The government will seek an explanation from the US embassy here before deciding on whether to lodge an official protest against a recent US government report which accused Malaysia of restricting religious freedom.

"We want to hear their side of the story. We wish to find out the criteria they applied in coming up with the report.

"If we were to find that it ... is totally untrue and completely baseless, we'll submit a protest note," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama.

The annual International Religious Freedom Report issued by the US State Department listed Malaysia alongside Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Brunei, Belarus, Eritrea, Moldova and Israel as among nine countries with laws or policies that favoured certain religions and placed others at a disadvantage.

According to news reports today, Syed Hamid said Malaysia's inclusion was unacceptable and was made with bad intentions.

"From the way the report was prepared, I think they have a mission and that is to tarnish our image as a multi-religious country," he added.

Christmas cards

The report also drew flak from Deputy Information Minister Khalid Yunus, who on Sunday dismissed it as "irresponsible and untruthful".

"It is shocking for the US State Department to issue such a misleading, irresponsible and untruthful report.

"The whole world knows the religious freedom that exists in Malaysia, that we have close relationships and understanding among the people as far as freedom of religion is concerned.

"They can come here and see for themselves how tolerant we are," he said.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had also rejected the report, saying the fact that all Malaysians celebrated together the various festivities of the major religions was a mark of tolerance.

"Ask the Christians, Buddhists and Hindus who have their churches and temples here. Don't ask me. If I talk, they will not believe. Ask others and they will tell you we practise religious freedom," he said over the weekend.

"What they are saying is all not true," said the premier, who sent personal Christmas cards to 1,500 pastors and Christian leaders in the country yesterday.