KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN security authorities on Sunday warned a Catholic paper that its printing permit would not be renewed if it continued using the word 'Allah', which the government says can only be used by Muslims.

Mohamad Johari Baharum, junior minister in the internal security ministry, told AFP that The Herald would receive a new permit only if it stops using words that are used in Islam.

'If they want the printing permit to be renewed, they have to comply with the requirements of the ministry. This is to prevent uneasiness among the majority Muslim Malaysians.'

'They have to drop the use of the words Allah (God), Baitullah (House of God), Solat (prayer) and Kaabah (The Sacred House) in the Malay language section of the newspaper,' Mr Mohamad Johari said.

The Herald, a tabloid-sized newspaper, is circulated among the country's 850,000 Catholics with articles written in English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay.

Christians say they have long used the word 'Allah' without problems, although the internal security minister had warned them since the late 1980s not to use the four terms.

The annual printing licence for the 28-page weekly newspaper expires on Monday, without which it cannot be published.

Malaysian commentators have sounded alarm over the growing 'Islamisation' of the country and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities, which mix much less than in the past.
Mr Mohamad Johari said the government decision was final as it was a 'sensitive matter' and was aimed to avoid confusion.

Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.
The publisher of The Herald and a church group in Sabah state on Borneo island have filed a legal suit against the government for banning them from using the word Allah.

'We are in the view that we have the right to use the word Allah, (a right) which ... is now sought to be curtailed,' Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of The Herald, told AFP on Friday.

He added the legal challenge was filed in the High Court on Dec 5 following orders from the government not to use the word Allah, which Muslims use to describe God.

Bernard Dompok, minister in the prime minister's department, however told AFP that he had spoken to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the problems faced by Catholics.

'Only in Malaysia, the Muslims claim exclusive rights to the word Allah. I am confident The Herald's permit will be renewed and it will be allowed to publish in all the four languages,' he told AFP. -- AFP

Is this article useful to you?