Malaysia PM calls for halt to proselytising of Muslims

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Reuters) Malaysia's prime minister urged the country's states to enforce laws that bar the preaching of other faiths to Muslims, or to frame such laws if they did not have them already.

''Why are they still not doing it?'' state news agency Bernama quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, an Islamic scholar, as saying. ''To those states that have not (legislated such laws), they should consider. Take whatever actions are needed.'' Islam, which is followed by some 60 per cent of a population of about 26 million, is Malaysia's official state religion, although the constitution provides for limited religious freedom.

The constitution also defines Malays, who number more than half the population, as Muslim.

Among Malaysia's other races are ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indians, who practise such beliefs as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism and other Chinese religions.

Proselytising to Muslims, while not illegal under federal law, is outlawed in most Malaysian states.

Asked to comment on why three Malaysian states -- Penang, Sabah and Sarawak -- as well as the federal territories, consisting of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, the administrative capital, Putrajaya and the offshore financial centre of Labuan, lacked such laws, Abdullah said the states should consider the issue and act to preserve racial harmony.

Abdullah said that he had always reminded people not to raise religious issues as they could provoke conflicts if left unattended, the agency said.

REUTERS SK BST0434