Malaysiakini.com（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
1. BM Herald ban - Gov't paranoia of the highest order, 8 January 2009
by Marion Tharsis
I refer to Malaysiakini report Malay-language edition of Catholic paper banned: Editor.
It is indeed ludicrous for the government to ban the Malay-languange edition of The Herald, a Catholic newspaper. On the one hand, they are making vigorous efforts to promote the usage of Bahasa Malaysia and on the other hand, disallowing its usage in some religious publications.
The government has always been known to issue contradicting and conflicting statements and implementing and enforcing actions to undermine its own efforts and policies.
In this instance, what is there to fear? Mind you, we are living in the 21st century and there is ample opportunity for every one to seek whatever information one desires from the electronic media in whatever language one seeks or is knowledgeable in.
People's insatiable hunger for knowledge cannot be restricted or curtailed especially at this time when people are better-educated and are always looking to broaden their knowledge and understanding even on the religious practices of other faiths.
I, through my religious teachings and also based on my own research which is never restricted by my religion, have a very clear idea about what I believe in and in what direction I am moving in as far as my faith is concerned.
It also does not prevent me from learning more about other faiths which, if looked at in the proper perspective and context, only preach tolerance, love and understanding of each other. Thus I am firm in my faith and not easily swayed.
All we ask is for the government is to be broad-minded when handling matters on religion. This is a situation of government paranoia at its highest order. First, exclusivity of the word ‘Allah’ that only exists in Malaysia and now another first in the world, to prevent a Catholic paper’s Malay-language edition.
Is our home ministry trying to re-write Arabic history that has clearly shown Christians and Muslims living in brotherly love, sharing the same language and practising an almost common faith with only slightly different interpretations ?
Coming up with inconsiderate and ridiculous restrictions only creates a lot of ill-feeling and suspicion among the people. Christianity is a universal religion like Islam.
It reaches out to the far corners of the world and the faithful feel at home praising God in their own language rather than a language they do not know or have very little knowledge of.
Preventing a person from fully practising his/her faith is seen as a violation of human rights.
Let us all move forward in the true spirit of Malaysia, a country where all the major religions of the world are present and blessed by God with so many good things.
2. Gov't withdraws ban on Herald newspaper, 8 January 2009
The government has withdrawn a ban on Catholic newspaper Herald that prevented it from publishing its Malay-language edition in a row over the use of the word "Allah", a home ministry official said today.
The decision was made after the Herald weekly threatened to sue the government, the home ministry's publications control unit secretary Che Din Yusof told AFP.
"We received their letter. We have reviewed the decision and we will now allow them to print the Malay version provided that they don't use the word 'Allah' until it is decided in court," he said.
"They can publish as long as they don't use the word 'Allah', just use the word 'God'."
The Herald, circulated among the country's 850,000 Catholics, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the word "Allah" as a translation for "God". Authorities said "Allah" should be used only by Muslims.
Last week, the newspaper was told it must stop publishing its Malay edition while the issue is resolved in the courts, as part of conditions for it to be allowed to continue printing its editions in English, Chinese and Tamil.
Not a punishment
Murphy Pakiam, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and publisher of the weekly newspaper, said the move "reeks of ill will and bad faith" and was effectively retribution over the legal battle that is due to be decided next month.
Che Din denied the government was trying to punish the Herald.
"We have long banned the word Allah (from being used in publications of other religions), it's not new," he said.
Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.
About 60 percent of the nation's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims, who dominate the government.
The rest of the population includes indigenous tribes as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians - practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others.
The Herald's editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, has said that more than half Malaysia's Catholics are from indigenous groups, most of whom live on Borneo island and who mainly speak Malay.(AFP)
(End)
