Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today said the government does not prohibit the people from expressing their views on the issue over the use of the word "Allah" by the Catholic weekly magazine Herald , but on condition that their actions do not undermine national security.

"I will take action if it affects security," he told reporters after chairing a post-cabinet meeting at his ministry.

hishammuddin hussein ppsmi languanges debate issue 260209 05 He said the ministry would monitor blogs on the matter and would act if national security was threatened.

"It is our duty to ensure that their actions do not undermine security, and to take action before anything untoward happens," he said.

Hishammuddin was responding to reporters' questions on plans by several organisations to stage a demonstration on Friday to protest against the use of the word "Allah" by other religions.

The minister advised all quarters to remain calm and let the court process take its course.

He said the cabinet, at its weekly meeting today, also discussed the issue and decided to leave the matter to the courts, and to explain the matter to the people if there was any confusion.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today granted the Home Ministry a stay of execution on the Dec 31 High Court ruling allowing the Herald to use the word "Allah" in its Malay-language edition, pending the hearing of an appeal.

- Bernama