We refer to the Malaysiakini report Home minister okays protests over 'Allah' .

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is surprised but heartened by the home ministry’s nod to a rally against the recent court decision permitting the use of ‘Allah’ by Christian publication The Herald.

The rally, organised by dominant Muslim organisations and supposed to be held last Friday in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of the country, was given a rare green light from the usually prohibitive home ministry, though police had warned against it.

The home ministry has consistently opposed and sanctioned actions against peaceful rallies on less emotive issues, such as the petrol price hike and the Internal Security Act. Government officials, with the help of mainstream media, paint those rallies as a public nuisance, a threat to the economy and unrepresentative of the people.

Instead, majority groups are often given a platform to shout out their sentiments while shouting down minority groups, who are often relegated to the lower end of an non-level playing field – if given space at all.

As such, CIJ would like to take this opportunity to call on the government to allow forums, debates and peaceful rallies for all views. It is an opportunity for all parties to show that Malaysians are mature enough to exercise their right to free expression and assembly peacefully.

This is also a chance for the police to do better than the past when they stood by while rowdy demonstrators forcibly cut short indoor civil dialogues held by those with views that differ from the establishment’s.

The writer represents the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).