Two more churches fire-bombed in Malaysia

Two more churches were fire bombed in the Malaysian capital today escalating religious tensions over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims, as leaders of various faiths appealed to defuse the situation.

A Moltov cocktail was hurled at the All State Church in Taiping in Perak state before it had opened, while a broken kerosene bottle with an unlit wick was found inside the compound of the St Louis Catholic Church, also in Taiping.

With this six churches have been attacked by unidentified assailants in Malaysia, following a high court ruling that Catholic newsletter Herald could use the word "Allah" while referring to God in its Bahasa Malaysia edition.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, an interfaith organisation feel that opening communication lines among the various communities could provide a lasting solution to the current issue.

Eight per cent of the country's population of 27 million people are Christians mostly ethnic Chinese and some ethnic Indians. The various religions are free to practice their faith in this Muslim majority country.

Council president Rev Dr Thomas Philips said the lack of dialogue had left everyone ignorant of each other's beliefs and practices.