Muslim groups - some peaceful,some aggressive - gather as Court hears Allah strike-out bid

VIDEOS INSERTED PUTRAJAYA - Muslims groups, some peaceful and some aggressive, are waiting outside Malaysia's Court of Appeal where a bid by the Catholic church is being heard.

The Church wants to strike out an appeal by Prime Minister Najib Razak's government against a ruling made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2009 that had upheld the right of non-Muslims to use the word 'Allah' to describe God.

"We will accept whatever the decision of the court today but this will not be end of our fight. It will continue but in peaceful means," Nasharuddin Mat Isa, the chairman of Islamic foundation Nassar told Malaysia Chronicle. Nasha is also a senior PAS leader.

However, other Muslim groups milling in the front on the courthouse were less patient.

"Aman (peaceful)? Perang lah (this is war)," yelled one of the crowd in response to a query from Malaysia Chronicle if they would disperse peacefully if the Appellate court ruled in favour of the Church.

Motives of those in "executive power" questioned

Meanwhile, the Christian group was represented by a dozen of so clerics led by Father Lawrence from the Kuala Lumpur archdiocese.

"Our Archbishop has called on all Catholics and Christians to go to the churches to pray this morning. All the churches in KL for example are open from 9 to 12 noon. There is no point in coming here and risk an untoward incident happening," Father Simon Labrooy, one of the priests who came, told Malaysia Chronicle.

Father Simon questioned why "those in executive power" had not kept to the 10-point agreement announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak as a solution to the problem last year.

The priest also queried the motives behind a late statement from former Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who had said there was no basis for the Church's bid to strike out the government's appeal.

Hisham is Najib's cousin and the pair have been accused of insincerity in rolling out the 10-point 'solution' as a sop to Christians ahead of the recently-concluded May 5 general election.

"I am wondering if he is trying to influence things. Why jump the gun," said Father Simon.