You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Zainab Badawi.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program and I hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Zainab Badawi.

Malaysia has one of Asia's most vibrant economies the result of decades of stability and economic growth. It's also a

multi-ethnic, multi-religious federation, but the majority ethnic Muslim Malayses dominate the

country politically. Are racial and religious divides now threatening Malaysia's stability

and future prospects? There's growing concern that such

tensions have been getting worse since the new government took office last year.

My guest is Malaysia's Minister for Islamic Affairs, Mujahid Yusif Rawa.

Minister Mujahid Yusif Rawa, welcome to Hard Talk.

Thank you very much, Zayana.

How serious are the current religious tensions we're seeing in Malaysia?

Well, Malaysia is a multiracial and multirigious country.

The relationship between all different religions in Malaysia and race is defined by the constitution.

Islam being the official religion of the Federation, Article 3, states that very clear.

And within the same article, it mentioned also that other faith are free to practice.

And Article 11 clearly mentioned about freedom of religion, but with a caveat that only the Islamic religion can be promoted.

All right, but I did ask you about, okay, fine, you've set the scene for us there with your constitution.

But look, for example, a year ago, you took office your government did the Alliance of Hope in May last year.

November last year, we saw a particularly nasty incident of violence breaking out

near a Hindu temple in Selangor,

after as many as 200 masked individuals entered the temple

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