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century, fostered ethnic segregation. This policy resulted in separate Opinion Articles
communities for Malays (primarily Muslim), Chinese (mainly Buddhist),
and Indians (adhering mostly to Hinduism or Christianity). While this
segregation allowed communities to practice their faith freely, it also
hindered cross-cultural understanding, sowing the seeds of religious and
ethnic intolerance.

Early Efforts in Interfaith Dialogue

The first formal efforts to promote interfaith dialogue in Malaysia
began with the founding of the Pure Life Society in 1949. The society aimed
to foster mutual understanding through lectures, forums, and charity work.
However, these early dialogues remained informal due to more pressing
issues of community development, especially in the aftermath of World War
II.
With the establishment of the Inter-faith Spiritual Fellowship (INSaF),
the Pure Life Society intensified its efforts to build interfaith harmony
through structured religious services, seminars, and forums. These early

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