In recent years the politics of new religious movements (NRMs) has raised the issue of the shifting relationship between state and religion. In Southeast Asia this relationship has never been ignored or downplayed because the political authoritarianism of many governments comprises an important factor in the reduced autonomy of religious institutions. This research note briefly describes the emergence of NRMs in Malaysia and theft relationship to the state. It examines the intricate links between politics, ethnicity, and religion to demonstrate the inseparability of secular power and religious innovation.
