E/CN.4/1995/91 page 59 Malaysia In a communication dated 18 August 1994, the Special Rapporteur addressed the following comments to the Government of Malaysia: "The Special Rapporteur has been informed that measures have been taken to strengthen the anti-conversion laws. The State of Johor in southern Malaysia is reported to have adopted in 1991 a ’law relating to the control and restriction of the propagation of non-Islamic religions’, article 4 of which provides as follows: ’A person shall be deemed to have committed an offence if he or she by persuasion, influence, compulsion or incitement, or by holding or organizing an activity, presentation or entertainment induces or incites a Muslim to become an adept, member or supporter of a non-Islamic religion.’ Under this law a fine of $4,000 and a four-year prison sentence may be imposed. According to reports received, in the towns of Johor, Bahru, Mukim, Plentong and Pasir Guolang, Christians encounter considerable difficulty in obtaining permits for the construction of places of worship. The local authorities are said to refuse or postpone the issue of permits. The following case has been brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur: In 1993, a town council allegedly approved the construction of the main edifice of a Catholic church. However, in August 1993, following a public protest by the local Muslim community, the authorities cancelled the building permit. In the educational sphere, in some Christian schools education officials are reported to have required the removal of all crosses and Christian symbols and their replacement by a star or crescent. The Special Rapporteur has also been informed that the Ministry of the Interior censures the employment of certain words whose use in the national language is restricted to Muslims and prohibited for non-Islamic religions. The words include Allah (God) and Salat (prayer). As a result, the sale of the Bible in Malay is allegedly banned as it contains some of the censured words. According to some reports, in the State of Kelantan the authorities intend to introduce the laws translating "Al Hudud", which under the Shariah treat theft, rebellion, adultery and fornication, false accusation of sexual offences, drunkenness and apostasy as crimes. Although Muslims make up 7 per cent of this State’s population, the authorities are said to be attempting to introduce laws calling for amputation of a finger or a hand for theft, 100 lashes for sexual offences and the death penalty for apostasy."