I am appalled with the decision of Ministry of Internal Security for banning the Bahasa section of The Herald, a weekly tabloid of the Catholic Church .
The Catholic tabloid is read widely by Christians both here in Peninsular Malaysia and in Sabah and Sarawak. With the aggressive enforcement of the National Language policy since the 1970s almost the entire population of Malaysia (both East and West) is now conversant with Bahasa Malaysia, students and their parents.
By forbidding the publication of the Bahasa Malaysia section of the Weekly Herald the Deputy Minister Internal Security Johari Baharom is depriving the Christians of Malaysia their basic right to be educated, informed and formed in their faith. This is a violation of human rights and ultra-vires the Malaysian Constitution.
The Deputy Minister uses the lame excuse that the term “Allah” can only be used by Muslims. Since when did that term become the sole exclusive possession of Muslims? Johari fails to understand that he word “Allah” doesn’t belong to Muslims only. It is not their monopoly.
The Arabic word for “God” is “al-Lah”, and it can be translated as “the god” and was used in pre-Islamic times. In pre-Islamic times, in the polytheistic religion of Mecca, there was a god that was called by this name. Al-Lah was probably considered as the highest god, but not an acting power, and therefore rarely focused on in rituals. While Islam rejects the other deities ‘al-Lah’ is described as the one eternal, omnipotent god. “Allah” is therefore not a proper name, and it is even now used by Arab Christians as is found in their Arabic Bible.
Furthermore, followers of the Sikh faith also use the term “Allah” to refer to God ever since the founding of their faith more than 500 hundred years ago. This word appears repeatedly in their Holy Book.
I am amused with the reason given by the Deputy Minister of Internal Security Johari Baharom that the term can only be used by Muslims. He apparently failed to explain the reason for imposing a ban on the publication of the Malay section in the Weekly Herald. He needs to be informed that the word ‘Allah’ is also the word for God in the Iban and Kadazan languages. It is their right, together with others, to use their mother tongue to practice their respective religions, regardless of whether it is Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, or Sikhism etc.
The Christians in East Malaysia worship God and understand the Christian faith in the Malay language. Since Bahasa Malaysia is the official language of the country and the government has been propagating the Malay language to be used widely in all spheres, then on what basis is the Bahasa Malaysia section being prohibited from being published. Why the double standard?
If it isn’t sensitive in Arab countries and Indonesia where the majority are Muslims, why should it be so sensitive here in Malaysia under the pretext that “it will confuse people”. If Muslims can be “confused” so easily by other religions using the “term” then would it not be the responsibility of the Muslim ummah (parents, teachers, imams and ustazs) to clear the “confusion” by proper education. Doesn’t education clear confusions of all kinds in all fields? Isn’t that the function of teachers, preachers, tutors, lecturers etc. in classrooms and places of worship?
I urge the Minister of Internal Security and the Prime Minister to review this unkindly decision out of respect for all Christian Malaysians who read and worship in Bahasa Malaysia and revoke the ban on the publication of the Bahasa Malaysia Section of the Weekly Herald . This would be the Government’s finest Christmas gift to Christians and others who use the word “Allah” in their worship, prayers and rituals.
Well said, Sassy MP. Well done.
“Some open their minds and are enlightened. Others close their minds to all enlightenment and remain forever in darkness”.
May you have the blessings of all Gods this holy season.
As a citizen I am saddened by such stance of our elected. PM should make his stance clear to the people who has elected him because this is about our basic constitutional right. Day by day it is becoming clear that race-based politics/ governance practised by our coalition government seem to be failing as the year go by. There are more important issues to look into then whether who can or cannot use ‘Allah’ as referring to their god…many are laughing at us in Malaysia because we have such narrow-minded leaders. Only God can help this nation but you guys must exercise your right to vote. NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE YOUR VOTE. DON’T BE DECIEVED BY TALKS OF FRAUD ETC…DO YOUR PART IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTER!
I think that it is the fear that if Christian texts are available in Bahasa Malaysia, he is scared that knowledge of Christianity may spread in the Muslim community, perhaps causing some to convert to the Christian faith.
I further think that, in the Muslim world, the leaders are so grudging in letting their followers change faith is that they are using religious faith as a source of power!
So, to allow conversion to other faiths will mean weakening this power base.
Happy Christmas, Sassy MP.
Keep up the good work.
And Christ would say to Johari, “O Ye Johari. Ye are a man of so little faith”.
First they target the Hindus by demolition their temples and snatching dead bodies. Second they target the Buddhists by issuing a fatwa that a statue cannot be built in Sabah and now they target the Catholics by threatening them with a non-renewal of a printing permitn. When will all these end? The Christmas message by the PM is so hollow, if I must say.
If that is the case, then can muslims use the word “tuhan” if that is meant for non-muslims to address their God?
In Shanghainese, “I” is pronounced as “alla”. So if a tourist from Shanghai in Malaysia said,”alla like Malaysia”, what course of action is Mister Johari gonna take?
more n more ridiculous statement, politician, policies recently…we have been tolerate a lot…a lot…yeap, recently received an email with content as below(btw, i’m not pro-Mahathir or pro-Badawi, i’m pro those who really work 4 d nation, Sassy MP, keep it up, i’m so glad that we still have somebody who really works 4 d people!)
DR, MAHATHIR’S MEGA PROJECT
– KLIA
– SEPANG F1
– PUTRA JAYA
– CYBER JAYA
– MONORAIL
– ERL
– KTM KOMUTER
– KL TOWER
– KLCC
– SEKOLAH WAWASAN
and many many many more
(Akhirnya Tingkat Taraf dan Maruah Orang Malaysia pun Naik)
PAK LAH’S MEGA PROJECT SINCE BE COMING PM
– TOL NAIK
– ROKOK NAIK
– PETROL NAIK
– BIR NAIK
– BIL AIR & API NAIK
– TEPUNG NAIK
– GULA NAIK
– DIESAL NAIK
– CUKAI PINTU & TANAH NAIK
– KES JENAYAH NAIK
– GAJI DAN BONUS KAKITANGAN KERAJAAN NAIK
and many many many naik (Akhirnya Angin Orang Malaysia pun NAIK)
Did anyone realize the word ALLAH and the word HALAL are made up of the same alphabets? So why are they so particular about ALLAH while not so with HALAL except for the food they take and the things they use? Don’t forget that BRIBES are not HALAL but tell me if Muslims, especially high government officials are not corrupt!
And if they claim that ALLAH should be treated as holy and solely be used by Muslims only, then why blare out prayers with the word ALLAH from the loudspeakers on top of mosques five times a day? Wouldn’t it be heard by non-halal people in the vicinity? So what exclusivity is enjoyed by Muslims of the word ALLAH during prayer sessions?
Damocles, if it had not been because of Islam, I think the Malays would have “pupus” long time ago. Ask how many young Malay girls really want to get married to Malay men? But because of the Islamic factor, many of them had no choice as non-Muslims, especially Chinese, would not want to get converted just for the sake of marrying Malay girls. Think of the great “losses” they will sustain, one of the most important loss is the loss of “roots” with ancestors and be termed “non-filial piety” by relatives!