Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has banned an Ultraman comic book because it uses the word "Allah" to describe the Japanese action hero.
The Home Ministry said in a statement Friday that the Malay-edition of "Ultraman, The Ultra Power" contained elements that can undermine public security and societal morals.
It said "Ultraman is idolized by many children" and equating the lead character, Ultraman King, with Allah would especially "confuse Muslim children and damage their faith."
Allah, the Arabic word for God, is commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God.
The government says Allah should be exclusively reserved for Muslims because of concerns its use by others would confuse Muslims and tempt them to convert. Malay Muslims account for about 60 percent of Malaysia's 30 million people, while Christians makeup about 9 percent of the country's population.
The ministry said Allah is holy for Muslims and warned that such irresponsible use of the word can provoke the community and threaten public safety.
Ultraman is a fictional Japanese superhero who fights monsters and first appeared on television in the 1960s. A line in the book said Ultraman "is considered and respected as Allah, or the Elder, to all ultra heroes."
