u/TheQuietCelestia

As the title says.

My partner and i are Malaysians (legal Muslims) and currently exploring the possibility of moving to Singapore in the future.

We both are closeted exmuslims, come from Malay Muslim backgrounds and personally non-religious/private about our beliefs. So i'm curious about the lived experiences of Malays in Singapore who are secular, non-practicing, or no longer religious like us.

**We also have plan to renounce legally so that we wont tied to Sharia laws anymore.

We’re already seeking professional advice regarding work opportunities and long-term residency pathways, so this post is more about the social and personal side of things.

For Malays who are non-religious, secular, or no longer practicing Islam, how has your experience been living in Singapore? Especially with other Malays around you.

I’m especially curious about:

• social acceptance
• workplace environment
• friendships and social life
• family/community expectations
• whether you feel comfortable being yourself openly or prefer to stay private

I’m asking respectfully and genuinely just to understand different lived experiences. Thank you in advance to anyone willing to share.

**Disclaimer: I am not here to spreading hate and debating about religions. I am genuinely asking out of curiosity respectfully.

An honest and respectful letter to all Muslim lurkers here.

Again.

From One Former Muslim to Muslims Reading This.

One thing i hope people understand is that many closeted ex-Muslims are not asking to destroy religion, insult Muslims, or create chaos in society.

Most of us understand why Muslims feel protective of Islam. We were Muslims too before this. We understand concepts like dakwah, nahi mungkar, and the belief that guiding others back is part of religious responsibility.

But what many people may not realize is that when someone no longer believes internally, constantly being legally, socially, and psychologically tied to a religion they no longer identify with can become deeply painful and exhausting.

This is not about hatred toward Muslims.

This is not about taking Islam away from anyone.

This is not about rejecting coexistence.

It is about asking whether freedom of conscience, dignity, and legal autonomy can exist peacefully for everyone. Including Malays whose beliefs have changed.

A society becomes stronger when people can coexist without fear, even when they believe differently.

We are still human beings.

We still deserve safety.

We still deserve compassion.

And we still deserve to live honestly without being treated as enemies.

Hi. Greetings. Especially to all muslim lurkers here.

I want to say this calmly, respectfully, and honestly as a fellow Malaysian (as a neutral closeted ex-muslim).

This is not an attack on Islam, Muslims, Malays, or people who choose to practice their faith sincerely. Every person deserves the right to practice their religion peacefully and safely.

What some of us are asking for is the same principle in return: freedom of conscience and equal protection under the law.

There are Malaysians who no longer internally share the same religious beliefs they were raised with. Some of us did not choose these feelings lightly. Many struggled silently for years out of fear, guilt, confusion, and concern for family and society.

Yet for Malays especially, leaving Islam legally is extremely difficult socially and legally. This creates a situation where some adults feel trapped between their personal conscience and the identity imposed onto them by the system.

This is not about mocking religion.

This is not about encouraging chaos.

This is not about insulting Muslims.

It is about asking a sincere human question:

Can a person be allowed to live honestly and peacefully without fear, even if their personal beliefs change?

Article 11 of the Federal Constitution speaks about freedom of religion. Many Malaysians believe that freedom should include the freedom of conscience itself;

because genuine faith cannot exist through force, fear, or legal pressure alone.

No one should be harmed for practicing Islam peacefully.

And no one should feel unsafe because they no longer believe internally.

We are not asking to take away anybody’s religion.

We are not asking Muslims to stop practicing their faith.

We are not asking for hostility toward Islam.

We are simply asking for compassion, legal clarity, dignity, and the ability for consenting adults to live authentically without fear of punishment, humiliation, or social destruction.

Many closeted Malaysians live quietly with anxiety, isolation, and psychological distress because they feel they cannot exist honestly within the current system. These are real human beings. your fellow citizens, colleagues, friends, children, siblings, and neighbors.

A peaceful society should be strong enough to allow different beliefs to coexist without hatred.

Freedom of conscience does not threaten sincere faith.

Compassion does not weaken religion.

And allowing people to live honestly does not destroy society.

We all deserve safety, dignity, and humanity under the law.