October 6, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 28, 1423

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday denounced US conservative Baptist minister Reverend Jerry Falwell for his extremely repugnant remarks against the holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

“They don’t understand anything, they don’t understand Islam,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. Mahathir, 76, said the priest had no right to make such a statement.

Asked if such a statement from a Reverend was an indication that the Christian community was ignorant of Islam, the premier said only an ignorant person would make such a remark.

“I’m not going to accuse all Christians, only one person made such a statement,” he said.

Mahathir urged Muslims not take the matter too seriously.

Muslims make up just 60 per cent of Malaysia’s 23 million people, Christians make up nine per cent, Buddhists 19 per cent and Hindus six per cent.

Falwell’s interview would be broadcast on Sunday on the CBS television network’s “60 Minutes” programme.

Falwell, a leader of the US Evangelical Christian right, is no stranger to controversy or inflammatory remarks.—AFP