ABSTRACT
The Allah issue, United Malays National Organisation dominance and the institutionalisation of the Islamic faith have all contributed to the rise of Christian political consciousness in Malaysia. Political Islam is loosely referred to as the promotion of Islam and Islamic symbolism by political leaders and the institutionalisation of Islamic religious beliefs to justify the right of the Malay-Muslim population to power and dominance. The role of religion in politics is significant because it 'serves to create group solidarity, strengthening the ties between individuals and their society'. The Church, for instance, plays a role of 'instigator' 'for both political and social movements such as the civil rights movement'. Christians in Malaysia are generally politically apathetic. Church leaders are mostly conservative in their views of Christians' participation in politics. There are four main agents responsible for mobilising Christian political consciousness: Christian umbrella associations, individual Christian churches, Christian religious leaders and Christian political leaders.
