Two days ago I received the latest Herald (14 October 2007, Vol.14, No.40) from Malaysia again. The editorial page displayed the repeated issue on the terms in the Malay language. The below is some excerpts from the editor's column (p.10). (Lily)
‘Creating controversy when there is none’
Significant for us from this Rasa Sayang controversy is that the Malay language has many borrowed words. The word RASA of Rasa Sayang is a Sanskrit word. Some scholars have said that one can speak Malay with the use of Sanskrit words alone. Many of us are unaware that in our daily usage of the Malay language, words like angkasa, asmara, bahasa, bahaya, bakti, berita, bukti, cahaya, cedera, saksi, syurga, tentara, upacara, wanita and many others are derived from the Sanskrit language.
Even religious terms in Malay are derived from Sanskrit words. For example dosa a common word for sin in Malay is a Sanskrit word and not an Arabic word. The popular Arabic words for sin are sayyia and khatia. What about the word puasa? Without batting an eyelid we can say it is a Sanskrit word.
Our Catholic Weekly-HERALD-has been harassed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for some time now for using the word ALLAH in its Malay section. No Arab-speaking person would claim the word only came with Islam. It is universally understood among believers in God that there is only one Creator of the world and that Creator is GOD. His name in English: God, in Italian: Dio,in German: Gott, in Spanish: Dios, in Portuguese: Deus, in Arabic: Allah, in Aramaic: Alaha.
So, the word God is an English language word and can be used by people of all religions that speak English.
As we have seen above, the Malay language depends on many borrowed words from other ancient languages. And every word in a language is the property of the language and not of any religion. To claim otherwise is just ignorance. Languages existed before religions were established. Religious terms are couched in the experience of the people and not vice-versa.
The Malay Bible uses the word ALLAH for God and TUHAN for Lord.
(End)
PS: Those who are interested in this article may wish to read further my own journal article on the Iban Bible issue published in 2005.
“Towards mutual understanding or religious intolerance? Impacts and implications of the recent Iban Bible issue in Malaysia” (http://www.cismor.jp/en/research/report/tsunashima.pdf.)
