The Home Ministry has issued The Star a show cause letter over its Saturday front page where a picture of Muslims praying was published under a separate story with the headline "Malaysian Terrorist Leader". 

The daily, which yesterday apologised for the "oversight" following public outcry, has seven days to tell the ministry why its publication licence should not be suspended under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.  

"The ministry is saddened that the headline was published on the same page as a picture which was totally unrelated.

"It is highly inappropriate for the picture and the headline to be published on the same page, and it has caused confusion, misunderstanding and prejudice against Muslims, which could imply a connection with terrorism. 

"It has also inadvertently ridiculed Islam," the ministry said in a statement.

It also reminded all print media to take caution when it comes to "sensitive matters which could undermine public peace".

The statement comes after four editors of The Star appeared at the Home Ministry to explain the issue. 

They were the newspaper's specialist editor M Shanmugam and three executive editors, Brian Martin, Dorairaj Nadason, and Rozaid Abdul Rahman.

The four arrived at 10.50am and left the ministry building about one hour later, Bernama reported. 

Earlier, Umno's Kempas assemblyperson Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Jumat urged the ministry to suspend the daily's license and for The Star to "revamp" its editorial team "to better oversee matters relating to Islam". 

Yesterday, politicians from PAS, PKR, Parti Amanah Negara, Umno, and Malay rights group Perkasa condemned the daily for allegedly creating misperceptions about Islam.