The political gymnastics continue. According to the Borneo Post, Najib has broken his silence over the ‘Allah’ controversy and has declared that the court decision is not applicable to East Malaysia, the region considered to be the “fixed deposit” of the BN.
I guess the uproar from within the BN ranks in Sabah and Sarawak must have unnerved the Umno-BN leadership. And they blinked.
So the ban targets only the Herald, which in itself raises all kinds of questions. So the word Allah can be used but just not in the Herald? Why is only the Herald being singled out? Carrying it further, does this mean that the Herald may use the term in east Malaysia or is the ban on the Herald’s use of the term across the whole country? Now, I am confused!
There is a lot we can learn from Sabahans and Sarawakians, who apparently are not as easily confused.
Of course, there are larger political narratives at play behind the whole controversy including conflicting worldviews – exclusivist vs inclusive worldviews of what being a Malaysian means. And there are some who would rather divide and rule.
The front page of The Borneo Post today:
‘Allah’ ban not for Sarawak, Sabah
by Lian Cheng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on October 18, 2013, Friday
Najib breaks silence over controversy, declares court decision not applicable to East Malaysia.
KUCHING: The ruling of Court of Appeal (COA) on the banning of the usage of “Allah” by non Muslims only applies to the Malay-language version of the Catholic weekly publication, The Herald.
The ruling by COA, according to Human Resources Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem did not apply to worship and literatures of the Christian community of Sarawak and Sabah, or the impor ted Malay Bible from Indonesia.
The 10 -point solut ions of 2011 would still be ef fective and honoured, reiterated the minister. “The decision of Court of Appeal only applies to Catholic weekly The Herald, in its Malaylanguage version.
With that, to me, there should be no cause for confusion and anxiety especially among Christians in Sarawak and Sabah,” Riot told a press conference upon touching down at Kuching International Airport here yesterday. Riot explained that he was instructed by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday to clear the air over the issue.
“I know there was a lot of anxiety, a lot of confusion arising from the decision of COA. The Prime Minister has asked all cabinet members, both Christians and Muslims to help clear the air,” explained Riot. Riot, who is also Sarawak United People’s Party deputy president pointed out that it was a non-issue for the Christians of Sarawak and Sabah as they had been using the term for more than a hundred years and they could continue to use it in worship services, prayers. sermons, and literatures.
The 10-point solution which was drawn by Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala in 2011 was accepted by the cabinet and would continue to stand as the COA ruling had no implication on Sarawak and Sabah, he said.
As a Christian minister, Riot thanked the people of Sarawak and Sabah in particular the Christian community who have remained calm for not resorting to drastic actions to show their anger and fear over the ruling.
COA had on Monday ruled that The Herald was prohibited from using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, following a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Federal Court Judge Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
The ruling has caused much anxiety among the Christian community in Sarawak and Sabah as there are some 2.6 mil Bumiputera Christians who have been using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God in sermons, hymns, prayers, public gathering or literatures.
Responses from relevant quarters such as the Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) had been firm as its chairman Datuk Bolly Lapok described the ruling as “utterly irresponsible and grossly demeaning” and vowed that despite the ruling, “the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak will continue to worship their Allah until the Kingdom comes.”
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/10/18/allah-ban-not-for-sarawak-sabah/#ixzz2i3PTUqJo
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The problem for Christians is that they translate ho theos/ton theon equivalent to generic nouns of (the god) or Al-ilah in Aramaic/Arabic to that of the word Allah. For those who try to look into the etymology of the word Allah will relate it to root ilah with tittle Al- (the) in front. However, when doing comparison of word Allah with generic nouns like ilah or Al-ilah , one will find it is not equal to those two words. For example we have titles of God like Al-awal, Al-akhir, when one wish to invoke either one as name, one drops… Read more »
The Court say No to use Allah and Ah Cheap say can be used in Sabah and Sarawak. Is not that Comtempt of Court(?) …
Court says no to Herald. Which part do you not understand?
Where there is a place for God in man’s heart, there He will be.
No earthly government can dictate where & where not He will be worshipped.
This episode shows what a foolish nation is to the whole wide world.
The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. UMNO politicians, now the PM sudenly realizes that if this is not stopped, UMNO and Barisan will lose their deposits in Sabah and Sarawak
in the next G.Election. Our compatriates in East Malaysia may now realize that it is time … and become independent of UMNO, if not join Pakatan. Our guys cannot see beyond the tips of their noses! Too bad for them.
A hilariously senseless, silliest and most funny decision, laced with endless stupidities ever made on the use of the word Allah. First there was no restriction on the use of the word Allah by the Christian community. Next, when some … buffoons and muck-head mullahs threw a tantrum, suddenly the Christians were not allowed to use the word Allah. Next, when the Christian community protested and defied the ban, the ban was lifted in East Malaysia but not in West Malaysia. Next, when the whole Christian community, together with some like-minded citizens and groups, protested, once again the Christians can… Read more »
Hi everyone, I am very confused by UMNO Baru’s interpretation of this issue as it was UMNO Baru’s then Home Minister who had the word “Allah” and 31 other words banned from being used by other religions! This Minister was the very same one who stupidly stated that he had a journalist detained for her own protection! I read somewhere that it is stated in the holy book, the Koran, that “your God and our God is the same”, then how come Allah to the Christians can be confusing to the Muslims’ the Allah??!! Can the UMNO Baru theologians elaborate… Read more »
Not funny. But seriously aNIL, you too also actively performing the political spinning nonstop since 2006. Ban or no ban, the voting bank for BN is still from Malays. Please don’t exaggerate the importance of other minority.
I am one of the strongest supporters of UMNO baru. But, the Allah ruling had got me confused, very confused. Previously, it had always been, “there is no God but Allah”, and it is very clear that truly there is only one God and that is Allah. But, now, the Christians had been singled out and disallowed to use the word “Allah” in their prayers. Why so? Is there more than one God than “Allah”? And will our Sikh brothers and sisters be allowed to use “Allah” in their prayers Is there more than one God? I am utterly confused!… Read more »
Do not read Utusan or watch TV3 news bulletin and you will not be confused.
This is just the beginning. I believe Umno will continue to impose its unique-way-of-interpretation of Islam onto non-Muslims e.g. halalise practically everything (even school canteens). Already non-Muslims must adhere to their guidelines on dressing when in the office of civil service or library (non-Muslim ladies cannot wear sleeveless t-shirt).
The way the Ministers comment are nonsensical. My view is if you can’t take the heat, just resign. Don’t be a dumb-duck Minister.