Malaysiakini.com（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
(1) Priests stand up for Father Paulino, 23 January 2009
by Gabrielle Chong
There was no shortage of support for Catholic priest Paulino Miranda at the Petaling Jaya session's court in Petaling Jaya today.
Father Paulino, parish priest of the Church of The Divine Mercy in Shah Alam, was one of 21 people arrested at an anti-ISA vigil on November 9 last year.
Parishioners from Father Paulino's church as well as other Catholic priests, some of whom had travelled from as far as Penang and Melaka, were seen outside the court today.
Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of Catholic weekly Herald, lamented that the 21 people had done no harm and had been arrested for standing up for peace, truth and justice.
"I am here to show support to the 21 people who took part in what was perceived as an illegal gathering, as well as my fellow priest who stood up to bring goodwill to the people."
Father Simon Labrooy (right) of Kurnia Kristus Church, Subang Jaya, said he was present today because he wanted to make a statement when things went wrong.
"The people inside (the court) are our conscience. They were detained for what they believe was right and true. This is a ridiculous and silly prosecution."
Fear tactics
Another priest, Father OC Lim (below) from St Francis Xavier Church, Petaling Jaya, believed that the arrests were carried out to intimidate and drive fear into people and deter them from taking part in vigils.
"Don't oppose the ISA. I think that is the essential message here," he said adding that "our church has been holding prayers and overnight vigils, not only for Father Paulino, but for the whole course of justice within our church premises.
"As for vigilers, my advice to them is to stand up, speak up, be counted and be heard, all within the law, of course."
Parishioners from Fr Paulino's church declined to comment, but remarked that he was a dedicated priest and expressed hope that he would be acquitted soon.
(2)‘Herald' must rethink its decision, 22 January 2009
by Dr Chris Anthony
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Ministry to probe Herald's use of 'Allah' despite ban.
It is regrettable and deeply disappointing to realize that the Catholic weekly Herald has decided to defy the government’s order refraining it from using the word ‘Allah’ in its publication while awaiting the courts’ decision on the matter.
Although we may not agree with the ban, it is only right that we continue to approach the issue with much civility and tolerance and with great regard for the general peace and stability in this country with a multiracial and multi-religious population.
It is one of the rare occasions that we agree with Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar that this issue must be sorted out in an environment which is not confrontational but in an environment of goodwill and understanding.
We tend to agree with him that if one religion decides to ‘show its strength’, it can be dangerous and can lead to chaos. All religions are equal in teaching good values to their followers and this should be respected by followers of other faiths.
Disputes between different faiths are inevitable but it is paramount that these should be settled in a peaceful manner with goodwill, tolerance and moderation as the guiding principles - not egocentrism and confrontation.
The attitude of the Herald reflects the thinking of the Catholic Church in Malaysia. Does the church want its congregation to adopt a confrontational attitude in solving its misunderstandings with their non-Christian brethren?
Isn’t subjecting oneself to authority a sign of humility and putting the wishes of others above our own preference a sign of charity? Aren’t these great virtues that were demonstrated by Jesus himself?
The Catholic Church has been given a good opportunity to show all Malaysians the true values of Christianity. The Church, and the Herald in particular, must abandon their decision to go defy the ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ as a gesture of goodwill and for the overall peace in the country.
This particularly at a time when there are positive political developments for a multiracial approach in governance. These changes may be slow but there are definite signs that they have begun.
The church, which claims it promotes interracial love and goodwill, should not stubbornly stand in the way of what the people of all races want or it would then be partly to blame for perpetrating racism and religious fanaticism that have plagued Malaysians for over fifty years.
(3) ‘Allah' ban: We Muslims not easily 'confused', 23 January 2009
by Abdul Rahman
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Ministry to probe Herald's use of 'Allah' despite ban.
As a Muslim, I find it quite incomprehensible why the home ministry or government - as exemplified by our Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar - keeps talking about banning the use of the word ‘Allah’ by people of other faiths. If I'm not wrong, besides the Catholics, the Sikhs also have laid claim in that they use this word in the context of God.
And I've also seen it being used by people of other religions when I was in Indonesia or in the Middle East. No Muslims there make any fuss over it. Why in Malaysia does the government makes such an issue over it?
If it is true that this word has been used by people of other faiths and that it was used even in the pre-Islamic era, then what is the fuss of it being used to describe God?
Also if it is true that the terms ‘Allah’ has been used by other faiths for centuries in Malaysia, why is this ban being enforced only now but not in the past? Could some learned Islamic scholars verify these facts ?
I found the words spoken by Syed Hamid Albar even more absurd. He was quoted as saying ‘Religious issues are a sensitive matter. That is why I refrain from debating the issue but if a religion decides to show its strength and numerous other actions, I think it is verging on dangerous territory.’
He was also quoted as saying ‘The decision to disallow the weekly from using the word 'Allah' was a government decision and not that of the ministry’.
What and who is he implying? The Herald on its insistence of using the word or the government for banning other faiths from using the word? It seems to me like he is implying that he is showing his strength, meaning the government.
Seems to me like he is talking about us Muslims, who being the majority in the government, are showing our strength in pushing others by preventing them from using this word.
Please, Mr Syed Hamid Albar, you speak for yourself or the government which you are a part of, but not on behalf of all Muslims. It is an insult to a majority of the Muslims here when it is implied that we can be influenced just because other faiths use this word. Are you implying that by allowing other people to use this the word, it can ‘confuse’ us as Muslims or cause us to be apostates to Islam? This is the biggest joke I've ever heard! No wonder there is so much misunderstanding that the world has over us Muslims.
These so-called ‘champions of Islam’ in the government speak as if to protect us Muslims from being ‘confused’ or from being potential apostates and this is creating to all these misunderstandings.
The same guy who uses ISA ‘to protect’ people. That's the problem with the government - getting incompetent people to do the job. This is the biggest embarrassment to us Muslims in Malaysia, especially to the silent majority.
If there are sites or people that insult the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), then, by all means prosecute the person or persons behind them as it is not right for a person to insult other faiths.
Please put up laws to prevent certain people with unsound minds from doing so and charge them in court. The same goes to anybody who insults other faiths, not only us Muslims. I think this is acceptable to all.
As for the Herald, I would like to ask for some understanding on its part to not be confrontational over the use of the word ‘Allah’ for the time being until the problem is resolved by the courts which is just next month.
The editor, Father Lawrence was quoted as saying: ‘We find this restriction on the use of 'Allah' unacceptable when we have been using it as a translation for 'God' for centuries in Malaysia’.
Let the courts decide then on whether this claim is true or not as I believe that historical facts can be proven through written records.
A Muslim with a sound mind will accept facts as facts and not be threatened if history shows it to be that way.
As a Muslim, I do not think that the word ‘Allah’ whether it is allowed by the courts to be used or not by other faiths will impact my faith in my Allah.
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