Some of the key organisers of yesterday’s demonstrations to protest against the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims have set up a 60-strong team of volunteers to protect churches in the Klang Valley.

NONE The 15-member Coalition of Muslim NGOs Against the Misuse of the term ‘Allah’ said that it condemned the torching of churches yesterday by “irresponsible parties”.

In a statement today, the coalition said that it would help the police to “ensure the safety of the Christian community and to protect their places of worship”.

Four churches were firebombed yesterday by unknown assailants - three in Petaling Jaya and one in Wangsa Maju.

The worst-hit was the three-storey Metro Tabernacle Church, whose ground floor was completely gutted, while the other three churches suffered minor damages.

NONE Among the groups making up the coalition that issued the statement today are Teras, Perkasa, PPIM, Macma, Batas, PPM, PUM, JIM, Darussyifa, PKPIM, IRRIMM, AMB, and Kimma. 

"As a proactive and pre-emptive measure to preserve peace and harmony between communities, we offer the services of a team of volunteers to:

1) monitor and prevent any untoward incidents from occurring that would threaten the safety of churches and our Christian friends by irresponsible parties;

2) assist in fostering communal relations and channeling information to the relevant parties."

A press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow to explain further the initiative, said the statement.

Various quarters from both within and outside the country have expressed severe criticisms of the attacks against the places of worship as well as the protests held yesterday in Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam.

Particular scorn has been heaped on the authorities for meting different treatment to demonstrations and their organisers.

While previous protests have seen the use of force by police to disperse demonstrators, the government gave the green light for the gatherings held yesterday to express their objections against the decision to quash a three-year ruling to ban the use of 'Allah' by the Herald .