What a brilliant way to start the new year, 2010, with the news that the Herald is free to use the word ‘Allah’.

The High Court declared that the Home Minister’s order banning the use of the term was illegal, null and void; the term is not exclusive to any religion.

This is as it should be. Wisdom has prevailed. This is a victory not just for the Herald team, but for the country and its international image – and for all its people, Muslims, Christians and others alike. It is a victory for those who cherish inclusiveness and harmony – and a defeat for the small-minded and the chauvinists among us.

Of course, there could be a Round Two (appeals) and that could be a different story. But I hope not. It’s time to move on. There are other serious issues facing our nations that we have to grapple with.

Selamat Tahun Baru, Happy New Year, one and all!

Related posts:

  42 Responses to “Allah be praised!”

  1. Thanks for the news, happy new year to you Anil!

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  2. Court of Appeals, please don’t spoil our new year celebration!

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  3. anil,

    yup Happy New Year and enjoy the right decision for a bit longer and no more. wait till it gets to the Appeals Court or the Federal Courts. Boom, your happiness will just vanish.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  4. Yes Bro Allah be praised, Allah Hu Akbar, God is Great.
    Let us Muslims and Christians in Malaysia move on. I hope the KDN will accept the decision of the High Court.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  5. Oh yes Happy New Year and may 2010 brings good health, more happiness and prosperity to all.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  6. Praise be to Allah for giving us the best news for the coming year

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  7. now now .. dont overuse that words la

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  8. Don’t be excited, the ruling (could) be overturned by Appeal court soon.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  9. The Home Minister & BN should realize that this is the start to heal the rift since GE12. If BN accepts the decision, this could only work in their favour, winning the confidence of the Christian voters. Dear YB Home Minister, don’t drive the wedge further, and BN will only end up losing more votes among the traditional supporters in GE13

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  10. do not count the chicken. (There is) the court of appeal….

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  11. If the government decides to appeal, even God will have to suffer. Happy New Year Anil.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  12. Happy New Year 2010 To You And Your Family. May Those Bright Shining Stars Be Upon You And Your Love Ones For 2010. Cheers!!!!

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  13. Anil
    Blessed New Year!
    Pray the year will be a successful and peaceful one for all of us.
    On the courts ruling, it’s only natural to be excited. But let’s on the hindsight remind ourselves, that this joy may not be for long.
    Why? Because, we have lost our sanity.
    May the Lord’s blessings be upon you in the year ahead.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  14. Thinking outside the box, why is it not the christians that should worry for the use of the term? And not the other way round? It could confuse them as well, no?

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  15. The arrogance and the audacity of the Deputy Public Prosecutor Kamaruddin Mohd Said to infer that the decision handed down by the High Court may only apply to year 2009′s permit. Should the permit issued for the year 2010 contain the same prohibition, it may require a new round of legal case. This clearly tells us to what extend they would go to stop this.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  16. Allah Hu Akhbar

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  17. Yes, it could be overturned in the Appeals Court if it goes there. But which of the defendants are going to lodge the appeal ?

    Only the parties in the suit may appeal, so that means one of the govt bodies. What grounds will be applied that have not been already heard in the High Court hearing ? Or will they claim that the judge erred (and if so, how ?)

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  18. … the ruling (could) be overturned. Listen to the hawk… from Pasir Salak. This is the stuff and class of UMNO/BN. This is the true colour of BN aided by MCA, MIC and the party led by the political eunuch Gerakan and other mosquito parties. This is the true stuff of BTN!

    Just why are the other political parties within BN keeping quiet with the remarks of the … man? Ah…. let us wait for more to come in 2010.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  19. Happy New Year Anil.

    Rejoice now you all for these verdict (could) be overturned by the court of appeals or federal courts. Watch the Judge’s career for she (could) be send to the back burners… A brave judge indeed for the word Allah preceded Islam. Only in Malaysia can history be re-written. Rejoice now for ‘these are my mountains’.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  20. Too early to celebrate. Given the implication of the case, it is likely that the Home Ministry will appeal against the decision to the higher courts. We have seen the ‘biasa’ results of the appellate court!

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  21. Fools that we are, can’t we see that this (appears) scripted to make Najib and the BN look moderate and magnanimous and, therefore, fit to carry on running the country?

    This (appears to be) a classic UMNO ploy: push us to the edge, pressure us until we can hardly breath, then relent, release the pressure, and, hey presto, there’s the proof UMNO is a good, kind, gentle, tolerant and compassionate party that takes care of the needs of ALL Malaysians. It’s all a “wayang kulit”.

    It is said that a leopard never changes its spots. The very fact that UMNO still believes it can fool the raakyat once again shows it hasn’t change(d)…

    Malaysians should beware.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  22. Good news… for now. The Malays in Malaysia must grow out of this false propaganda coming from their “false leaders” just for them to remain in power. Issue like this never arise from the Malay Indonesians or even the Malay Filipinos.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  23. … ALLAH is pleasd that more people now are acknowledging that he is the only GOD. Shame on me as a Muslim to have misguided Muslim.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  24. I will like to think that the basic of religions is all about its contents and how the followers practicing them. It is not so much about whose words that it should be belonging too.

    Let’s close the chapter and move on.

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  25. Happy New Year!

    God bless us Malaysians in 2010 to have a better understanding and harmony among us in Malaysia

    This is great News about the ALLAH ruling but our happiness maybe for a short while.

    First, the presiding judge will be making the majority of the UMNO extremists demanding for the judge to be put in the cold storage or early retirement for the judgement.

    OR

    Some UMNO members (may) find some friendly PAS or phamtom PAS members or paid public members and instigate them to go for street protest.

    The final nail to the coffin (could be)… the Court of appeal to reverse the high court judgement.

    Last but not least lets see the BN walk the talk of 1 Malaysia or WAN Malaysia!

    Complain about this comment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

 Leave a Reply

Connect with Facebook

(required)

(required)

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>