10 January 2010 ( Source: MySarawak.org)

KOTA KINABALU: Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok has asked the people to remain calm and wait for the court to settle the issue over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Catholic weekly ‘Herald’ in its publication.

The United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president also condemned the fire-bomb attacks on the churches in Peninsular Malaysia on Friday.

Dompok, the Penampang Member of Parliament, said the attacks on the churches by irresponsible individuals would cause tension among the multi-racial and multi-religion people in Malaysia.

Dompok said many people had called him to express their disappointment over the attacks, and he added, “I would like to appeal to the people to remain calm and wait for the court settlement of the issue of the use of the word ‘Allah’.

“To those who harbour any intention of responding through protests, demonstrations and such, my advice is for them to exercise calm and safeguard the peace in the country,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Upko Komulakan movement will be launching a fund donation drive to rebuild the churches which were damaged in extremists’ attack two days ago.

The event will be held at Upko’s headquarters in Donggongon town today, January 10, said Upko Komulakan Chief Ewon Benedick.

“We have invited Upko Organising Secretary cum Political Secretary to the Plantation and Commodities Ministry Datuk Philip Lasimbang to launch the fund raising drive,” he said.

According to Ewon, prior to the event, Upko Komulakan will be holding a special meeting to discuss the incident where several churches in the peninsula were damaged by individual(s) using Molotov cocktails or petrol bombs.