Nine Christians including four from Hong Kong were arrested and detained overnight for allegedly trying to convert Muslim students at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

The nine, who range in age from 20-30 years, were released this afternoon on police bail. They have denied the allegation.

Their lawyer Annou Xavier said two of those arrested are UPM students, while the rest are working adults.

He claimed that the group was visiting friends in a residential college last night, when two male students approached them, asking what they were doing there.

"The nine were arrested based on the police reports of five Malay students who claim that the group showed and gave them Christian pamphlets and material," said Xavier.

"The group have denied handing out the pamphlets as they were on campus to meet up with some Chinese Christian friends."

The five Muslim students subsequently lodged separate reports at the Sepang police headquarters.

The police arrested the nine, who were still at the residential college, Kolej 10, between 9pm and 10pm.

“The police reports stated that the nine had been showing and distributing pamphlets on Christianity and trying to convert Muslims,” added Xavier.

Police: Could be a misunderstanding

The lawyer also said the police have not informed either him or the group as to the provision of law under which the nine were arrested.

A member of the group, Yip Bok Wan, has lodged a police report at the same station to counter the accusations against them.

Yip, when contacted, refused to comment on the incident.

In Malaysia, non-Muslims are barred from proselytising to Muslims. If convicted, they are liable to be jailed for a minimum of two years.

A police spokesman said the nine were held on trespass allegations and that an investigation was underway, although he said he was confident the allegations were a "misunderstanding".

The Star daily reported this week that a police complaint had been lodged against two Muslim reporters with a monthly Islamic magazine, Al-Islam , who were accused of going undercover to a church to investigate alleged secret conversions.