At least two churches have received threats by phone today as Muslims protest against a court ruling allowing Christians to use the word ‘Allah’, church leaders said.

     

NONE Three churches were firebombed early this morning. The worst hit was the three-storey Metro Tabernacle, an Assemblies of God church in Desa Melawati - its ground floor was set ablaze around midnight when two suspects smashed the windows on the ground floor and tossed in flammable materials.

Hours later, the Protestant Life Chapel Church and Catholic Church of Assumption in Petaling Jaya were attacked when homemade bombs were thrown into the church.

The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, which represents the majority of Malaysia's Protestant churches, said police had also confirmed that at least two other churches received threats by unidentified people over the phone.

"We are shocked that these attacks have taken place at these places of worship," the fellowship's secretary general, Sam Ang, said.

NONE He said the police received reports that other churches were victims of threats on Friday, but declined to give details.

Hundreds of Muslims held banners in Friday's protest, some reading ‘Do not challenge the Muslims’, and chanted slogans for about half an hour before dispersing.

Marina: The leadership must play its role

Meanwhile, social activist Marina Mahathir urged all Muslims to condemn the attacks.

"This is not what Islam is about," said Marina, a daughter of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

NONE "The leadership must play its role and come out and tell the people not to condemn houses of worship," she was quoted as saying in the Star .

Police have said they would step up patrols around churches nationwide.

This week, the government filed an appeal against the High Court ruling, and a stay of execution has been approved until the appeal can be heard.

Non-Muslim groups have come out in opposition to the ban, saying the word Allah predates Islam and has been used by Malay-speaking Christians for decades. Critics said the ban restricts non-Muslims' freedom to practise their religion.

- dpa