KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — The Muslim NGO that led yesterday’s protest against a church in Taman Medan may next take issue with whether it had the permit to operate in the Malay-populated area, Umno leader Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar said.

Abdullah, who is Taman Lindungan Jaya Umno branch chief, confirmed today that the NGO will seek the necessary information from the local council.

“The next move is this, we want to know if the church has the authority to operate and we will be meeting with the necessary authorities in Petaling Jaya to clarify this.

“If the church is found to be operating illegally then we hope necessary enforcement will be taken against it,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Abdullah, who acted as mediator between the NGO and the church during yesterday’s protest, was quick, however to stress that neither he nor the protesters are against any followers of any faiths setting up temples or churches in the area.

He said the protesters merely found that it was “insensitive” of the church to display such a huge cross on its facade when it is located in a Muslim-majority area.

When informed that it is a norm for churches to usually display crosses outside their buildings and why the particular church in Taman Medan was singled out for the protest, Abdullah said he is “unable to comment about others”.

He pointed out that no one can challenge the authorities if they had sanctioned the church’s operation.

“We are not against anyone’s religious freedom but they have to be sensitive to the Muslims.

“We do not display Allah symbols outside our mosque but we still pray inside.

“We leave it to the authorities to decide... this is a very difficult issue, he added.

Abdullah also claimed the issue would not have arisen if the church had not displayed a cross on its building.

He said that the church representatives had removed the cross after a discussion with him and no threats were involved.

“We had approached them humbly and, thank God, they reciprocated well to us. Why are those outside making an issue out of this when the church has itself settled the matter with us?

“This mess involved us alone, so, to those extremists outside, don’t stir this into an unwanted chaos,” he said.

A group of about 50 residents staged a protest against the new church in Taman Medan yesterday, over purported fears of proselytisation after the church’s congregation installed a cross on the building.

The Star Online reported that the group had gathered at the church at about 10am earlier yesterday while Sunday mass was going on, claiming that putting up a cross in a Malay-majority area challenged Islam and could influence young Muslims.

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 took down the cross several hours later.