IT is still too early to say that Christians are facing less discrimination in Malaysia despite a newly published survey claiming otherwise, said National Evangelical Christian Fellowship chairman Eu Hong Seng.

A survey listing countries with the highest level of Christian persecution has touted Malaysia as among three countries globally that show “signs of hope” for Christians in 2019.

In the World Watch List 2019 released yesterday by the non-denominational mission Open Doors, Malaysia scored 42 out of 50 countries on the difficulties of practising Christianity.

When contacted, Eu however said the improvement as stated in the survey could just be a perception.

“On the surface, Malaysian Christians appear to have greater religious liberty to express their faith, subject to certain constraints and religious sensitiveness,” he said.

“However, it is too early to say that things have improved that much as it is more of a perception. This is because hostility and distrust towards the Church by key religious leaders and the grassroots have not shifted much.

“This is evidenced by the recent ‘lighted cross’ incident in Penang, where lights appeared in a building in the shape of a cross, not a real cross. Also the cases of missing pastors are still unresolved. Hence the Church continues to be concerned,” Eu said.

Despite its improved ranking, Malaysia, which came in at a higher level at 23 last year, is still listed as posing “high” levels of discrimination against Christians.

In a report published with the release of the survey yesterday, Open Doors said while “peace and stability” for the religious community is to be welcomed, the missing status of pastor Raymond Koh leaves a black mark on the country.

Koh, another pastor, Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth, and Muslim activist Amri Che Mat are all believed to be victims of “enforced disappearances” sanctioned by the state.

Christians make up 9.2% of Malaysia’s population, according to the most recent census in 2010, the second largest religious minority after Buddhists.

Asia also became the new “hotbed of persecution for Christians”, as China climbs the list from 43rd place to 27th, and India enters the top 10 for the first time in the list’s history.

“These figures show that persecution in Asia has risen sharply over the last five years with one in three Asian Christians now suffering high levels of persecution,” it said.

Topping the list of the most extreme persecution against Christians are North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya and Pakistan. – January 17, 2019.