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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Church continues to use 'Allah' despite threats

Amidst threats of protests, the Malay language mass at the Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang continued to use the term "Allah" today.

The term was used at least four times during the mass in prayers and hymns. However, for the most part, the congregation used the word "Tuhan" and "Bapa" to refer to God.

The Malay language mass was held this afternoon after the English and Tamil mass. The English and Tamil mass did not use the word "Allah".

The Malay language mass serves a congregation that are mostly from Sabah and Sarawak, as well as some foreigners from neighbouring countries.

At one point, a hymn was sun in Vietnamese.

Before the final blessing, parish priest Michael Chua who led the mass thanked the congregation for showing up.

"I thank everyone for coming and to show support. It shows the strength of our faith despite claims that there would be a riot but has not happened," he said.

He also thanked the police stationed outside for protecting worshipers and the Church.

Lower turnout

Chua said he hoped that Christians will some day be allowed to use refer to God in their own language.

"We to pray that the situation will continue to be peaceful in Malaysia and we can respect each other.

"We pray that Christians will have the freedom to choose their language in referring to God," he said.

After the mass, Chua said although the turnout during the English and Tamil masses were the same, the Malay-language mass had a lower turnout than usual.

He estimated the congregation for the Malay language mass to be around 200 instead of the usual 300.

The government has imposed a ban on Christians in peninsula Malaysia from using the word "Allah", claiming that it is exclusive for Muslims.

A Court of Appeal ruling last year also backed the government's decision.

The Sekretariat Solidariti Muslim Klang had today protested at a field some 1km away after the Christian publication The Herald editor Lawrence Andrew insisted that Christian will continue to use the word "Allah".

Chua revealed that he had lodged a police report prior to the protest.

"It was solely to ask for protection," he told journalists.

by Nigel Aw

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