Press TV（http://presstv.com/detail/198737.html）
Religious tension simmering in Malaysia, 12 September 2011
The Malaysian Muslim community is angered by continuing allegations of conversion of Muslims to Christianity.
Muslim organizations, therefore, are pushing the government to criminalize any conversion efforts.
They have also held demonstrations and lodged police reports criticizing proselytization efforts, which they claim are carried out by churches and targeted at poor Muslims.
Islamic scholars have also denounced conversion efforts and said it is illegal and goes against the federal constitution of the country, which clearly prohibits non-Muslims from preaching to Muslims.
The issue came into light early last month when Islamic authorities stormed into a church following a tip-off that it was subtly converting poverty-stricken Malays.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has however not gone on the offensive against church authorities in the country.
Ruling politicians, themselves, say this is because the premier is trying to garner the support of non-Malays as talks about an impending general elections loom in the country.
Najib also established diplomatic ties with the Vatican last month to improve his standing in the Christian world.
Church leaders have denied these allegations.
Islam is the official religion of the country.
Prime minister Najib Tun Razak has asked the Muslim community in the country to keep calm as issues relating to race and religion are potentially dangerous in multi-racial Malaysia. The country bore witness to racial riots in 1969 and 2001 which left many dead and hundreds injured.
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