Newspaper The Star has apologised over its front page which carried a picture of Muslims praying under a headline for a separate story on terrorism yesterday.

It said it is the daily's practice to publish a picture of Muslims performing the first terawih prayer for the year on the front page on the first day of Ramadan out of respect for the holy month.

"This has been done over the last decade or so. This year, there was an unfortunate coincidence of the lead story being of a terrorist leader, that led to many linking the headline and the picture, which was never the intention of the newspaper.

"On hindsight, The Star should have been more discerning and sensitive to the feelings of our Muslim readers. We sincerely apologise for the error of judgment on our part," it said on its website.

This comes after politicians from both sides of the divide condemned the daily for allegedly perpetuating negative perceptions of Islam. 

The front page of The Star yesterday carried the title "Malaysian terrorist leader" along with an unrelated photograph of Muslims praying.

The newspaper has attracted critics such as Pahang Umno Youth head Shahar Abdullah, who while recognising that both items were unrelated, warned that readers could be easily confused.

"It can lead to the wrong interpretation. It was as though The Star was referring to Muslims as terrorists by placing both items together on the front page," he said in a statement today.

Regardless of whether this was intended or not, Shahar urged The Star to apologise to all Muslims and promise never to let this happen again.

'Gone overboard'

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Youth wing leader Mohd Sany Hamzan said The Star's front page clearly made Muslims look bad and that the newspaper had gone overboard.

"The front page looks as though they were trying to link Muslims in this country with terrorism," said Mohd Sany in a statement today.

He said that the newspaper does not paint a right picture of Muslims, because Islam abhors extremism and violence.

Mohd Sany too urged The Star to apologise for causing confusion and portraying Muslims in prayer as terrorists.

PKR Youth leader Wan Ji Wan Hussin said the front page perpetuates misconceptions against Islam.

"Violence is not an Islamic trait but there are irresponsible Muslims who present Islam as a violent religion," he said in a statement.

"I am a Muslim and I am anti-violence, anti-racism and against an culture which creates enmity between those from different races and religions," the religious scholar said.

Even so, he said, he frequently has to face non-Muslims and non-Malays who accuse Muslims and Malays of racism and violence.

Revive ISA

Meanwhile, the youth wing of Malay rights pressure group Perkasa advised The Star to apologise to stop the issue from festering.

"Whether it was intended or otherwise, Wira Perkasa advises the The Star to be more careful and be careful of sensitive matters.

"The matter has gone viral on social media and has attracted negative comments from Muslims who view The Star as linking terrorism with Muslims in general," said Wira Perkasa head Azrul Akmal Saharudin.

Azrul Akmal added that the Internal Security Act 1969 must be revived in view of the increasing number of attempts to insult Islam.

"This is happening because there are no legal instruments similar to ISA which could control the spread of incidents which could threaten unity and peace.

"Wira Perkasa wishes to stress that Islam is based on peace. Any violent activity is un-Islamic and against the Quran and the Sunnah," he said.