'No protest at churches'
Noh, together with other party members, announcing that Selangor Umno would not hold any rallies in front of churches.
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SHAH ALAM: Selangor Umno has promised not to hold any rallies in front of churches today. What’s more, it has urged the police to act against any group that does so.
Its liaison chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the state Umno would not take part in any protest in front of churches over the issue of non-Muslims using the word “Allah”.
He told a press conference here yesterday: “We do not support anyone who takes part in any protest in front of any place of worship as we are only dissatisfied with (Catholic priest) Father Lawrence Andrew.
“It is very unfair to slam everybody just because of one person.”
Father Lawrence, the editor of the Catholic weekly, The Herald, was reported as saying that Catholic churches in Selangor would continue using the word “Allah” in their weekend mass.
Subsequently, about 350 copies of Bibles and Christian publications were taken by Jais (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) and the police from the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia in Damansara Kim last Thursday.
The raid was conducted under the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 that prohibits the use of the the word “Allah” and other Quranic terms by non-Muslims.
It was earlier reported that Selangor Umno would protest in front of churches to express dissatisfaction over the issue.
While expressing support for the Jais move, Noh urged the public to be calm, saying police were conducting investigations.
“There is the Enactment in Selangor that clearly prohibits non-Muslims from using 35 Arabic words, including “Allah”. And there is our Sultan, who is the head of the religion. Then, there are the police. We must respect all of these,” he said.
Noh blamed Father Lawrence for “the problem” and reiterated the stand of Selangor Umno for him to retract his statement and issue a public apology.
“He (Father Lawrence) is challenging the state Enactment and has committed treason by going against what the Sultan had said on this issue.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had decreed on Dec 14 that all citizens in Selangor must abide by the prohibition on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims as provided for under the Enactment.
Noh also urged leaders not to make statements without citing the Enactment, adding that different states had different sets of law.
Klang MP Charles Santiago, meanwhile, said that the South Klang police chief Asst Comm Kamarul Zamat Mamat has given an assurance that there would be no trouble during Sunday mass as the men in blue would be on standby at Our Lady of Lourdes church.
Cops to be on standby at churches despite Umno announcement
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PETALING JAYA: Police will still be on standby at churches today despite Selangor Umno announcing that it will not hold any protest in front of any place of worship over the issue of non-Muslims using the word “Allah”.
Selangor police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan confirmed that his men would be on standby to ensure that no untoward incident occurred.
“We are always ready (for any eventuality),” he said when contacted yesterday.
“Whatever they (Selangor Umno) or any other group say about holding or not holding a protest, we have to be on the alert. It is our job.”
SDCP Shukri earlier said that everyone should keep calm and act rationally over sensitive issues.
He also urged those planning to take other actions – including sending memorandums to churches – to rethink their plans.
He said there were better ways than to march in large groups to hand over memorandums.
SDCP Shukri also reminded the public that action could be taken under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 against any group holding illegal rallies.
“But if they heed police orders to disperse, there will be no need for action,” he said.
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