Malaysia
Asia
Area 330,434 sq km. Two distinct parts:
Peninsular (West) Malaysia on the Kra peninsula
of mainland Asia (PM), and East Malaysia (EM)
consisting of the territories of Sarawak and
Sabah on the northern third of the island of
Borneo. Well-watered, tropical rainforest.
Population Ann Gr Density
2010 27,913,990 1.72% 84/sq km
2020 32,016,875 1.28% 97/sq km
2030 35,275,495 0.88% 107/sq km
PM 79.2%; Sabah 12.0%; Sarawak 8.8%.
Capital Kuala Lumpur 1,519,166. Other major
cities Penang 1.4 million; Klang 1.1mill. Urbanites
72.2%. Chinese and Indians are largely urban. Pop
under 15 yrs 30%. Life expectancy 74.1 yrs.
The Malay population is increasing at the
expense of the Chinese and Indian populations.
Bumiputeras (indigenous peoples) 58.4%.
141 peoples.
Malay 41.8%. Peninsular Malay 26.0%; Orang Pantai
Timur 8.2%; Orang Negeri 3.3%; Indonesian 2.9%.
Predominantly rural, but dominating politics, civil
service, armed forces and police.
Tribal peoples 16.6%. Borneo-Kalimantan (91
peoples) 7.6%; Banjar(2) 4.7%; Filipino(10) 3.1%. A
majority in Sarawak, and largest segment of Sabah’s
population.
Chinese 31.0%. 12 peoples. Hokkien 7.0%; Hakka
6.3%; Cantonese 5.1%; Teochew 3.7%; Mandarin 3.6%.
Influential in commerce and business.
South Asian 9.4%. Tamil 6.6%; Nepali 0.8%. Mainly
urban or poor estate workers. Almost all in PM.
Southeast Asia 0.8%. 10 peoples.
Other 0.4%. Western, Arab, Iranian and others.
Literacy 88.7%. Official language Malay
(Bahasa Malay). All languages 145. Indigenous
languages 137. Languages with Scriptures
16Bi 10NT 24por.
Export-based nation producing rubber, palm oil,
petroleum and forest and agricultural products as
well as, increasingly, hi-tech manufacturing.
Large-scale industrialization and increased
exploitation of natural resources has rapidly
boosted the economy. Government-enforced
programmes since 1971 include positive
discrimination in order to uplift the Malay and
indigenous populations’ economic status to a
level closer to the Chinese and Indian groups
who have dominated the economy since before
independence. A new wave of immigrants from
poorer Asian countries, attracted by the wealth,
continues to increase.
HDI Rank 66th/182. Public debt 40% of GDP.
Income/person $8,118 (17% of USA).
Independent from Britain in 1957 as the
Federation of Malaya. In 1963, Sabah and
Malaysia
Brunei
Kuala Lumpur
Thailand South China Sea
Indonesia
Singapore
Sarawak
Peninsular Sabah
Malaysia
oChristian help ministries for prayer:
a) Bible translation. Completing the whole Bible in Lomwe and Chilambya is the next major
challenge. The Yawo Bible will be finished in 2011. Several minority languages are without
a NT and may need translations.
b) The Bible Society. There are great demands for Scripture for local use and for the refugee
community – but limited funds to meet them. Many rural Christians have no Bibles. The
Bible in audio format is a fast developing ministry; Scriptures and/or teaching already exist
in 26 languages (Bible Society, GRN, TWR).
c) Literature is much sought after, but expensive. Pray for an adequate supply of quality reading
material for the literate, growing, but poor Church. The bulk of available literature includes
secondhand Christian books in English and some locally published material.
d) Christian radio. The national broadcasting network regularly airs Christian programmes.
Local channel All Nations Radio covers half of the districts in the country. TWR now
broadcasts 24/7 from Lilongwe along with six other private local Christian stations, including
the African Bible College and FEBA.
Sarawak joined to form Malaysia, a federation of
13 states with a constitutional monarchy.
Recent years have been dominated by the
efforts of the politically powerful Malays to
extend their influence over the non-Malay half
of the population in educational, economic and
religious life, enriching and empowering
themselves, while many normal Malays are left
behind. The ruling party has recently lost its
majority to a broad coalition of Chinese, liberal
and Islamist parties. Political Islam, both in the
ruling party as well Islamist opposition groups,
threatens to further polarize the country on
both religious and ethnic lines.
Sunni Islam is the official religion. Despite
constitutional freedoms, discriminatory
legislation and actions against minorities seem
to be creeping in. Shari'a law, applicable for
Muslims only, actually supercedes constitutional
law on many issues, a portentous issue in a
country with a strong and agitating Islamist
movement. Proselytism of Muslims is illegal, but
considerable effort and lawmaking is exercised
to induce tribal peoples and other minorities to
become Muslim.
Religions Pop % Population Ann Gr
Muslim 62.61 17,476,949 2.0%
Chinese 12.70 3,545,077 0.6%
Christian 9.43 2,632,289 1.9%
Buddhist 6.50 1,814,409 1.1%
Hindu 6.20 1,730,667 1.4%
Non-religious 1.30 362,882 5.2%
Ethnoreligionist 0.90 251,226 -2.3%
Baha’i 0.30 83,742 -0.2%
Sikh 0.06 16,748 -1.4%
Christians Denoms Pop % Affiliates Ann Gr
Protestant 47 3.22 898,000 1.6%
Independent 18 0.79 220,000 2.8%
Anglican 1 0.90 250,000 2.6%
Catholic 1 3.06 855,000 1.8%
Orthodox 1 0.01 2,000 -1.8%
Marginal 7 0.05 13,000 4.3%
Unaffiliated 1.40 391,000 0.0%
Churches MegaBloc Congs Members Affiliates
Catholic Church C 168 452,381 855,000
Methodist Church P 382 109,871 303,984
Anglican Church A 274 145,349 250,000
Evang Ch of Borneo SIB P 1,090 110,000 242,000
Independent Churches I 601 84,118 143,000
Seventh-day Adventist P 343 51,500 64,000
Basel Christian Church P 179 30,440 55,400
Assemblies of God P 325 34,097 53,486
Malaysia Baptist Conv P 184 18,750 37,500
Protestant Ch of Sabah P 302 17,964 30,000
Full Gospel Assembly I 62 12,500 25,000
Presbyterian Church P 100 7,000 14,500
Christian Brethren P 150 6,750 13,500
CNEC Churches P 102 4,600 11,500
True Jesus Church I 36 7,200 11,448
Other denominations[51] 905 66,703 127,868
Total Christians[75] 5,203 1,159,2232,238,186
TransBloc Pop % Population Ann Gr
Evangelicals
Evangelicals 4.3 1,207,985 2.9%
Renewalists
Charismatics 2.3 653,369 2.8%
Pentecostals 0.5 141,261 3.8%
Missionaries from Malaysia
P,I,A 430 (380 long-term), 180 international.
Answers to Prayer
1 Greater accountability in the political sphere as a strong coalition opposition brings
balance to Parliament. Amid significant corruption and abuses of power comes a growing
hope for and expectation of genuine justice, political transparency and less discrimination
against all minority groups.
2 The maturation of the Church. Growth is steady if not spectacular, but churches are
increasingly engaging in the social and political spheres. They are increasingly savvy about
how to operate as a vibrant and outward-focused faith in an Islamic nation.
3 Christians are networking and cooperating as never before, across confessional,
denominational and even racial lines. National-level networks for churches, for evangelicals,
for prayer and for mission agencies are all growing in strength and effectiveness.
Challenges for Prayer
1 Malaysian society faces a troubled and contested future as fault lines appear.
a) Malays, the largest, most dominant and most quickly growing population, are divided
among themselves on a number of levels. Pray for changes in these realms:
i Economic. The ruling party’s affirmative action of the last 40 years has enriched a minority
of Malays, while increasing the gap between the connected elite and the poorer majority.
Such discrimination and favouritism now hobbles economic progress as well as foreign
investment.
ii Political. The ruling party, UNMO, faces an opposition coalition comprised of moderates,
liberals, Chinese ethnic parties and even Islamists. This indicates the level of disillusion with
the government. The next election will demonstrate if the coalition’s recent strong
showing is based on large-scale change or is just a protest vote against UNMO. Appeasing
both the minorities and conservative Muslims, while holding the country together, is a
difficult balancing act.
iii Religious. Powerful and vocal Islamist agendas are resulting in passing legislations on state
and federal levels that effectively introduce sharia law for Malays and deepen the divide
between Islamic radicals and moderates/liberals. Many rural Malays practice a folk Islam
influenced by pre-Islamic Hindu and Buddhist elements as well as animist practices; they
will inevitably be pushed into adopting a “purer” version of Islam.
b) Minority groups feel frustrated with discrimination and corruption as well as with changes
to civil and religious liberties. Some seek legal and political solutions, but others plan for a
future outside Malaysia – a potentially tragic loss of diversity and economic clout for a land
that has long prided itself on both.
2 Islam is gaining ground in both numbers and socio-political power. Although many,
including large numbers of Malays, are opposed to shari’a, the creeping changes in
Malaysian public, religious and legal affairs are cause for concern and for prayer.
a) Islam itself is a battleground. With over 100 radical Islamist groups, there is never-ending
agitation for sharia and the subjugation of all Malaysia to a much stricter version of Islam.
Pray against the imposition of a harsh, aggressive Islam, which would bode ill for moderates,
for minorities and for any Christian ministry.
b) Apostasy laws make conversion from Islam illegal in all but one state, with many states
meting out harsh punishment for such offenses. It is nigh impossible for a Muslim (and
therefore, by definition, for all Malays) to legally change their religion. Pray that federal
constitutional rights might be upheld in courts. Pray for discretion and courage for all
Muslims who choose to follow Christ.
c) Proselytizing Muslims is technically not illegal in federal law, but it is illegal in the more
powerful state law in 10 of 13 states. Punishment includes a prison sentence and caning. Malays
are increasingly isolated from the gospel, both socially and legally; pray for opportunities for
them to encounter Jesus. Pray also for wisdom and fearlessness for Christians seeking to share
the good news with Muslims.
3 Religious freedom for all faiths is constitutionally guaranteed despite changes that
threaten this. Pray especially that the Christian community may continue to possess the
liberty to practice, profess and propagate their faith amid the discrimination and intimidation
arising from the process of Islamization currently occurring.
4 The Christian community faces many challenges beyond the external issues of
religious freedom and evangelizing Muslims. Pray for:
a) Unity among Christians. They face social ills, injustices and growing discrimination
against ethnic and religious minorities. The Christian Federation of Malaysia represents
evangelicals, Catholics and mainline denominations before the government. The National
Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) consists of evangelical churches and organizations
focused on building unity, prayer, ministry and mission. The NECF assists evangelicals in
transforming the nation by promoting economic sufficiency, justice/advocacy and national
righteousness.
b) Godly leadership within the Christian community. Pray for godly leaders who are prepared,
at considerable cost, to lead their churches by nurturing and empowering members to live
godly lives – in the discipline of prayer and the task of evangelism – as they manifest witness
to the concerns and needs of every sphere of society.
c) Lack of Christian workers. Many smaller churches have no trained pastor, even with a
healthy number of Bible colleges, seminaries and church-training programmes. Too few
respond to God’s call to service because of family expectations, materialism, a lack of role
models and the perception that years of theological training are required.
d) Marginalization creates anxiety, a ghetto mentality and the desire to withdraw from being
the witnesses Christians should be. Emigration rates of professionals and Bible schoolgraduates are high.
5 Since Malay became the official national language, Christians have been confronted
with a series of challenges. Pray for improvements in:
a) The need for Christian literature in the Malay language. Writers are few and the market is
still small, yet the younger generation is educated in this medium. There are numerous
Christian bookstores, including online ones, and an active Bible Society.
b) Restrictions on the use of the Malay language Bible and other Christian books. These were
banned when the government deemed their contents to be detrimental to public peace. One
main issue is the use of the word Allah for God in such material. After forcing Malaysians to
use Malay as a common language, the government now fears that such use in Christian
literature and services will induce Malays to become Christian. Pray for Christian publishers
and ministries to be strong and shrewd in defending their legal rights over this issue.
c) The language used in church services. Many churches, especially Catholic and the SIB, have
congregations that use Bahasa Malaysia. Implementing an official and national language
could be a positive development; pray that freedom to use the language in its entirety, by all
faith communities, would reflect the multi-faith and multi-cultural make-up of the nation.
6 Ministry to young people is crucial as the generation gap widens and many churches
consist predominantly of older people. The temptations to young people – criminal
activity, gambling, substance abuse, sexual immorality – are more pronounced than ever and are
part of the reason for the resurgence of fundamentalist Islam. Many Indian, Chinese, East
Malaysians and immigrants are finding Jesus through agencies such as YFC, CCCI, Navigators,
SU, FES(IFES) and others working in schools and universities. Pray for these ministries and
their focus on discipling Christian young people to stand against the many influences that draw
them away from their Saviour.
7 Expatriate Christian workers have declined in numbers due to visa restrictions. Their
presence is still valued, and various ministries depend on their input. Pray for the issue of
necessary visas and extensions; long-term presence is possible for those with adequate funds.
Pray also for effective ministry within the limitations that exist.
8 The missions vision of the Church in Malaysia continues to increase. There are over 30
agencies invested in the harvest. The NECF as a national body trains local congregations
and denominations to send out qualified workers. The Malaysian Centre for Global Missions
also works to this end. Major agencies include Interserve, WBT, OMF, OM, STAMP/Strategic
Missions Program, Methodists and YWAM. Many independent churches send workers directly
as well; these are nearly impossible to enumerate.
9 The immigrant and foreign labourer population has swelled to over two million
– probably significantly more with illegals included. They come from Indonesia,
Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, India and elsewhere. This includes some
of the world’s least-evangelized peoples such as Acehnese and Miningkabau. Most work for
very low wages in difficult, often back-breaking, labour. They are mostly Muslim but with
some Hindus and Buddhists as well. The Malaysian Church has a wonderful opportunity to
reach many unevangelized groups who are right on their doorstep. Pray that Christians might
have the vision and the courage to reach out and seize this opportunity.
