Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged all states to enforce laws to prevent people of different religions from spreading their beliefs to Muslims.

He said states should take steps to maintain harmony in the multiethnic country, the Bernama news agency reported.

"Why are they still not doing it? To those states that have not (passed such laws), they should consider. Take whatever actions needed," Abdullah said.

Kuala Lumpur, Penang and the states of Sabah and Sarawak had yet to pass laws to prevent other faiths from spreading their beliefs among Muslims, Bernama said.

Abdullah also said he kept reminding people to avoid debating religious issues as it could cause racial tension.

"I have always said, do not raise this matter. But it emerges here, there, back and forth. If we take the attitude (not to raise), then only the religion (Islam) has the status quo," he said.

Muslim outraged

He also said that Islam's position as the official religion was decided when the country gained independence in August 1957.

"Many matters had been decided upon because they hoped these would not become problems in the relationships among the people of Malaysia. That was their hope," he said.

Race relations in Malaysia have become increasingly strained recently after a series of controversial court cases.

In one incident that created outrage, an Islamic court ruled that a Hindu man be give a Muslim burial against the wishes of his family, after Islamic religious officers claimed he had converted.

Malaysia is also awaiting a court ruling soon on an application from a woman, Lina Joy, to renounce Islam.