This is what passes as a “moderate” Muslim country.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Putrajaya’s alleged seizure of copies of The Herald in Sabah is a violation of the church’s right to distribute the newsletter to its own members, a Christian umbrella body said today in protest against the latest incident in the “Allah” controversy.

Council of Churches (CCM) general secretary Rev Hermen Shastri said if the ministry had indeed ordered for the 2,000 copies to be withheld without any acceptable grounds for doing so, the group would “definitely” voice its objection.

“This is shocking. It is unacceptable. It is a denial of rights of the church to distribute its newsletter, which is meant for its own members.

“If there are no grounds (for the ministry’s order), we will definitely strongly protest,” Hermen told The Malay Mail Online here, adding that they will wait for further information from the Catholic Church on the issue.

According to Herald editor Fr Lawrence Andrew this afternoon, around 2,000 copies of the weekly publication were seized at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) on Thursday, apparently on order of the Home Ministry.