#50 in Christian persecution, Malaysia

[LoricaLady]

SCORE
63.45
REGION
Asia
PERSECUTION TYPE
Islamic oppression
RELIGION
Islam
PERSECUTION LEVEL
Very High
POPULATION
32,289,000
CHRISTIAN
3,028,000
GOVERNMENT
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
LEADER
King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah

PROFILE OF PERSECUTION​

Violence	3.3/16.7
Church Life	10.2/16.7
National Life	11.6/16.7
Community Life	11.5/16.7
Family Life	14.3/16.7
Private Life	12.5/16.7

How the scoring worksDownload country dossier with in-depth research

What does persecution look like in Malaysia?​

Every ethnic Malay is expected to be Muslim, according to the country’s Constitution. Those who convert to Christianity break the law and run head first into severe pressure from their families and communities. Converts are seen as betrayers of all that Malay society values most. All non-Muslim religious groups are watched by the authorities, as are non-governmental organizations, but the greatest focus is on non-traditional Protestant groups because these groups are more likely to actively testify about their faith, which is illegal.
Tumultuous Malaysian politics in recent years have resulted in more of an emphasis on conservative Islam, and have made radical factions feel freer to make statements opposing religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians. Converts from Islam to Christianity experience the most pressure and hostility of any group in the country.

Meet “Reina”​

Reina heard stories about Jesus and was fascinated. When a local partner gave her a Bible in her own language, her fascination turned to faith. But she was frustrated by not being able to share her faith effectively with her illiterate husband and children. Then the partner gave Reina a USB stick with a complete audio Bible in her language, plus a PDF copy of the Bible and videos of the four Gospels. Now she is able to share Jesus with her family in a way they can understand.

What has changed this year?​

Malaysia continues to be a difficult place for Christians, particularly those who convert from Islam. As Malaysia swings more deeply toward radical Islamic belief and practice, the potential for Christian persecution increases. There is less tolerance, or even hope of tolerance, with the new government than in past years. To maintain order, the continued policy of preferential treatment for ethnic Malay people puts anyone outside Islam under tighter scrutiny.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?​

There are no hotspots of persecution for Christians in Malaysia. However, the All non-Muslims are at risk in Malaysia. Though there are no prominent hot spots where persecution is greater, the pressure to conform is immense. Islamic missionary work among Christians is encouraged; even state-supported plans of conversion to Islam have been published.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Overt Christian work and ministry are not allowed in Malaysia—but Open Doors recognizes that the greatest weapon in this or any other nation is intercessory prayer for the believers. Open Doors raises awareness of the situation for Christians in Malaysia and provides specific prayer points to help the worldwide Church remember and lift up Malay believers. We also work with ministry partners to supply and distributed Bibles and discipleship materials.

Population statistic: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2021).​

Pray for Malaysia​

• Pray with the people of Malaysia who would rather follow Jesus than stay within their country’s religious laws. Ask God to bring them the spiritual nurturing they need in their isolation.
• The pendulum of politics in Malaysia has swung away from religious freedom and safety for Christian converts. Pray for religious freedom and a more even-handed application of laws and principles.
• Ask the Lord to gift more partners with creative ideas, such as USB sticks and audio Bibles, for getting God’s Word and other faith-building materials into the hands of believers and seekers in Malaysia.

Stories from Malaysia​

January 18, 2021

13 Christians murdered for following Jesus—every day​

Read More -

January 14, 2021

Betrayed, watched and martyred: 5 major trends in persecution against Christians​

Read More -

August 23, 2020

DENIED!—8 places where starving Christians are refused government relief​

Read More -
Load More Stories

 

[Pioneer3mm]

View attachment 325113
SCORE
63.45
REGION
Asia
PERSECUTION TYPE
Islamic oppression
RELIGION
Islam
PERSECUTION LEVEL
Very High
POPULATION
32,289,000
CHRISTIAN
3,028,000
GOVERNMENT
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
LEADER
King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah

PROFILE OF PERSECUTION​

Violence	3.3/16.7
Church Life	10.2/16.7
National Life	11.6/16.7
Community Life	11.5/16.7
Family Life	14.3/16.7
Private Life	12.5/16.7

How the scoring worksDownload country dossier with in-depth research

What does persecution look like in Malaysia?​

Every ethnic Malay is expected to be Muslim, according to the country’s Constitution. Those who convert to Christianity break the law and run head first into severe pressure from their families and communities. Converts are seen as betrayers of all that Malay society values most. All non-Muslim religious groups are watched by the authorities, as are non-governmental organizations, but the greatest focus is on non-traditional Protestant groups because these groups are more likely to actively testify about their faith, which is illegal.
Tumultuous Malaysian politics in recent years have resulted in more of an emphasis on conservative Islam, and have made radical factions feel freer to make statements opposing religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians. Converts from Islam to Christianity experience the most pressure and hostility of any group in the country.

Meet “Reina”​

Reina heard stories about Jesus and was fascinated. When a local partner gave her a Bible in her own language, her fascination turned to faith. But she was frustrated by not being able to share her faith effectively with her illiterate husband and children. Then the partner gave Reina a USB stick with a complete audio Bible in her language, plus a PDF copy of the Bible and videos of the four Gospels. Now she is able to share Jesus with her family in a way they can understand.

What has changed this year?​

Malaysia continues to be a difficult place for Christians, particularly those who convert from Islam. As Malaysia swings more deeply toward radical Islamic belief and practice, the potential for Christian persecution increases. There is less tolerance, or even hope of tolerance, with the new government than in past years. To maintain order, the continued policy of preferential treatment for ethnic Malay people puts anyone outside Islam under tighter scrutiny.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?​

There are no hotspots of persecution for Christians in Malaysia. However, the All non-Muslims are at risk in Malaysia. Though there are no prominent hot spots where persecution is greater, the pressure to conform is immense. Islamic missionary work among Christians is encouraged; even state-supported plans of conversion to Islam have been published.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Overt Christian work and ministry are not allowed in Malaysia—but Open Doors recognizes that the greatest weapon in this or any other nation is intercessory prayer for the believers. Open Doors raises awareness of the situation for Christians in Malaysia and provides specific prayer points to help the worldwide Church remember and lift up Malay believers. We also work with ministry partners to supply and distributed Bibles and discipleship materials.

Population statistic: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2021).​

Pray for Malaysia​

• Pray with the people of Malaysia who would rather follow Jesus than stay within their country’s religious laws. Ask God to bring them the spiritual nurturing they need in their isolation.
• The pendulum of politics in Malaysia has swung away from religious freedom and safety for Christian converts. Pray for religious freedom and a more even-handed application of laws and principles.
• Ask the Lord to gift more partners with creative ideas, such as USB sticks and audio Bibles, for getting God’s Word and other faith-building materials into the hands of believers and seekers in Malaysia.

Stories from Malaysia​

January 18, 2021

13 Christians murdered for following Jesus—every day​

Read More -

January 14, 2021

Betrayed, watched and martyred: 5 major trends in persecution against Christians​

Read More -

August 23, 2020

DENIED!—8 places where starving Christians are refused government relief​

Read More -
Load More Stories

More of His comfort to Christians in Malaysia..
- in the midst of persecution.

 

[TylerBibleThumper]

So many nations and so many people are ruthless and completely unhinged in their unjustifiable hatred for Christians. Just because Jesus said Christians would be persecuted for their faith does NOT make me feel better about the whole situation. In fact, it makes me feel worse because the LORD technically has the power to stop the demons in their tracks and bring well-deserved ruin upon them for they are wicked and evil. Although I really love Jesus? I often wonder why he doesn't act when it's needed most. All GOD has to do is will it and the lions that prowl for the ruin of souls would be no more.

 

[LoricaLady]

Many people of course wonder about the injustices in the world and why the Lord doesn’t stop them.

This is my understanding. He does have sovereignty. But temporarily he has placed control in the hands of human beings.

It’s sort of like a president of a company is ruler over the company, but he puts people in charge under him.

In addition to that, it seems that Adam and Eve forfeited their rights to truly rule on this planet, and left the door open for the devil to take over.

The Bible says the devil is the prince of this world. People let him get away with all kinds of things. Some even partner with him, even sometimes willfully and knowingly.

We have free will. We can pray and we can obey and get the blessings from that. Or we can rebel. The history of human beings is mostly rebellion.

How many people obey and truly love the Lord and others the way, Messiah commanded? Almost nobody.

Of course the good news is that the situation isn’t going to remain the same.

We are learning a lot. We are learning what happens when we aren’t fully submitted to the perfect ways of the Almighty.

As the Bible says, the problems of this world are not worthy to be compared to the glories ofbheaven, for those who are faithful. What’s down here is very temporary as well as very often evil.

But the Lord is always there to help us, depending on the depth of our faith and the amount of light we have gained. And according to his mercy, even if we don’t have any faith or any light.