Encyclopedia of Islam

Malaysia

---

as “a person who professes the religion of Islam.” 

There are few obstacles to anyone who wishes to 

convert from Buddhism or Christianity to Islam.

During the last decades of the 20th century 

and the early 21st century Malaysia has been 

dominated by the United Malays National Orga-

nization (UMNO), seen as the more moderate 

political party of the Muslim community. It is 

opposed by the Parti-Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), a 

more conservative group that has as its stated goal 

the transformation of Malaysia into an Islamic 

state that would adhere to sharia law, including its 

punishments, such as amputation and stoning.

See also  b

Uddhism

 

and

  i

slam

;  b

UmipUtri

;  d

ar

Ul

-a

rqam

; 

colonialism

; 

crime

 

and

 

pUnishment

; i

d

al

-a

dha

; 

sUltan

.

J. Gordon Melton