Amidst threats of protests, the Malay language mass at the Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang continued to use the term 'Allah' today.
 
The term was used at least four times during the mass in prayers and hymns. However, for the most part, the congregation used the word 'Tuhan' and 'Bapa' to refer to God.
 
The Malay language mass was held this afternoon after the English and Tamil mass. The English and Tamil mass did not use the word 'Allah'.
 
The Malay language mass serves a congregation that are mostly from Sabah and Sarawak, as well as some foreigners from neighbouring countries.
 
At one point, a hymn was sung in Vietnamese.
 
Before the final blessing, parish priest Michael Chua who led the mass thanked the congregation for showing up.
 
"I thank everyone for coming and to show support. It shows the strength of our faith despite claims that there would be a riot but has not happened," he said.
 
He also thanked the police stationed outside for protecting worshippers and the Church.
 
Lower turnout
 
Chua said he hoped that Christians will some day be allowed to use refer to God in their own language.
 
"We to pray that the situation will continue to be peaceful in Malaysia and we can respect one another.
 
"We pray that Christians will have the freedom to choose their language in worshipping God," he said.
 
After the mass, Chua said although the turnout during the English and Tamil masses were the same, the Malay-language mass had a lower turnout than usual.
 
He estimated the congregation for the Malay language mass today to be around 200 instead of the usual 300.
 
The controversy begn 2010 the High Court ruled that the Home Ministry's earlier ban on Christian publication The Herald from using the word 'Allah' was unconstitutional.
 
The landmark decision provoked a series of church burnings and the Court of Appeal last year overturned the decision arguing that the word "Allah" was not integral to the Christian faith.
 
The Catholic Church is appealing the decision and insists that Islamic authorities have no power to dictate the internal affairs of other religions.

The Sekretariat Solidariti Muslim Klang had today protested at a field some 1km away after the The Herald editor Lawrence Andrew insisted that Christian will continue to use the word 'Allah'.

 
Chua revealed that he had lodged a police report prior to the protest.
 
"It was solely to ask for protection," he told journalists.