Apologise or we will hold bigger protest, Muslim group warns priest

Mohd Khairil speaking to reporters, warning of bigger protests if Reverend Andrew does not apologise. - The Malaysian Insider pic, January 5, 2014.A Muslim non-governmental organisation has threatened to hold a bigger protest unless Herald editor Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew apologise for his remark that Catholic churches in Selangor will continue to use the word "Allah" during its weekend services.

One of the most outspoken groups on the issue, the Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat, however, only saw a turnout of 40 people at a gathering it held today at Padang Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Klang, to protest against the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims.

Addressing those gathered, the joint chairman of the group Mohd Khairil Husin said: "Failure to do so will result in you (Andrew) being the 'figure' responsible for the anger among the Muslims and the Malays.

"We would also like to remind you, sir, of our call for you to apologise. The deadline for you to do so has ended as at 8.30am today."

There were no banners but those who gathered repeatedly shouted the "takbir". They also recited the doa.

"We do not want any feelings of hostility with anyone," Mohd Khairil said.

However, he posed a question for Andrew: "By not using 'Allah' in worship, will it reduce your religion's glory?"

Mohd Khairil stressed that "Allah" is a special word for God, meant only for Muslims, and it is not a direct translation of the word "God".

"We are disappointed with you, sir (referring to Andrew), as we feel that your remark is seditious and will create a situation of disharmony between Muslims and Christians," he said during a press conference after the protest.

He also reminded Andrew of the Court of Appeal's verdict delivered by judge Datuk Seri Mohammad Apandi Ali.

"I note from a quick research on the history of the language of the Bible, it is clear that the word 'Allah' does not appear even once as the name of God or even of a man in the Hebrew Scripture.

"The name 'Allah' does not appear even once in either the Old or New Testaments. There is no such word at all in the Greek New Testaments."

"As such, it can be concluded that the word or name 'Allah' is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity, in particular that of the Roman Catholic Church."

The protest ended at about 10.30am.