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The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has asked churches to print and put up posters reminding parishioners to be discerning at the polls.
Called 'Vote Wisely', the posters urge Christians to back political parties with, among others, a track record in protecting 'citizens' rights on freedom of religion, conscience and speech'.
Candidates, they add, should have high standards of 'accountability, integrity and honesty'.
Malaysian churches, which have traditionally kept out of the political arena, have over the years become more politically aware. Hence, they dispense such advice to their parishioners.
Hindu temples in the country are also increasingly being used for politically related activities in a growing sign that mosques are no longer the only religious places in the country where political awareness is imbued.
The CFM is the largest Christian body in the country, covering three-quarters of the churches in Malaysia. About 9 per cent of the country's population of 26 million are Christians.
'We are doing this because we want Christians to pray for free and fair elections. It is the social obligation of Christians to go out and vote,' CFM executive secretary, the Reverend Dr Hermen Shastri, told The Straits Times.
The CFM distributed similar posters during the 2004 polls, he said, but denied that churches were getting involved in politics.
Churches would stay neutral, the Rev Shastri said.
'Churches are aware of certain issues affecting the country. For example, during the Lina Joy case, churches prayed for the issue to be resolved. This may make some of the parishioners think hard about such matters,' he said.
Last year, Ms Lina lost a legal battle to have her conversion to Christianity from Islam recognised. The case was seen by many as highlighting the state of religious freedom in the country.
Likewise, Father O.C. Lim, of St Francis Xavier Church in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, stressed that he is politically neutral, even though he is known for peppering his sermons with reservations about the Internal Security Act (ISA), for example.
'Since the prophets' time, Christians have been advocating justice,' he told The Straits Times.
On Feb 27, the church, whose parishioners are mostly urban, educated people, will host a dialogue with candidates vying for seats in the the parish area.
It did the same thing in previous elections.
Rev Shastri said that while what the churches are doing is no different than in past elections, lingering racial-religious problems today have made their role more noticeable.
Some mosques in Malaysia have all along been political, with sermons laced with political messages liberally slamming leaders ranging from those of Umno in the ruling coalition to members of opposition party Parti Islam SeMalaysia.
In some villages, Muslims even choose their mosques according to their political inclinations.
And more Hindu temples are seeing politically related activities on their grounds - a development that came in the wake of a rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) last November.
The Indian community's support for the government has plummeted since the rally, which saw thousands taking to the streets to protest against what they saw as unfair government policies.
Hindraf leaders have also been using temples to champion their cause.
This is a fairly new development in Hindu temples, traditionally used not only as a place of worship but also as a community area for functions like wedding receptions.
Such actions have drawn criticism from Malaysia's top Indian leader, Malaysian Indian Congress president S. Samy Vellu, who last week slammed the opposition for using temple grounds for their political campaigns.
But the president of non-governmental organisation Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Datuk A. Vaithilingam, said that when politicians are invited to functions at temples, they also talk about politics as the polls draw closer.
'Sometimes, temples hold prayers for Hindraf activists held under the ISA. After that, people there talk about politics. It's a matter of perception,' he said.
In any case, he added, he has not heard of any Hindu priests getting involved in politics.
