Turning Malaysia off inter-faith strife

Since 2008, Malaysia has witnessed a series of incidents, which though piecemeal and coincidental, threatens the very fabric of Malaysian multi-ethnic and multi-religious co-existence. Many, including Muslim lawmakers from both the government and opposition camps, have voiced strong concerns over the growing trend of majority Muslim Malaysians imposing their religious beliefs onto citizens belonging to ethnic minorities. This paper proposes three remedies to the current tension: Reforming the office of muftis of all states; inculcating inclusive Islamic discourses amongst Muslims; and finally, nurturing a culture of mutual respect and mutual learning