| Total Area: |
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329,750 sq. km
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Population:
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23,092,940 (est. July 2003)
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Ethnicity:
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Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Bumiputera 11%, Indian 7.1%, Others 7.8% (est. 2004)
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| Language: |
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Bahasa Melayu (official), English, various Chinese dialects, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai. In East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and Kadazan
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| Religion: |
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Muslim 58%, Buddhist/Chinese 21.6%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 5%, non-Religious/other 4.5%, Traditional ethnic 1.20%, Baha’i 0.4%, and Sikh 0.1%. Sunni Islam is the official and favored religion in Peninsular Malaysia, and there is continual pressure to apply the same in East Malaysia, where Islam is a minority.
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| Government Type: |
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Constitutional Monarchy
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| Capital: |
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Kuala Lumpur
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| Population Below Poverty Line: |
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8% (1998)
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Malaysia was formed as a federation of thirteen states in 1963. As a constitutional monarchy, there are guarantees of religious freedom. Generally religion is divided along ethnic lines, with a significant Buddhist Chinese population as well as Hindu Indians. The government considers Islam to be an essential part of the ethnic Malay identity and all ethnic Malays are legally considered Muslims. Non-Malays are free to convert to Islam, but conversion from Islam to any other religion is strongly discouraged. Legislation to punish converts from Islam was rejected by the government, as long as those who do convert do not defame Islam after their conversion. However, should a Malay convert, the government has several means conveniently available to them to keep them from being recognized as a true convert to Christianity. A young lady came to Christ in February 1997. With her conversion came the customary name change, which would identify her as a Christian rather than a Muslim. Lina Joy has been engulfed in legal battles since she became a Christian. In September 2005, the Superior Court rejected her appeal, saying that the right to change religion is not guaranteed in the Constitution.
Christian literature must be printed for non-Malays only and ethnic Malays are not allowed a Christian place of worship. Permits for building churches are rarely granted and house churches are strongly discouraged. Freedom of speech and public assembly are also restricted. Christians form nine percent of the country's people.
Distribution of a popular translation of the Bible in the official language of Bahasa Melayu is, in effect, forbidden and the Indonesian Bible, which is a similar language, has been banned, along with Christian books containing certain phrases common to Islam. In April 2003, the Iban-language Bible was banned, calling it a "detriment to public peace." Iban is an indigenous language spoken on the island of Borneo and the Iban Bible had been in use by the Christians in the state of Sarawak for fifteen years. Within weeks the ban was lifted due to protests, but the acting prime minister emphasized that the Malaysian Home Ministry would ban any publication "disseminating extremist views and teachings on any religion."
Prayer Requests
- Pray that militant Islamic elements in Malaysia will not gain further power.
- Pray that Malaysian Christians will be free to practice their faith in Jesus Christ.
- Pray that Christians will stand firm in their faith, despite the opposition.
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