Peace restored following firebomb attacks on Malaysian churches

Harmony has been restored in Malaysia after extremists firebombed nine churches and a Sikh temple over the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslim communities.

Religious leaders, the government and police helped restore peace following the attacks in a country where God is called ‘Allah’ by people of all faiths. No fatalities were reported and only one church was badly damaged.

The Rt Revd Ng Moon Hing, Bishop of West Malaysia, reported: ‘After a tense situation we have finally experienced a calm atmosphere. The police is trying to do their best to maintain order. Many negotiations are underway to defuse this situation. The political parties are doing their part and the government authorities are doing theirs. Church leaders have been meeting with the authorities to find a way forward for peace and harmony.’

He continued: ‘Violence will not bring peace. Though the solution is still far away, the present dialogues and meetings have certainly brought everyone into the picture to at least try to understand each other. We hope to work towards the idea from toleration to respecting each other’s presence, contribution and dignity.’

The bishop added: ‘I believe after the storm there will be calm. God has a better plan for the Malaysian Church.’

Archdeacon Steven Abbarow said: ‘The MB [chief executive] of Perak State said he felt this was the work of individuals who were emotionally upset, and not a co-ordinated affair. I told him we will not react emotionally but will pray for peace. He said they will do all they can to catch the perpetrators.

The attacks were sparked by a ruling of the Malaysia High Court in December that the Catholic weekly newspaper Herald could use the term ‘Allah’ for God, on the understanding that the newspaper is distributed only to Christians.

Ban on Christians using the word 'Allah'

Prior to this, in 1986, the government had banned non-Muslims from using the term ‘Allah’, despite the fact that Malay-speaking Christians have been using the term for hundreds of years. The term is also used by Christians in many countries, including neighbouring Indonesia, where more than 85 per cent of the population is Muslim, compared to approximately 60 per cent in Malaysia.

According to Agence France-Presse: ‘The row over the use of “Allah” is among a string of religious disputes that have erupted in recent years, straining relations between Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians who fear the country is being Islamised.’

More than half of Malaysia’s (predominantly Catholic) Christians are from indigenous groups, most of whom live in the Borneo island states and who mainly speak Malay.


Waihon Liew, a university lecturer of global religions, based Rawang, told the BBC: ‘The attacks are very sad because we have managed to live harmoniously in the past.

‘It’s possible that behind [the attacks] are people who do not want to see the country as a tolerant and harmonious society. But this is a small group of people.

‘It is not an easy task to govern a multi-racial society and it’s not possible to please everyone. We need to find a middle ground, we need to cultivate peace and harmony, but we don't want to compromise in terms of religious doctrine.’

Posted on 13.01.2010