CCM (Council of Churches of Malaysia) homepage (http://ccmalaysia.org)
Confiscating of Christian Literature
The Council of Churches strongly deplores the action of the state enforcement officials of the Publications and Al-Quran Texts Control Department under the Internal Security Ministry who recently confiscated English language Christian children’s books said to contain offensive caricatures of prophets from several bookshops in three states; Johor Baru, Negeri Sembilan and Perak.
Such officials have no right and have overstepped their bounds by confiscating Christian literature.
It has been stated that illustrations of prophets depicted in the children’s books are offensive to the sensitivities of Muslims.
In the first place, the Christian children’s books are not meant for Muslims, so how can it be offensive to them?
Second, the illustrations contained in whatever form in such books depict biblical characters of spiritual significance for Christians.
By such an action the officials have offended the sensitivities of Christians because their publications and depictions of their biblical personalities have now become targets of unscrupulous Muslim officials bent on curtailing religious freedom in the country.
The Council of Churches strongly urges the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to take immediate action to put a stop to such actions by the said Ministry.
If such actions continue, it will undermine democracy and tarnish the good relations between the different religious communities in the country.
Immediate steps should be taken to amend administrative rules and regulations especially in the Internal Security Ministry that give a freehand to enforcement officials to act at their whim and fancies.
Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri,
General Secretary
Council of Churches of Malaysia
17th January 2008
CCM Newslink(January 2008, p.1)
The Right of non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to speak of God
The Christian Federation of Malaysia expresses deep disappointment and regret with the statement of the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Y.B. Datuk Dr. Abdullah Zin, as reported in the newspapers (The Star and The Sun) of 4th January 2008, that the Cabinet has decided against the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims in their worship and in their publications.
It is wrong to prohibit certain sections of the Malaysian public against the use of a particular word in their daily prayers or in their publications.
The word “Allah” is of ancient lineage originating from the Middle East and used by both the non-Muslims and Muslims for centuries all over the world. The word “Allah” is a pre-Islamic word used by Arab Christians before Islam came into being. The Holy Quran itself admits that Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the one and same “Allah”, (Surah 2:62, 2:133, repeated in Surah 5:69, and again in Surah 22:17).
Bahasa Malaysia , the language of all Malaysians, has incorporated the word “Allah” which denotes the One and Almighty God into the language. Therefore, we maintain and we have always told the Government that we have the right to use the word “Allah” whether in our Bahasa Malaysia publications or otherwise. We urge the Government, in recognition of the universal heritage of religious terminology like “Allah” and others and in the context of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, to recognize and uphold the right of all Malaysians to the continued use of the word “Allah” and appropriate religious terminology without restrictions.
The restriction against the use of the word “Allah” by all Malaysians will put the country in a bad light in the international community.
Bishop Dr. Paul Tan Chee Ing., SJ
Chairman, Christian Federation of Malaysia
5th January 2008
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