Another church vandalised as Allah row continues

A church in southern Malaysia was vandalised, apparently the latest in a string of attacks on Christian houses of worship in the Muslim-majority nation, police said today.

Eleven churches - as well as one Sikh temple - have been damaged since a court ruled late last month that non-Muslims can use the word Allah to refer to God.

The decision angered many Muslims, who say the word is exclusive to their religion and its use by others could confuse Muslims into converting.

Officials at a church in southern Negeri Sembilan state found a window at their building smashed late yesterday, said Saiful Azly Kamaruddin, a district police chief.

He said police were still investigating, but the attack appeared to be vandalism.

Police have stepped up patrols and deployed more plainclothes officials in the area, he said.

Earlier yesterday, police charged a Malaysian student after he allegedly posted comments on Facebook about throwing a petrol bomb.

Mohamad Tasyrif Tajudin, 25, allegedly wrote: "You want me to throw a petrol (gasoline) bomb there? We can negotiate the price" in a recent Facebook discussion over the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims.

Many of the churches vandalised were hit by Molotov Cocktails.

He was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of the internet, which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine if found guilty, said deputy public prosecutor Dusuki Mokhtar.