Christians and Muslims in search of common ground in Malaysia

According to its constitution, Malaysia is a federation and a secular state. But due to the special position given to the Malays, who usually adhere to Islam, Islam is declared to be the ‘official' religion in the federation — although not necessarily in all of its member states, which differ i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Schumann, Olaf 1938- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge [1991]
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Year: 1991, Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages: 242-268
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:According to its constitution, Malaysia is a federation and a secular state. But due to the special position given to the Malays, who usually adhere to Islam, Islam is declared to be the ‘official' religion in the federation — although not necessarily in all of its member states, which differ in their ethnic and religious composition. The federal constitution generally guarantees religious freedom, but it provides that the propagation of other faiths among Malays and Muslims may be prohibited by law. In recent years, however, the Christians together with the other non-Muslims feel a growing restriction of their freedom while the federal government pursues a policy of creating a common ‘Malaysian culture' oriented towards Malay, and thus Islamic, values. This would change the open and pluralistic character of Malaysia — which is more than just peninsular Malaya — substantially and carry the danger of compartmentalizing society.
ISSN:0959-6410
Reference:Kritik in "‘Christians and Muslims in search of common ground in Malaysia' (1991)"
Contains:Enthalten in: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596419108720960