E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 27 Malaysia 96. In June 2000 the Government reportedly decided that all Muslim civil servants should be required to attend courses on Islam. These courses, which focus exclusively on Islam to the exclusion of other religions in Malaysia, are apparently not optional and are therefore an obligation for all Muslim civil servants. This measure is of questionable compatibility with the principle of the neutrality of the civil service. 97. The Malaysian Government replied: “… in Malaysia, freedom of religion is guaranteed for each and every citizen, as enshrined in article 3 (1) of the Federal Constitution. As such, no one can be coerced into professing a religion against his will. For its own part, the Malaysian Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the right to religious freedom is not infringed and to the importance of religious tolerance. As you are aware, Malaysia is a multicultural and multi-religious country. Consequently, the Malaysian Government takes its responsibility to promote religious and cultural harmony very seriously and to this end has instituted many programmes and activities, many of which have been successful. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Government views deviationist religious teachings with great concern, particularly in Islam, which is the official religion of Malaysia. These deviationist teachings are often extremist and violent in nature and, if left unchecked, will destroy the social harmony which has been built up through the years. Hence, the Malaysian Government had proposed that government agencies conduct classes in order to explain to civil servants the true message of Islam and, in so doing, quell the spread of such deviationist teachings. These classes are open to all and, while attendance is encouraged, it should be emphasized that they are by no means mandatory. Furthermore, it should be noted that these classes build on those already held in the past, albeit done then in an ad hoc manner. Given that these classes have been conducted with the aim of promoting religious harmony, the Malaysian Government fails to see merit in the allegation that attending these classes would impair the neutrality of civil servants. While civil servants are required to be politically neutral, all Malaysians are expected to play their role in the promotion of religious and cultural harmony. Indeed, it is entirely possible that, as Islam exhorts its believers to be fair and just to all regardless of religious and political belief, rather than impairing the neutrality of civil servants, these classes may in the end emphasize the principle of neutrality.” 98. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the Malaysian authorities’ legitimate desire to combat all forms of extremism and requests the Malaysian Government to apprise him of the programme and contents of the courses for civil servants. The Special Rapporteur believes that such training should instil a culture of human rights based on the principles of non-discrimination and tolerance with regard to religion and belief.