called Tabung Haji (Pilgrim Fund Board of Malaysia). In addition to this, the government also funds the construction of mosques and suraus. ^[7] For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) is a private publicly-funded university in Malaysia. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... Tabung Haji or Lembaga Tabung Haji (Malay Jawi: تابوڠ حاج ; Arabic please fill in) is the Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ...

Although the constitution declares Malaysia to be a secular state, there is much confusion on this subject. Several Muslims have argued, especially after former Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad's declaration that Malaysia is an Islamic state, that Malaysia is in actual fact an Islamic state. One Member of Parliament (MP), Badruddin bin Amiruldin, has stated in the Dewan Rakyat house of Parliament that "Malaysia ini negara Islam" ("Malaysia is an Islamic state") and that "you tidak suka, you keluar dari Malaysia!" ("You don't like it, you get out of Malaysia!") Badruddin refused to take back his statement, and a motion to refer him to the House Committee of Privileges was rejected by a voice vote.^[8] However, the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, contradicted this stance in the 1980s, saying, "All talk on Islamic States is just an empty dream. No man in his right sense would accept a nation which bases its political administration on religion, and in a country like Malaysia with its multiracial and multireligious people, there is no room for an Islamic State." ^[7] In 1988, the courts rejected the argument that Malaysia was a theocratic state.^[9] The Prime Minister of Malaysia (in Malay Perdana Menteri) is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. ... Mahathir bin Mohamad (b. ... The Malaysian Houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur. ... Badruddin bin Amiruldin is a Member of Parliament in Malaysia who has had police reports filed against him for uttering racial slurs. ... The Parliament of Malaysia consists of the lower house (Dewan Rakyat or literally Peoples Hall, in Malay) and upper house (Dewan Negara or Nations Hall in Malay). ... A voice vote in a legislative body refers to a vote taken on a topic where the participants respond to a question with yea (yes), nay (no), or present (abstain). ... Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah (February 8, 1903–December 6, 1990) usually known as the Tunku (a princely title in Malaysia), and also called Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) or Bapa Malaysia (Father of Malaysia), was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya...

Despite the Federal Government's denial that Malaysia is an Islamic state, the present Badawi Administration have gradually furthered the agenda of Islamic supremacy at the expense of other races and religions. The spread of Christianity is a particular sore point for the Muslim majority, and as such, the Government (despite being of a plural composition, but the Malay component, UMNO, always has the final say) typically drags its feet when it comes to approving Churches, and often they will disapprove the setting up of Churches outright. In some cases, they have even resorted to demolishing churches in Muslim-majority areas, and setting up mosques in Muslim-minority areas. The Malaysian government has also persecuted Christian groups who were perceived to be attempting to proselytize to Muslim audiences^[10].

In 2004 and 2005, the Government caused an uproar within the Chinese community by closing down and demolishing some ancient Chinese temples in Chinese-majority areas. In as recent as June 2006^[11], the Government has demolished more than 30 Hindu temples in Hindu majority areas. While the non-Muslim public suspects that there is a behind the scene systematic elimination of non-Muslim religious rights in Malaysia by Islamic supremacists within the Government, the Government itself has repeatedly denied this, though they did not apologize for these acts either.

The government has claimed that the practitioners of other faiths are a minority compared to the Muslim population. However, surveys have consistently shown that there is still an insufficient number of churches and temples available for use by non-Muslims, compared to Muslim places of worship (such as mosques and suraus) that are everywhere whether there is a sizable Muslim population or not. Furthermore, the financing for the construction of temples and churches are seldom state-sponsored. In almost all cases, the construction or setting-up of non-Muslim places of worship are financed privately by the devotees themselves. This is in stark contrast to Muslim places of worship, which are built with public funds. The government has also given non-Muslims a hard time setting up their churches and temples despite the fact that these will be privately-financed on privately-owned land.

At the same time, the Malaysian authorities typically have a pro-Muslim bias when it comes to demographic data, and they also do not justify the construction of mosques in places where it is not needed. Local housing bylaws require that the housing developer construct mosques in every new housing area regardless of the racial and religious demographics. Furthermore, the figures for the rate of conversion to Islam are not very clear as many apostates do not bother registering with the Shariah Court for apostasy (since they are legally not allowed to leave the religion), and instead they just stop being practicing Muslims. Therefore, figures on the Muslim population of Malaysia are generally highly unreliable, as can be seen in the high number of pending apostasy applications (see below).

There is a National Fatwa Council, as part of the Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, JAKIM).

Apostasy from Islam in Malaysia

Main article: Status of religious freedom in Malaysia

In recent years this topic has started to create a debate within Malay society and politics. The most documented case was that of the Sky Kingdom which was seen as the litmus test for religious freedom. The status of religious freedom in Malaysia is a controversial issue. ... Sky Kingdom (in the Malay language, Kerajaan Langit) was the name of the commune of the so-called “teapot cult” founded and led by Ariffin Mohamed, also known as Ayah Pin (Ayah is a common honorific meaning father). The commune was demolished by the government of Malaysia in July 2005. ...

Head of the Malaysian State of Perak Mufti (religious head) Dato' Seri Haji Harussani Zakaria announced that there are about 650,500 Muslim apostates in Malaysia in 2005. This figure includes about 300,000 Malay Muslims who have declared themselves Christians. This announcement was made on a TV Forum entitled "Pekerti Islam" in the Malaysian State of Kedah recently which was aired by RTM (Malaysian TV & Radio Department) in April 2006. Another 300,000 Muslims are in the process of filing for apostasy while the rest are filing to have their Muslim name changed to "other religion name."

It has been argued that the true number of apostates is much lower, and that the 650,500 figure is an exaggeration. One academic has said that only five hundred Muslims between 1994 and 2003 applied to the Syariah Courts to renounce their status as a Muslim, while about 7500 applied to the National Registration Department (NRD) to change a Muslim name to a non-Muslim one. Reportedly, five states (Perak, Malacca, Sabah, Terengganu, and Pahang) have made apostasy from Islam a criminal offense.^[12] For other uses, see Perak (disambiguation). ... This article is about the state in Malaysia. ... For other uses, see Sabah (disambiguation). ... State motto: Islam Hadhari Terengganu Bestari State anthem: Terengganu State Anthem Capital (and royal capital) Kuala Terengganu Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin1  - Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 12,955 km² Population  - 2005... State anthem: Pahang State Anthem Capital Kuantan Royal capital Pekan Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Ahmad Shah  - Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob History    - Federated into FMS 1895   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 35,964 km² Population  - 2005 estimate 1,372,500  - Density 38. ...

See also

• Religion in Malaysia
• Status of religious freedom in Malaysia

Malaysia has a population of just over 26 million (2006). ... The status of religious freedom in Malaysia is a controversial issue. ...

Notes and references

Unpublished thesis of Dr. Imankalyan Lahiri titled TREND AND TRANFORMATION OF MALAYSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY UNDER DATO SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMMAD, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 2006 For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

Lahiri Imankalyan, Mahathir's Islam: A Socio-Political Construal, Ekush Stak, Kolkata, 2005

External links

Original source of this information in Malay [5]