Dec 30, 07 8:24pm
In an about-turn, the Internal Security Ministry has allowed a Catholic weekly newspaper to continue to print without any condition, after earlier threatening to revoke its licence in a row over the word ‘Allah’.
Augustine Julian, secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said a new licence had been granted to the Herald, which would continue to use ‘Allah’ in referring to God in its Bahasa Malaysia section of the bulletin.
“The letter to allow the Herald to be printed was hand delivered by internal security officials on Sunday,” he said.
“They have allowed us to publish the weekly as usual. All four sections – in English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese – will be published. I suppose if they give us the printing permit we can continue to use the word Allah,” he added.
Julian said no reasons were given for the extension but suggested the government would not want to alienate Malaysia’s two million Christians ahead of general elections.
Legal suit
The Herald, a tabloid-sized newspaper, which has a circulation of 12.000 is read by among the country’s 850,000 Catholics with articles written in English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay.
Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum had earlier warned its printing permit, due to expire tomorrow, would not be renewed if it continued using the Malay word for ‘Allah’, which the government says can only be used by Muslims.
Commentators have sounded alarm over the growing “Islamisation” of the country and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities, which mix much less than in the past.
The publisher of the Herald and a church group in Sabah have filed a legal suit against the government for banning them from using the word Allah.
Another sandiwara to prove gomen look after minority interest?
Mister Johari should explain the reason behind the change of mind of his ministry so that we can understand the rational behind the about turn. Money and time wasted. Undue concern aroused.
Many articles I came accross highlighted that the word “Allah” is “God” in Arabic; rather than as a specific term arise from Islam the religion itself. Time for Mister Johari to explain the about turn so that he would not appear to be irrational.
If the government thinks that it can win sympathy by doing such stupid things, then it is wantonly, stupidly wrong!
Their modus operandi is for one senior government official to create a problem which got everybody riled.
Then, when it thinks that the people are sufficiently angry, it will then come out with a “solution” to resolve the problem!
Surprisingly, Malaysians fall for such tricks. Time and again! Just read about the gratefulness of those who supposedly have the government solved their “problems” and you’ll be amazed at how many gullible people there are out there!!
Even seasoned politicians fall for that line!!
I think that this country has reached the abyss of despair!
Like I have said, the government only creates problems so that they can offer a final settlement in order to show that they are “good” to the people! Just another political gimmick!