ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
This study discusses the demographic aspects of the Christian community in Terengganu, a state predominantly inhabited by the Malay Muslim population. The issue addressed is the extent to which the Christian minority can practice their right to religious freedom as guaranteed under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, within a social and legal context that establishes Islam as the official religion. The purpose of this study is to analyze the status, development, challenges, and lived realities of the Christian community in Terengganu in terms of history, demographic statistics, freedom to build places of worship, as well as the influence of state policies and laws on their religious rights. The methodology employed is qualitative, involving document analysis, interviews with Christian religious leaders, and analysis of statistical data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia. The findings reveal that although the number of Christians in Terengganu is very small (approximately 0.3%), they are still able to freely practice their religion, evidenced by the existence of 14 churches across several major districts. However, the construction of new churches is limited and subject to stringent regulations by local authorities. Additionally, issues such as migration, lack of official data, and strict controls on proselytizing to Muslims constitute major challenges faced by the community. The study also identifies ongoing efforts to promote interfaith dialogue at both academic and societal levels, yet there remains room for improvement to further strengthen religious harmony in the state.
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