PETALING JAYA: About 50 residents staged a peaceful protest against a new church situated in a shop lot in Taman Medan after the congregation put up a cross on the building facade.
The group, which gathered at about 10am while Sunday service was going on, contended that the sight of the cross in a Muslim-majority area “challenged Islam” and could influence the young.
The group was later pacified by a village leader, who spoke with the pastor of the church.
“After meeting with the pastor, the church agreed to take down the cross the same day.
“If they have the authority to operate, we cannot stop it.
“But we ask, out of concern that this is a Malay area, that they take down the cross,” said protest leader Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar.
Other protesters, however, felt that the existence of a church in the vicinity was an affront to their faith.
Some of them also threatened a reporter, saying “You better write about us nicely, or else ...” with some holding on to his shirt as he interviewed protesters.
Police arrived at the scene at around 10.30am to control the crowd as the church service was ending, and stood between the protesters and church leaders.
The congregation of about 15 people requested privacy when approached by The Star.
It is understood that the cross was taken down by 2pm.
