KUALA LUMPUR : The Vatican’s first-ever envoy to Malaysia has apologised for supporting the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims after he was summoned by the foreign minister.
Archbishop Joseph Marino issued a statement late Tuesday, after meeting with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, saying his comments were “never intended as an attempt to intrude into the internal affairs of the country”.
Marino, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur less than six months ago, had last Thursday waded into a religious row in Muslim-majority Malaysia over the use of the word “Allah”.
He described arguments put forward by the Catholic Church in an ongoing court battle for the right to translate “God” as “Allah” in Malay-language Bibles and other literature as “logical and acceptable”.
Soon after, Muslim groups began calling for him to be sent home. Several cabinet ministers also accused him of “interference”.