'Not happy with Allah ruling? You can always move out'

Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has urged the Malaysia Christians community  to accept the Court of Appeal's decision outlawing the use of the word 'Allah' by Catholic weekly The Herald, adding they could always consider emigrating if unhappy.

Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman (left) said as Malaysian citizens, Christians must accept the supremacy of Islam in the country.

"(Any) action challenging that fact erodes their loyalty to the royalty and country.

"They can choose to move to any other country if they cannot accept the supremacy of Islam and the royalty that protects the supremacy of the religion," he said in a statement today.

He said that Christians must safeguard the country's harmony among races and religions.

"Abandon any efforts that will affect racial harmony as Muslims in this country will oppose any ill intention from any party that want to threaten their (Muslims’) future," he said.

The Court of Appeal today overturned a High Court judgement, upholding the Home Ministry's ban against The Herald from using the word "Allah".

The court had ruled that the word "Allah" was not integral to the Christian faith and had also cited potential harm to public order as one of the basis to its decision.

The initial High Court judgment in 2009, which favoured The Herald, was followed by a series of Church bombings.

The Catholic publication's editor Father Lawrence Andrew has said that they will appeal the decision.