1. My SinChew (http://www.mysinchew.com)
Dompok Calls For Discussion Over Allah Word, 9 March 2009
PETALING JAYA: The issue over the usage of the word “Allah” in reference to God by Christians should be discussed rationally said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
He was reported by The New Sabah Times Monday (9 March) as saying although the matter was already in court, he lamented that many had been talking about it.
“I am certainly very disappointed to see a lot of articles written in the newspapers which are bordering on sedition, he said
“I feel that it is a matter that we have to talk about rationally without any fear of being threatened with whatever action there is,” said Dompok when asked to comment on the issue of using the word “Allah” in Christian publications.
The paper said Dompok admitted he was reluctant to talk about the issue after the Home Ministry decided to withdraw an earlier decision to allow the use of the word.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the reason for the issue to emerge in Sabah was because Christians in the state had been using the term for many years even before Malaysia was formed.
“Malay was the lingua franca of the Borneo states even before Malaysia. Those who studied in the Malay language and worshipped in the Malay language used bibles from Indonesia in which the word God was translated to Allah. It has been common practice in Sabah and Sarawak to use Allah to refer to God,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dompok said the signature drive in Sabah to petition against the move to revoke the usage of the word “Allah” was redundant and would not help the situation because the matter had been discussed in cabinet as well as between leaders of the church and the government.
“But it is the right of the people to sign any petition. The work has been done and the views have been presented to the government,” he said. (MySinchew)
2. The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) Faith under fire, 9 March 2009
By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 8 - The Catholic Church has been at the centre of much flak in Malaysia, even before the General Elections, when their use of the word "Allah" for God in their weekly newspaper was highlighted.
Central to the dispute is the editor of The Herald, Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew, whose political observations and whose insistence on using the word has won him few admirers from the vast majority of Malay-Muslims in Malaysia, not to mention drawing detractors from the non-Muslim minority.
High-ranking government ministers as well as officials from the federal and state Islamic departments point out that the use of "Allah" outside the Muslim context will "confuse" the Muslim community at large.
Fr Lawrence shares the past one year with The Malaysian Insider.
Q: What is the biggest change for you in the past one year?
Lawrence: The biggest constraining issue that has come about since last year's elections has been about the gazette by the Home Ministry over the use of "Allah" in Christian publications. (on the Feb 16, 2009 gazette under the Internal Security Act granting Christians conditional use of "Allah" in their publications).
The government is caught between two fires. One is depriving us of our constitutional rights; the other is from those who are against us, namely Islam.
The Utusan articles, on the "Isu" panellists have stirred the emotions of many and a good number of Christians who are angry.
Some of those remarks by the panellists have agitated those people and may lead to outbursts of anger and may even spell socio-religious racial riots.
The government is trying to steer away from the crisis over the use of the word "Allah".
Q: What challenges do you foresee?
Lawrence: The biggest challenge remains the same, that is, bringing all peoples together so as to see ourselves as human beings in loving God.
Q: How are you dealing with it?
Lawrence: I think there is multi-pronged approach which consists in many groups working towards creating moments of dialogue with one another. We are all brothers and sisters. There can be no service without that.
It is regrettable the talk about the interfaith goodwill council in Penang have run into difficulties. We should set up more of these for the good of the country and her citizens.
We can enter into discussion on common issues. If the council were to talk about faith or theology, people may not be so willing to hold such meetings because they are treated as sensitive issues.
But if we were to talk, for example, about youth issues: gangsterism, drug abuse, people spending in Internet cafes and wasting time, these become issues where we all can come together and discuss. These negative issues spring from the lack of values.
The National Service is a good example where all religions can participate. The role of religion of all peoples must be recognised, this will help us to teach moral values.
(2) A Luck of Faith , 9 March 2009
By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 8 - Reverend Hermen Shastri is fearful for the fragile ties among the many faiths in Malaysia.
The secretary general of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM), one of many who worked and prayed hard for change in the 12th General Elections (GE12), noted a more pronounced politicisation of race and religion for political agendas in the one year since elections.
"The old mindset of keeping religious communities divided, of attributing special positions and therefore special privileges of one religious community over the others is not helping to build bridges among the various religious communities," said Shastri.
He pointed out the increasingly shrill voices trumpeting the inequalities among the different religions and forcing forward their opinion that one religion is superior to another.
The recent uproar over setting up an interfaith goodwill council in Penang to foster understanding of common values espoused by different faiths has riled up many conservatives.
Add to that the use of the word "Allah" to mean God outside of Islam, which is being challenged in court by the Catholic Church; and the Home Minister's flip-flop on a gazetted order allowing its use in print for Christians under strict conditions brought about by dissident voices from the Muslim community.
Then there was the detention of a Christian Opposition federal lawmaker under the Internal Security Act last September, allegedly for forcing a mosque in her constituency to stop broadcasting the azan, the Muslim call to prayer, through loudspeakers.
But the most contentious was the Malaysian Bar Council's public forum to discuss the effects of Islamic conversion on the non-Muslim family of the converted.
It was called off prematurely as angry conservative Muslim politicians from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat stormed the association's headquarters here last July, threatening dire action against the 200-odd multiracial audience for daring to question the special status of Islam and the rights of Malays.
Shastri fears such extremist reactions from self-serving politicians will lead to religious intolerance, splitting the country into two distinct camps.
"Each is using it to champion his own career," Shastri told The Malaysian Insider, and pointed out darkly, "More and more are instilling fear on the basis of religion."
But, Shastri admitted, the views of the shrill are not reflective of the views of the many, as shown through individuals such as first-time MP for Shah Alam, Khalid Samad, a religious liberal from Islamist Pas who was voted into a position of power in GE12 and who has been reaching across the religious divide to directly engage with religious communities in his constituency to resolve issues.
"This is a welcome change," he noted.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president, Datuk A. Vaithilingam, also proclaimed increased talks between Muslims and non-Muslims at the state and federal levels.
He admitted the relationship between the two camps remain tenuous, but said there have been occasions when the Muslim authorities gave way in a religious dispute.
Vaithilingam, who is also president of the Hindu Sangam - the governing body for Hindus in Malaysia - related a case last month where the Islamic department of Selangor (Jais) returned the body of a 26-year-old ethnic Indian who was wrongly identified as Muslim to his Hindu family for cremation.
Vaithilingam said the man had been converted to Islam by his father at a young age but had been a practising Hindu until his demise.
He noted there have been some relief for Hindus on specific issues related to getting land and approval for building temples, especially in Selangor and the Federal Territory where the problem has been festering for years.
"In the Hindu issues, in temple issues, demolishing temples have stopped. That change is definitely there," Vaithilingam said, but stressed there were many other unresolved matters.
The increased closed-door meetings between the MCCBCHST and an inter-religious committee under the National Unity Ministry headed by Illani Ishak remain locked in verbiage.
It started under the previous minister, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, in 2004 but actual steps to address the real problems between Muslim and non-Muslim have yet to be taken.
The biggest challenge remains the issue of conversion, said Vaithilingam.
He pointed out, by way of example, that many non-Muslim women often have no recourse when their husbands convert to Islam on the sly.
Besides the issue of maintenance, the conversion of their children without the spouse's knowledge deals a second, greater blow, especially in terms of custody.
The latest case reported involves carpenter Hoo Ying Soon, 28, and his estranged wife, 23, who converted to Islam and converted their year-old daughter without his knowledge. The wife who now goes by her Muslim name, Siti Zubaidah Chew Abdullah, has taken the matter to the syariah court.
"It's not seen to be a fair chance for non-Muslims to have to go there. The judges are not hearing the case fully," Vaithilingam said, pointing out that the authority of the syariah courts covers only Muslims and have no effect on those who are not of that faith.
"The civil court should have complete jurisdiction over the cases brought up by non-Muslims," he added.
"Only through solidarity, dialogue and bridge-building can religions have relevance today," Shastri said, noting the tortoise-paced change in religious perspectives following March 8, 2008.
Vaithilingam shared the reverend's view.
"I'm very disappointed with the politics between parties. It's not very healthy," he criticised.
Vaithilingam sighed: "I suppose it's the beginning of a two-party system. Hopefully, they are learning to treat the problem. Everyone must accept the results of the elections and work from there."
3. Bernama (http://www.bernama.com)
(1) Order Issued To Revoke Feb 16 Gazette On 'Allah', 6 March 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry today issued an order under the Internal Security (Prohibition on Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) (Revocation) Order 2009 to revoke an earlier gazette dated Feb 16.
In a statement, the ministry said the order took effect on March 2.
"The Internal Security (Prohibition on Use of Specific Words on Document and Publication) Order 2009 [P.U.(A) 62/2009] published in the Gazette on 16 February is revoked," the order says.
The Feb 16 gazette stated that documents and publications relating to Christianity containing the world "Allah" are prohibited unless the words "FOR CHRISTIANITY" are written on their front covers.
(2) Non-Muslims Cannot Use Word 'Allah' - Ex-Imam, 6 March 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- A former grand imam of the National Mosque told the Dewan Rakyat today that the word "Allah" based on the belief of Muslims, cannot be used by the non-Muslims.
Taib Azamudden Mat Taib who is Pas representative for Baling, said this was because the meaning of Allah to other religions was different from the meaning of Allah to Islam.
Taib gave this explanation after Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asked him to explain the issue on the use of word "Allah".
Zahid, when winding up the motion of thanks for the royal address, said later that Taib's explanation was in accordance with the stance of the government, Islamic Development Department and National Fatwa Council.
Two other Pas lawmakers -- Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) and Khalid Samad (Shah Alam) -- however had a different opinion.
Dr Dzulkefly said questions on the use of word Allah should not arise because according to the Quran, the word Allah was also used by non-Muslims. Khalid agreed and cited a verse which says the non-Muslims acknowledge that the Earth was created by Allah.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) , meanwhile, suggested the setting up of a commitee to discuss the matter to avoid misunderstanding.
The Dewan Rakyat will sit again on Tuesday.
4. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
Rational discussion needed, says Dompok, 9 March 2009
KOTA KINABALU: The issue of the word “Allah” to refer to God in Christian publications should be discussed rationally, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
“I am certainly very disappointed to see a lot of articles in the newspapers which bordered on sedition.
“I feel that this matter has to be discussed rationally to wash out any fear of being threatened with whatever action there is,” Dompok told reporters after launching the Akademi Fantasia 6 star, Stacy Anam’s first album yesterday.
“This does not mean we are ignoring Bahasa Malaysia,” he said.
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5. Berita Harian Online （http://www.bharian.com.my)
Guna nama 'Allah' untuk bukan Islam cetus keliru, 9 Mac 2009
Laporan Ahmad Naim Tahir, Syuhada Choo Abdullah
Penjelasan Ahli Parlimen Baling sama dengan pegangan Jakim
KUALA LUMPUR: Ahli Parlimen Baling daripada Pas, Taib Azamudden Md Taib mempunyai pandangan berbeza dengan Mursyidul Am parti itu, Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat berhubung penggunaan perkataan 'Allah' oleh penganut agama bukan Islam.
Beliau yang memberi penjelasan panjang lebar mengenai isu itu pada sidang Dewan Rakyat semalam, berkata penggunaan perkataan itu oleh agama lain di negara ini boleh menimbulkan kekeliruan.
Namun, bekas Imam Besar Masjid Negara itu berkata pendiriannya bukan mewakili parti, sebaliknya berlandaskan kesucian Islam.
Beliau memberi penjelasan itu selepas Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi memberinya peluang menyatakan pendiriannya. Ahmad Zahid berbuat demikian ketika menggulung perbahasan titah diraja bagi Jabatan Perdana Menteri selepas dua Ahli Parlimen daripada Pas berhujah perkataan Allah patut dibenarkan diguna agama lain.
"Dalam konteks Malaysia, ia akan menyebabkan kekeliruan kepada anak-anak dan keturunan kita akan datang, tidak sama seperti di Eropah atau tempat lain.
"Contohnya, (boleh berlaku) jika kita tanya penganut agama lain ke mana dia hendak pergi, mereka (boleh) kata nak sembah Allah... kita tanya Sri Gading (Ahli Parlimen Seri Gading, Datuk Seri Mohamad Aziz) juga kata nak sembah Allah," kata Taib Azamudden.
Taib Azamudden juga menjelaskan mengenai Allah dalam Islam serta dalam agama lain seperti Yahudi dan Kristian yang menyifatkan Allah mempunyai anak, sedangkan konsep ketuhanan dalam Islam adalah tauhid.
Ahmad Zahid kemudian berkata, penjelasan Taib Azamudden itu adalah pegangan kerajaan, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim), Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan serta sebahagian besar rakyat Malaysia.
Katanya, pada masa ini 10 negeri sudah mewartakan keputusan Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan berhubung isu itu kecuali Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Wilayah Persekutuan dan Sarawak.
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