Is Malaysia an Islam country?
By mic_tcs
@mic_tcs (264)
Malaysia
March 12, 2007 3:06am CST
Some of the BN representatives have been stressing that Malaysia is an Islam country. What do you think of this?
8 responses
@android781 (46)
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
predominantly muslim, yes... but islamic, not quite... the malaysian constitution guarantees, though limited, freedom of religion... it does not stipulate whether it is a secular or an islamic state and shariah law is only partially imposed... that's probably because a sizable portion of its population is non-islamic, namely, ethnic chinese and indians and some indigenous malay tribes...
malaysia is a member of the OIC, and so does lebanon which is almost half christian and half muslim -- clearly not an islamic state....
FYI: only two countries are truly islamic (where shariah law is in full force)-- saudi arabia and the islamic republic of iran....
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
13 Mar 07
Libya, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Kuwait only to name a few more.
@qouniq (1966)
• Malaysia
12 Mar 07
Yes they are actually. If you noticed that malaysia is one of the member of OIC and there is no way for non islamic country to be a member of this organization. The rules a based on islam but not forgetting the non islam tolerant in their country.
1 person likes this
@aissar (414)
• Malaysia
12 Mar 07
I would like to shout out here that, YES! Malaysia is an Islamic country. It's a member of OIC. And the Constitution states clearly that Islam is the main religion of this country. Muslim is the predominant population, no matter what others think.
But I'm a chinese though. Lol just expressing things as facts, not based on emotions.
@mic_tcs (264)
• Malaysia
12 Mar 07
I know malaysia is a member of OIC, Islam is the main religion, Muslim is the predominant population, but then Malaysia is not an Islam country. Maybe it looks like an Islam contry because of all this factor, but the fact that Syariah Law is not the law we are using makes Malaysia not an Islamic country. I don't think any country which proclaims an Islamic state will not use the Syariah Law.
@alirana (297)
• Malaysia
14 Mar 07
Malaysia the country with tremendous kind of religiously harmonized state with Islamic laws prevailing the most of the civil laws for the mass. Country has been nicely managed and controlled by the Muslims leaders.This multiracial society is enticingly peaceful. All citizens are enjoying the faith and religious freedom. All sect are equally treated by the law.There is no one has edge of race or faith on each other. But the majority of the population is Muslims so this has put this country under the flag of OIC. Country's leadership is acting nicely towards the Muslim nations problems. Even i have found that so many secular or non Islamic countries can't provide such kind of freedom to minorities as the Malaysian laws are providing. So its should not be a issue that Malaysia is Muslim country. As long as all the citizens are treated same despite of faith and race.
@android781 (46)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
the status of religious freedom in malaysia is such a hot issue...
article 3(1) of the malaysian federal constitution stipulates that: "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation." (this would exclude the idea of malaysia being an islamic state)
..this establishes islam as the state religion thus putting limitations and therefore straining the practice of the others -- virtually putting control over one of their fundamental parts, that is propagation (of the faith) or proselytization.
further, religion becomes problematic for an ethnic malay who wants to convert to let's say christianity or buddhism because article 160 of the FC defines malay as being one "who professes the religion of islam...", among others(to do otherwise would be to jeopardize his malay ethnicity)... so there seems to be no way out for him. therefore, malaysians are free in all but religion..
@android781 (46)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
... i forgot to mention that in malaysia, it's best to keep religion in status quo....
@mic_tcs (264)
• Malaysia
14 Mar 07
I don't think Malaysian have the religious freedom. Muslim is not allowed to convert their religion. Even for those who originally who are not Muslim, then change to Muslim, then want to convert his religion back also cannot. Somemore why a person who marry a Muslim needed to be converted to Islam no matter what religion he originally is? This proves that we actually don't have the freedom in religion. This is just some of my opinion.
@palpalsky (899)
• United States
12 Mar 07
well i dont know ..but i have heard its very beautiful country
1 person likes this
@redhairshanks (63)
• Malaysia
13 Mar 07
no..this is because malaysia still using law that more to sekular..and they are proven to use sekular lifestlye like the turks..the law of islam is less important in there as western law is well implemented there
