Group claims new ploy used to convert Muslims

Malays are converted into Christianity through a "devious" strategy called "contextualisation", whereby Malays who have converted continue the facade of living as Muslims, an Islamic NGO said.

Mingguan Malaysia reported that Pertubuhan Muafakat Sejahtera Malaysia (Muafakat) said this strategy was detailed out in a doctoral thesis by an American priest, who interviewed 20 Malay Christians.

"Some of the apostates admit to still following their fathers to the mosque, fasting and even praying at home like Muslims," Muafakat secretary general A Karim Omar was quoted as saying.

He reportedly presented a working paper on this at a forum to discuss the Christian agenda, organised by NGOs Pertubuhan-pertubuhan Pembela Islam and Majlis Amal Islami Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Mingguan quoted A Karim as saying that the "contextualistaion" strategy helps the Malay Christians to get used to their "new position as apostates" and to avoid ostracisation by their own community.

"It's like in Indonesia where a church changes their mass prayers from Sunday to Friday to be closer to Islamic practice," he said.

He also claims that some 400,000 people worldwide are using this "contextualisation" strategy, but does not know the numbers for Malaysia.

Mingguan did not name the priest or the title of this thesis, butMalaysiakini's search on a database for doctoral dissertations for Christian missions since the year 1900 found several dealing with Malays or Muslims in Malaysia and Christianity.

This includes a 2001 thesis on how the development of Malay ethnicity in modern Malaysia affects the church, a 1993 thesis on explaining the crucifix to Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia and a 1928 thesis on assimilation of Christianity by Malays on the then Malay peninsular.

'Church bringing in foreign missionaries'

Meanwhile, Berita Harian reported that A Karim also alleged that a church in Subang, Selangor is cooperating with overseas missions to bring preachers meant to convert Muslims in Malaysia.

"Two of them are often seen moving between Central Market and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, dressed neatly and wearing a tag which says 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," he was quoted as saying.

Separately, Berita Harian also reported that a Bible and video compact disc and leaflets about Christianity was placed at a bus stop in Jeli, Kelantan by two men "believed to be in an effort to deviate Muslims".

It said that local children found the material in an envelope, prompting the villagers to report the matter to the police.