KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — A group of about 50 residents staged a peaceful protest against a new church in Taman Medan fearing proselytization after the church’s congregation had put up a cross on the building.
The Star Online reported that the group had gathered at the church at about 10am earlier today while Sunday mass was going on, claiming that putting up a cross in a Malay-majority area challenged Islam and could influence young Muslims.
The group were reportedly pacified by a village leader, who then held a discussion with the parish priest on the issue.
“After meeting with the priest, the church agreed to take down the cross by next Sunday. If they have the authority to run, we cannot stop it. But we ask out of concern, being a Malay area, that they take down the cross,” the group’s leader Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar was quoted saying.
Some of the protesters had also reportedly threatened a male reporter during the incident, demanding that he write “nice” things about the group.
The report also claimed that some held on to the journalist’s shirt as he interviewed the protesters.
Police reportedly arrived at the scene at around 10.30am, acting as intermediaries between the protesters and church leaders.
It is understood that the church had purportedly taken down the cross several hours later.
