Kuala Lampur, January 05: Thousands of Malaysian Muslims rushed online to vent growing anger at a court ruling allowing Christians to use the word “Allah” when referring to God.
A newly-formed Facebook group in the local Malay language drew more than 43,000 Malaysians in a few days, reported.
Targeting Muslims “who realize that this is propaganda to confuse Muslims now and in future,” the group continues to draw 1,500 new supporters an hour.
The High Court overturned last week a government ban on the use of the word “Allah” by a local Catholic weekly, The Herald, in its Malay-language edition.
God… or Allah?
The government had threatened to revoke the weekly’s license if it continued printing the word.
The court ruling has angered many Malay Muslims, who make up more than 60 percent of the country’s population.
Hundreds gathered after the weekly Friday prayers to protest the verdict.
“The problem is that there will be lots of doctrines and principles promoted that would totally contradict Islamic theology,” Shad Saleem Faruqi, a constitutional law lecturer with Universiti Tekonologi Malaysia, told Reuters.
“There is a danger to public order here.”
Calm
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin cautioned politicians and the public against over-exaggerating reactions over the court ruling.
“We cannot make rash statements,” told reporters.
“We understand the sensitivity involved. What’s important is that we should be confident of the steps that the Government is going to take.”
Malaysia has a population of nearly 26 millions, with Malays, mostly Muslims, making up nearly 60 percent.
Christians, including a Catholic population of nearly 800,000, make up around 9.1 percent of the population.
Also recognizing the growing tension over the sensitive issue, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein urged calm.
“I am concerned that the court decision will make Muslims emotional and attract comments from all quarters,” he told.
“I wish to remind everyone that we are dealing with a very sensitive subject and we have to be very careful.”
The government minister promised to appeal the court ruling after proper study.
“As the issue involves the decision of the court via the legal process, the Home Ministry will review the matter and will submit its appeal to a higher court as soon as possible,” he said.
“As we await the appeal decision, I urge everyone to remain calm and not do anything to hurt the feelings of others, jeopardize our multi-racial society and create public disorder.”
-Agencies