Freedom of religion in Malaysia

Freedom of religion is enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution. First, Article 11 provides that every person has the right to profess and to practice his or her religion and (subject to applicable laws restricting the propagation of other religions to Muslims[1]) to propagate it. Second, the Constitution also provides that Islam is the religion of the country but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony (Article 3).

Quotes

• There is obviously no absolute freedom of religion in Malaysia. First, the political need to conflate 'Malay' with 'Muslim' ensures that it is forbidden for Malays/Muslims to leave Islam, ....
  • Governance for Harmony in Asia and Beyond - 110 Julia Tao, ‎Anthony B. L. Cheung, ‎Martin Painter · 2009

• Even so, it seems that there are still some restrictions imposed against one’s rights to fully exercise freedom of religion in Malaysia Nowhere is this deprivation of rights evident than in Article 11 (5) of the Constitution. It implicitly places restriction to this freedom on the grounds of public order and morality, and thus the right of exercising any religious act that deemed contrary to any general law relating to such grounds is inconceivable. In the case of Muslims, there may be additional restrictions applied to religious freedom by virtue of Schedule 9, List II, Item I of the Constitution. This provision grants power to State Assemblies to enact laws to punish Muslims for offences against the edicts of Islam and human dignity...
  • Islam and Religious Expression in Malaysia - 60 Azizuddin Mohd. Sani · 2020