Malaysia will not see a separation between state and religion in the near future, said Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer Dr Maznah Mohamad at a seminar in Penang.

The deputy dean of the university's school of social sciences stressed that religion was too entrenched in the Malaysian constitution for such changes to become an eventuality.

The Federal Constitution, the highest law in the land, states that Islam was the official religion of the country while freedom of other religion and worship was guaranteed.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself had announced in 2001 that the country was an Islamic state, drawing flak from opposition party DAP.

"Although it is an issue that people are concerned about, not many would say so publicly," said the lecturer.

The seminar entitled, 'The Origins of Religious Liberty in America: the Enlightenment Thinkers vs the Civic Republicans' was organised by USM's school of social sciences.

'Religious' America

Presented by Prof James L Clayton, a visiting history lecturer from the University of Utah, the seminar discussed at length several schools of thoughts ranging from the Puritan, Evangelical, Civic Republicans and Enlightenment views.

Clayton, who teaches US Constitutional and Economic History, spoke about the influence of enlightenment views on the Americans, and how it prevailed over other views to turn the country into a secular state.

The lecturer, who has received three distinguished teaching awards, told the audience that despite being a secular state, America was the most "religious" society in the world.

He said a survey conducted in 2000 revealed that 96 percent of Americans believe in God, most profess the Christian faith and 40 percent attend religious worship every week.

"A very high wall has been enacted between the government and church but it encourages people to be religious.

"The state is not anti-religion, it is secular in the public sphere but it is pro-religion in the private sphere," he added.