RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: ITS REALITY AND PROSPECTS IN MALAYSIA

Religious dialogue has become an effective mechanism in promoting ethnic and religious harmony. After declaring 2001 as the year of dialogue among civilisations, this approach has been well received in Malaysia. As a result, several dialogues of civilisation and religions had taken place. Although these dialogues were lifeless and cautious in the beginning, they began to develop in a positive manner forging understanding and at the same time minimising conflicts. This article essentially discusses religious relations in Malaysia that are marked by several major and minor conflicts, with the offer of a dialogue mechanism for religious groups as an alternative solution. In this proposed dialogue, certain code of ethics needs to be adhered to by all parties concerned so that its benefits can be attained within the Malaysian reality.