'Have any surau or masjid been fire-bombed? Yet amidst all the burning and firebombing of churches, you claim you are threatened?'

Najib urged to be bold for Muslims' sake

Geronimo: "When told that Christians in Middle Eastern and other countries have long used the word ‘Allah' to describe God, (Muslim welfare and missionary group Pekida leader) Abdul Rashid Mohd Fadzil) replied: "We are talking about Malaysia".

If the Malay Muslims are not confused, then I am. All the while, I thought there is only one Islam. Now I know there are two - Middle Eastern Islam and Malaysian Islam.

Joshua Cheong: Hmm. Is it any surprise that things turned out differently and certain sections of the population in Malaysia are acting or reacted to the situation in such a manner given the increasing emphasis and insistence on ‘special' and ‘exclusive' rights over the years?

Pjguy: Dear saudara-saudara Kimma (Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress). Yes, we heard you loud and clear. You speak for the Muslims of Malaysia only? Or for the Muslims of the world? Islam was not born in Sabah, Sarawak or in Kedah. Neither did the word ‘Allah' originate in our beloved country, our ‘1Malaysia'.

The world's total population is around 7 billion. Muslims make up between 1.3-1.5 billion, about one-fifths of the total. There are more than 47 Muslim countries with a 50 percent majorities. The Organisation of Islamic Conference consist of 57 countries, of which Malaysia is supposedly a big player. There are more than 190 member countries in the UN.

Pissed: Many times, we have seen Kimma sneaking up from behind and inciting the Malays. They are trying to endear themselves to Malays. It's time to teach them another lesson by dropping 'nasi kandar' once and for all. I say, boycott them completely.

Charles Chia: Kimma claimed that Muslims are threatened. That's the mother of all jokes. Tell me - have any surau or masjid been fire-bombed? Yet, amidst all the burning and firebombing of churches, you claim you are threatened?'

Ida Bakar: For those taking the opportunity to defame Islam by using these bigots as though they are representative of all Muslims, please don't. Arabs - Christian and Muslims - are probably laughing their head-gears off at the sheer stupidity.

Even the Islamic Society of North America has issued a statement commending the court ruling regarding Herald . I am cringing with utter embarrassment at the statements of NGOs like Kimma.

Chan: It appears that it is all fine and good when they took the term 'Allah' from its Christian origins. Few years down the line, they take the term for themselves and start prohibiting others from using it. These people should really take a hard look at their religious intolerance. And please... read up.

David Dass: The Catholics in this country have never been a threat to Muslims. Catholics do not evangelise amongst Muslims despite the contribution of mission schools. Instances of Muslims becoming Catholics are few and far between. And yet the war drums beat as if a grave threat has emerged.

Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been using the term 'Allah' as their reference to God long before they became part of Malaysia. Why has this become an issue now? The Herald has been published for 16 years with government approval. Why ban it now?

The rhetoric and hysteria give us and the rest of the world the impression that there is hatred between the diverse peoples of Malaysia. Where is our much proclaimed peace and harmony? Where is 1Malaysia? If it is only a minority that give such a bad impression why cannot they be contained? Whose interest is served by allowing extremists to cause so much fear.

Michael Martin: I am really confused and find it incredulous that the Islamic faith appears to be so fragile and its adherents so easily confused.

One imam is reported to have stated that "certain quarters are using Islamic terms and names with the purpose of fracturing the Islamic faith and to confuse Muslims." How on earth can the use of one word cause this fracturing and confusion.

I always thought that Islam was founded on solid ground, but it appears that I was wrong. From all that I have read in many publications, the term ‘Allah' is not exclusively Islamic. It seems nonsensical for one community to claim exclusivity over a word in any language.

As a foreigner, I don't really see any chance of Malaysia becoming a First World country on the way towards Wawasan 2020 whilst this sort of nonsense monopolises the headlines.

Darren Darren: The word ‘Allah' is universal. There is no patent right to the word. I feel that anyone can utter this word if it brings them closer to God. A wise one said that we can't realise God intellectually but from our heart.

I grew up with Muslim friends and until today, I have the tendency to use words such as ‘Allah' and ‘ Bismillah ' in my daily life even though I am a non-Muslim.