'Allah' row escalates, more protests lined up
Angry reaction over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims is set to peak after Friday prayers at several mosques nationwide.
Angry reaction over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims is set to peak after Friday prayers at several mosques nationwide.
More Muslim groups are adamant on protesting and are urging congregations to unite in a show of dissatisfaction, despite calls for calm by government leaders.
Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), led by Independent MP Ibrahim Ali (left), is among groups that will hold a demonstration. On Monday, its secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali told AFP that the group would protest outside major mosques.
Its Federal Territory chapter has posted a notice on its blog site calling on Muslims to participate in the demonstration against the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling, which allows Catholic weekly magazine Herald to use ‘Allah’.
When contacted, a FT Perkasa senior member, who declined to be named, said the group has been informed that a protest is scheduled.
“But I am not sure when, where, or even if, a demonstration is going to go on,” he said.
Asked about the blog posting, he replied: “You can refer to the site and what is posted on it, but I can’t confirm any of it.”
Another group dubbed Anak-Anak Muda Islam Selangor (Selangor Islamic Youth) also plans to hold a demonstration. 
A digital version of its poster, telling Muslims to demonstrate against the use of ‘Allah’ by the Catholic church, has been posted on various anti-PKR and pro-Umno blogs.
The posters, headlined ‘Allah Hanya Untuk Islam’ (Allah is only for Islam) urged Muslims to demonstrate after Friday prayers at the main entrance of the Shah Alam mosque.
Chosen locations
Four event pages have been set up on the social networking site Facebook by a group calling itself ‘Menentang penggunaan nama ‘Allah’ oleh golongan bukan Islam’ (Against the use of the name ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims).
The almost 85,000-strong group plans to protest in front of the Shah Alam mosque, the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and Pantai Batu Burok, Terengganu.
Other demonstrations are being planned at the Kampung Baru Mosque by the National Union of Muslim Students (known by its Malay acronym PKPIM) and the NGOs Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia and Wadah Pencerdasan Umat.
PKPIM president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said in a statement that the group fears “the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims may derail the faith of Muslims”.
Abim central secretariat staff members confirmed their participation to Malaysiakini which, however, was unable to contact senior officials for verification of the event.
Last Thursday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court set aside a Home Ministry ban on the use of the word by Herald.
The publication, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section, but the government has argued that the word should be used only by Muslims.
The term 'Allah' is widely used among indigenous Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, many of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.
The ministry has appealed the court ruling and today obtained a 'stay' order on use of the word in the interim.
