Digest on Malaysian News: Malaysian Churches Under Threat

This post keep track on the chronology of threats to Malaysian Churches (and temples) beginning 2010 due to the dispute on the usage of "Allah" in a christian publication. Although Christians and Muslims in Malaysia enjoyed a harmonious relationship, there were “immature minds” out to cause havoc. Burning places of worship of others is wrong, not only in the eyes of the law but also in Islam. The spat of arson attacks on Malaysian churches could affect the business sector as foreigners might not want to invest in Malaysia. Attack tally so far: Churches: 9, Schools: 1, Temples: 1

Attack #11 - The St Elizabeth Catholic church in Kota Kecil, Johor near here was splashed with red paint early Thursday morning.

Attack #10 - A glass window of the entrance door of the Sikh Temple in Sentul (Jalan Haji Salleh) here was found cracked late Jan 12, 2009 by a barrage of stones, making it the first non-Christian house of worship hit since the controversial landmark “Allah” ruling.

Attack #9 - The entrance door of the Sidang Injil Borneo church in Seremban 2 was partially burnt in an arson attempt early Monday (11/01/2010), said Negri Sembilan Deputy CPO Datuk Abd Manan Mohd Hassan. It is the eighth church to be affected in the past three days.

Attack #8 - Kes terbaru turut membabitkan insiden vandalisme di Gereja Good Sheperd dekat Lutong Bazaar, kirakira 10km dari Miri, Sarawak, dua daripada tingkap kacanya pecah selepas dibaling bata hari ini (10/01/2010). UPDATES: The police claimed it is the work of teenage delinquents.

Attack #7 - The fourth attempted arson attack, at about 1am on Friday (08/01/2010), scarred the outside wall of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya.

Attack #6 - The staircase leading to the All Saints' Church at Jalan Taming Sari, Taiping was slightly burned.

Attack #5 - Molotov cocktail thrown into the SMK Convent school along Jalan Convent, Taiping failed to explode.

Attack #4 - In Malacca, it was the Malacca Baptist Church in Durian Daun. Black paint was splashed on the outer wall of Malacca Baptist Church.

Attack #3 - On Jan 08, 2010, the Assumption Church in Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya come under arson attack.

Attack #2 - On Jan 08, 2010 the Life Chapel Church in Section 17, also in Petaling Jaya come under attempted arson attack. A Molotov cocktail was found at the porch of Life Chapel Church at 8.30am.

Attack #1 - On Jan 08, 2010, the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati was damaged after a group of youths threw flammable materials into the ground floor of the church located in a shoplot. No one was injured in the incident as the church was empty at that time.

Photo gallery on the attack to Malaysian churches