Please refer to “Lily’s Room” dated 1 & 3 March 2009 before reading these two articles below. Dr.Ng Kam Weng's modified article was displayed on Malaysiakini.com dated 27 February 2009, but I suppose that the below is probably his original text, which expresses his strong irritation and uncomfortable emotions due to Encik Saad Hashim's so-called ‘misguided agitation' (see 25 February 2009's "Lily's Room") against Christian usage of the divine term. (Lily)
1. NECF Malaysia (http://www.necf.org.my)
(1) Article
Saad Hashim Misguided and Mischievous letter on Allah issue , 3 March 2009
by Dr. Ng Kam Weng
Dear Editor of Malaysiakini
Saad Hashim's letter (Malaysiakini, 25 Feb 2009), "Other Christian denominations not using 'Allah'" displays so much ignorance that under normal circumstances it would not merit a reply. However, a concise and decisive response is given here only because readers of Malaysiakini surely deserve a more enlightened discourse on the issue.
I find Saad misguided on three counts:
First, he is plainly misguided about what the Eastern Orthodox Church believes. Perhaps Saad is mistaken because historically the Orthodox Church did not accept the Western Latin Church's formulation of the Trinity that says the Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son (the filioque clause discussed in any standard text on doctrinal history). But contrary to Saad's view, the Orthodox Church's rejection of the filioque clause is not because it does not believe in the Trinity but because it believes it has a clearer formulation of the doctrine of Trinity. In this regard, Saad's statement that the Orthodox Church "believes in the Unitary of God and regards other Catholic denominations as 'deviant teachings'" is plainly wrong. Just two examples will show how ill-informed Saad Hashim is. The Catechism of the Eastern Greek Orthodox Church reads "God the Father is the fountainhead of the Holy Trinity. The Scriptures reveal the one God is Three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- eternally sharing the one divine nature."
Second, Saad is guilty of a simple confusion of sociological category when he included the Mormons within mainstream Christianity. In any case, why should it be surprising even if Mormons do not use the word 'Allah' since the Mormon's concept of God is more polytheistic than monotheistic or Trinitarian? From the semantics point of view the word 'Tuhan' would serve the Mormons just fine. In contrast, the semantic overlap but distinction between the words 'Allah' and 'Tuhan' is just appropriate for Malaysian Christians whose mother tongue is Malay to express their belief in the one God who is Trinitarian.
Third, Saad just got lost in irrelevancy when he posed the rhetorical question as to whether the Malaysian Catholic Church has conferred or confirmed with the other Catholic churches in Ireland, France, US or Latin America regarding the appropriateness of using the word 'Allah'. Let me assure Saad if he doesn't already know, that there are millions of Methodists, Anglicans and Baptists who are more than happy to use the word 'Allah'. But, still Saad's rhetorical question is plainly irrelevant. The point is that these overseas churches are not using Bahasa Malaysia for their liturgy and Bible instruction. Why in the world do Bahasa-speaking native Christians in Malaysia need to go to foreigners to guide them on how to use their mother-tongue?
I can only conclude that the likes of Saad are not bothered to do a bit of homework to avoid such blatant errors, and judging from the tone of his letter, people like him are more interested to slander or undermine the reputation of the Malaysian church. It would do well for Malaysiakini not to print mischievous letters.
(2) Press Statement
Attempt to proscribe the use of the term 'Allah' is untenable , 5 March 2009
MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism) views any attempt to proscribe the use of the term 'ALLAH' in any way to any religion as untenable from the standpoint of language, theology or history.
Attempt to proscribe the use of the term 'Allah' is untenable
MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism) views any attempt to proscribe the use of the term 'ALLAH' in any way to any religion as untenable from the standpoint of language, theology or history.
No religion can claim exclusive possession or use of this term.
Historically, the common use of the term predated the Holy Koran and Islam.
The government must therefore cease its periodic attempts to issue orders prohibiting its usage by religions other than Islam. Leave the respective religions if they deem it necessary to explain to their respective communities any difference in theology arising from the use of the common term.
As a consultative council of five major religions in Malaysia, MCCBCHST calls on all concerned to always be careful to treat each religion and its practices and beliefs with deep respect.
We urge all concerned to respect religious freedom as a fundamental human right.
In its twenty-six year history, MCCBCHST has actively promoted respect for every religion as envisioned in our vision statement.
MANY FAITHS, ONE NATION
Our Vision for Malaysia
2. Herald Malaysia (http://www.heraldmalaysia.com)
No hidden agenda to confuse Muslims, 3 April 2009
by Fr Lawrence Andrew, SJ
Kuala Lumpur: A Malay- Arabic word has been politicized and it has become the bone of contention for some people. The Kuala Terengganu UMNO delegate Datuk Zubir mbong at their recently concluded UMNO General Assembly said that he was “very suspicious why Christians want to translate the word God into ‘Allah’. I think they want to confuse young Muslims.”
To begin with, the Christians object to the statement of Datuk Zubir. Second, we have not translated the word ‘God’ into ‘Allah’ recently. To say that we have done so only now is to ignore history. We have historical evidence that the word has been in use even before the first Malay-Latin Dictionary was printed in 1631. To be more precise, the word ‘Allah’ was used even before the Sultanate of Johore and the neighbouring States became colonies of the Dutch and the British kingdoms.
So how could we be translating the word ‘Allah’ from the English word ‘God’ when the British had yet to colonize Malaya? The Catholic Church has been using the word ‘Allah’ translated, if you like, from the Latin word ‘Deus’ long before the formation of the Federation of Malaya!
It is unfortunate then, that some people in our country are confusing the Muslims and non-Muslims by stating that Christians have been using the word ‘Allah’ only recently! This is a lie and truth is being suppressed! Why are historical facts being falsified by some people in responsible positions in our country? These people are not only indulging in unethical practices but they are also being malicious to the point of paving the way for subtle discrimination and marginalization of citizens. This is gross injustice!
This unjust situation is becoming evident in certain school assemblies where non- Muslim students are being silenced by their peers while singing the State anthems because those anthems contain the word ‘ALLAH’. Why should non-Muslim children, whose parents have loyally sung their respective state anthems without any victimization during their school days, today be told not to sing those state anthems which contain the word ‘Allah’? Though this is not a widespread practice in the country, it is sufficient to warrant attention and concern that some social engineering that is unconstitutional is taking place in our country.
This is made disastrously frightening when some prominent politicians behave like rabble rousers and stir the emotions of the listeners towards hatred for other races and religions by daring to utter seditious speeches in public places. So, who is confusing he people, especially when Christians have no control over the mainstream printed and digital media? Who is sowing discord in the country? This country of ours does not need provocateurs but bridge builders.
So where is the Christian’s hidden agenda to confuse Muslims when our translation of the word ‘Allah’ is NOT from the English word ‘God’ but from the Latin word ‘Deus’ which came about in the sixteenth century? The word ‘Allah’ is found in a Dictionary that was printed in the seventeenth century!
(End)
