The Home Ministry will tomorrow summon The Star's editor-in-chief over the daily's front page on Saturday, which featured a picture of Muslims praying under a headline on a separate story on terrorism.

Secretary-general Alwi Ibrahim said the ministry was "very disappointed" with the daily for not taking greater care over the matter, Bernama reported.

"We will summon the daily's editor-in-chief tomorrow to hear the daily's explanation over publication of the picture under that headline on its front page.

"If the Home Ministry finds the explanation insufficient, a show-cause letter will be issued," he told reporters in Terengganu today.

Alwi added it is doubly disappointing as the ministry had on May 23 summoned the daily's management to issue a guideline which it has to adhere to.

He did not elaborate on what this guideline entailed.

The picture of Muslims praying in a congregation was printed on the front page which also carried a headline reading 'Malaysian Terrorist Leader', for a separate article which continued on page 3.

A line separated the picture and the paragraphs under the headline.

The Star in an apology posted on its website today said it is normal practice for the newspaper to print a picture of the first terawih prayers for the year, on the first day of Ramadan.

It said it was coincidental that the first day of Ramadan on Saturday was also the same day it ran the article on terrorism.

The front page was condemned by politicians from Umno, PKR, PAS and Parti Amanah Negara, who said it contributed to negative perceptions about Islam.

Additionally, Malay rights group Perkasa urged for the re-instatement of the Internal Security Act to deal with alleged infringements on religious sensitivities.