PETALING JAYA: Giving away half a million ringgit to the damaged Metro Tabernacle church by Datuk Seri Najib Razak is "a load of nonsense" as the government was not responsible for the arson attack.

The act again will be seen as the government being apologetic rather than addressing issues distressing Malays, wrote Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi in his blog.

"This will open the door to accusations that the government is now bringing the state’s treatment of other religions on par with Islam which is the only religion acknowledge by the constitution. This is extremely dangerous," he reasoned.

"Paying RM500,000 gives the impression that the government is taking ultimate responsibility for the arson attack," he added.

Instead the government should expedite Metro Tabernacle’s permit application to relocate its church, said Akhramsyah.

He further argued the donation could prompt Hindus the right to claim for compensation for their demolished temples and encourage arson for the sake of gaining state funds for rebuilding.

"Does this imply that the government will pay out to all churches or other related institutions (schools, seminaries etc) that suffer significant damage from protest over the Herald case?" Akhramsyah asked.

Akhramsyah, who is the son of former agriculture minister and Kedah menteri besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, said having an interfaith dialogue now will just inflame matters.

Sanusi, who is a close ally of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, quit Umno in 2008 when the latter resigned from the party following differences with then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Akhramsyah, who is a close supporter of Dr Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, contested for an exco seat in the Umno Youth elections last year but lost.

"Malays will see no reason to dialogue as they see themselves as having given up enough already and suspicions will arise that Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is reviving the Interfaith Council idea. This will not stop the violence. In fact, it may make it worse," said Akhramsyah.

The 36-year-old oil and gas engineer suggested the prime minister should invite the Rulers to intervene to bring the matter out of the court.

"The Rulers can then constitutionally put a halt to the Herald's case. This will appease Malays across many fronts, not just by dismissing the issue but also by demonstrating the presence of Malay power to address their concerns still."

The father of five also suggested that the Catholic church should withdraw its case from the courts in the interest of peace between Malaysians.

"I also hope that the absence of reduction of violence from Monday does not give everyone a false sense of security. The violence is probably reduced as people are at work," said Akhramsyah.

In another blog entry on Sunday, Akhramsyah said more churches will be torched, stoned, graffitied, sullied, picketed, etc, for as long as the use of the word "Allah" by the Catholic church issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of Muslims in this country.

"For the Catholic Church to venture down the silly path of robbing Malays of the exclusive use of the word Allah... Malays may be lobbing molotov cocktails at all churches indiscriminately, but this is only fair.

"It is not just the Catholic church that is responsible for this Malay anger, but also the Protestant and Evangelical for not joining ranks with Malays against the Catholic stand," said the Akhramsyah.