HC Deb 13 December 1989 vol 163 c639W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Malaysian Government concerning the introduction of public whipping for those who have changed from Islam to other faiths.

Mr. Sainsbury

We are aware that certain Malaysian states, not the federal Government, have introduced laws providing for the whipping of apostates. We know of no cases to date of such whipping being carried out. We have, nonetheless, registered our concern with the Malaysian authorities.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Malaysian Government concerning the censoring of the Bible, and the banning of other Christian literature.

Mr. Sainsbury

We are aware that some Malaysian states, not the federal Government, have introduced laws for the "Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions" forbidding the use of several religious words and phrases in the Malay language by non-Muslims. We understand that this has led to difficulties in the production and distribution of Bibles published in Malay. We have registered our concern with the Malaysian authorities.

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