INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE POLICY IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious federal state characterized by a complex interaction between Islam as the religion of the Federation and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion for non-Muslims. This article examines the institutional mechanisms underlying Malaysia’s policy of religious tolerance, focusing on constitutional provisions, governmental institutions, legal frameworks, educational policies, and interfaith dialogue initiatives. The study analyzes how these mechanisms function in practice, evaluates their effectiveness, and identifies key challenges related to legal pluralism, political instrumentalization of religion, and societal change. The article concludes that Malaysia’s experience demonstrates both the potential and the limitations of institutional approaches to managing religious diversity in pluralistic societies.