The Council of Churches has criticised PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for alleging that only the uneducated embrace Christianity.

"Hadi seems to ignore that the very thing he accuses Christians of doing are the very same thing Islamic agencies and institutions are doing in our country and beyond.

"There are many documented reports of Islamic missionary activities in the country, especially targeting the natives of Sabah and Sarawak to win people to Islam with all kinds of incentives," said CCM general secretary Hermen Shastri.

Hadi was quoted by PAS organ Harakah as saying that Christian missionaries spread the gospel in Africa and rural Borneo because educated folk in the west reject the religion.

The Marang MP also said the missionaries use money and other inducements to attract people to Christianity.

Shastri said instead of wrongly-accusing Christians, Hadi should focus on reaching out to Muslim youths who have been radicalised to join militant group IS.

"A Muslim leader like him should concentrate on these matters within his religion and not criticise other religions," he added in a statement today.

There have been several reports of natives in Sabah or Sarawak allegedly duped into converting to Islam, in return for cash inducement.