KUALA LUMPUR: Contrary to some media reports, the 2003 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report does not criticize the amount of religious diversity in Malaysia or a lack of interaction among the many faiths found in the country.

The report (which is an annual Congressionally-required report that discusses religious freedom in every nation) instead notes that in Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, but that “the constitution provides for freedom of religion.”  The report also states that “non-Muslim religious minorities generally workshop freely, although with some restrictions.”

The full text of the Executive Summary of the 2003 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report and the specific report on Malaysia are being made available on this website to allow everyone to read the report and make their own judgments:

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/27185.htm (Executive Summary)
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/23838.htm (Malaysia report for 2003)