SARAWAK: Islamic Nation, Christian State


Sources: The Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 2010, Department of Statistics

According to the statistics provided by Department of Statistics, a total Christian population in the nation has recorded 9.2% in 2010, which is 2,617,159 out of 28,334,135 in Malaysia. Among a number of 2.6 million of that Christian population, 710,447 are living in Peninsula Malaysia, 853,726 in Sabah and 1,052,986 in Sarawak. In other words, a majority of 72.8% of Malaysian Christian residing in Sabah and Sarawak.

Sources: The Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 2010, Department of Statistics


In Sarawak, according to the statistics, majority of 42.6% of people in Sarawak are practicing Christianity in their daily life. In other words, although Malaysia is well-known as one of the  Islamic countries in Southeast Asia, the state of Sarawak has a majority of Christian believers, instead of Muslim. The writer of "Jesus in Beijing" - Dr. David Aikman once in University of Southern California talks about when a country reaches a critical mass of 25%, who are believing in anything, not necessary a religion like Christianity, it may change the society. It is because people from that particular group gradually hold the key positions in the governments, schools, enterprises and society as a whole.


Therefore, it is fair to make a statement that although Sarawak is a state in Islamic country, it is not necessarily for it as a state to have similar cultural, environment or constitution like other states have adopted in Peninsula Malaysia.

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