Malay rights group Perkasa has lodged a police report against Malaysiakini over a comment posted by a reader in the online news daily.

The report, which was made by Perkasa Secretary-General Syed Hassan Syed Ali late yesterday, said that the comment could offend the sensitivities of the Muslim community.

According to the comment, which was posted by a reader using the pseudonym 'Ablastine', the term ‘Allah' would soon be made "illegal" and consigned under the same category as a number of foul words.

It was posted in response to the report ‘ Group plans protest over 'Allah' ruling' at 1.43am on Tuesday, Jan 5.

NONE Syed Hassan,who was accompanied by a number of Perkasa leaders to the Dang Wangi police station,demanded that Malaysiakini be investigated under the Sedition Act.

"The act of the news portal administrator in publishing the said reader's comment is akin to pouring oil onto fire and is irresponsible.

" Malaysiakini should not be publishing such comments to prevent an already tense situation from going out of control."

Over 36,000 comments in six months

Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan said that Malaysiakini had removed the said comment from the website.

"We urge our readers to be mindful of their language when posting comments," said Gan.

He said that over 36,000 comments have been posted by Malaysiakini subscribers since the website introduced this new feature six months ago.

Only Malaysiakini subscribers are allowed to post comments on the website.

While the comments are not moderated, Malaysiakini would remove those deemed offensive and ban errant subscribers from further contributing their views.

"We have created this wonderful space for our subscribers to share their views on burning issues of the day.

"Many of the comments are especially illuminating and a selection of them are picked daily by our editors for publication in the ‘Your Say' and ‘Vox Populi' sections," said Gan.

"Let's hope that a few rotten apples will not ruin the entire barrel."