1. Malaysiakini.com （http://www.malaysiakini.com）
Court grants leave to review word 'Allah' in Herald, 24 April 2009
The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur was given leave by the High Court today to quash the Home Ministry's decision prohibiting the use of the word "Allah" in the Herald Catholic Weekly.
Archbishop Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam was also granted leave to apply for nine declarations, including to declare that the decision of Home Ministry and the government of Malaysia was illegal and ultra vires the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
According to Bernama, his counsel, S Selvarajah, told reporters that Justice Lau Bee Lan granted the leave under Order 53 of the Rules of the High Court in chambers.
Senior federal counsel Suzana Atan, for the ministry and government, did not object to the application.
Lau also fixed May 28 to hear the application for a stay of the Home Ministry's decision.
On Feb 16, this year, Murphy, as publisher of the Herald, filed for a judicial review to quash the decision of the respondents dated Jan 7, 2009 that the applicant's publication permit for the period Jan 1, 2009 until Dec 31, 2009, is subject to the condition that he be prohibited from using the word "Allah" in the Herald.
Seven declarations
The other seven declarations sought are:
1. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the Herald in the exercise of his right that other religions other than Islam may be practised in peace.
2. That Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution does not empower the respondents to prohibit the applicant from using the word "Allah" in the Herald.
3. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the weekly in the exercise of his right to freedom of speech and expression.
4. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the Herald in the exercise of his freedom of religion which includes the right to manage its own religious affairs.
5. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the Herald in the exercise his right in respect of education of the Catholic congregation in the Christian religion.
6. That the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 does not authorise the respondents to prohibit the applicant from using the word "Allah" in the Herald and
7. That the word "Allah" is not exclusive to the religion of Islam.
2. The Sun (http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=32729)
Court grants leave to review word "Allah" in Herald, 24 April 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur was given leave by the High Court here today to quash the Home Ministry's decision prohibiting the use of the word "Allah" in the Herald Catholic Weekly.
Archbishop Datuk Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam was also granted leave to apply for nine declarations, including to declare that the decision of Home Ministry and the government of Malaysia was illegal and ultra vires the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
His counsel, S.Selvarajah, told reporters that Justice Lau Bee Lan granted the leave under Order 53 of the Rules of the High Court in chambers.
Senior federal counsel Suzana Atan, for the ministry and government, did not object to the application.
Lau also fixed May 28 to hear the application for a stay of the Home Ministry's decision.
On Feb 16, this year, Pakiam, as publisher of the Herald, filed for a judicial review to quash the decision of the respondents dated Jan 7, 2009 that the applicant's publication permit for the period Jan 1, 2009 until Dec 31, 2009, is subject to the condition that he be prohibited from using the word "Allah" in the Herald.
The other seven declarations sought are:
1. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the Herald in the exercise of his right that other religions other than Islam may be practised in peace.
2. That Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution does not empower the respondents to prohibit the applicant from using the word "Allah" in the Herald.
3. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the weekly in the exercise of his right to freedom of speech and expression.
4. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the Herald in the exercise of his freedom of religion which includes the right to manage its own religious affairs.
5. That the applicant has the constitutional right to use the word "Allah" in the Herald in the exercise his right in respect of education of the Catholic congregation in the Christian religion.
6. That the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 does not authorise the respondents to prohibit the applicant from using the word "Allah" in the Herald and
7. That the word "Allah" is not exclusive to the religion of Islam. -- BERNAMA
3. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
Herald publisher gets to seek court review on “Allah” word use ban , 24 April 2009
by M.MAGESWARI
KUALA LUMPUR: The publisher of the Herald has succeeded in his bid to get leave from a High Court to review the Home Minister’s order prohibiting the use of the word “Allah” in the Catholic weekly.
High Court judge Justice Lau Bee Lan granted the order after meeting Attorney-General’s Chambers representatives and lawyers from various parties in her chambers Friday.
The parties are the publisher, seven Islamic Religious Councils, Malaysian Gurdwara Association and Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association.
Justice Lau also set May 28 for the hearing of the stay application against the minister’s decision pending the court’s determination over the matter.
Speaking to reporters later, the publisher’s counsel S. Selvarajah said his client has obtained leave from the court under Order 53 Rule 3(1) of the Rules of the High Court 1980.
He said his client wanted to quash the decision of the minister dated Jan 7 that his publication permit for the period between Jan 1 and Dec 31 prohibited him from using the word “Allah” in the Herald.
“We want a stay so that the minister can be prevented from taking action to enforce the condition (for the publication),” he added.
Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan said she did not object over leave application for the judicial review but would argue over the stay.
Co-counsel for the applicant, Derek Fernandez said the court’s decision to grant leave showed that the application was not frivolous and there was an arguable case.“It will not be appropriate for any action to be taken until the court has the opportunity to listen and decide on merits of the case,” he said.
Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam had applied on Feb 16 to declare that the Herald is entitled to use the word and that the word was not exclusive to Islam.
He is applying to get a declaration that the minister’s decision was illegal, null and void.
He is also seeking to get a declaration that under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, the applicant had the constitutional right to use the word “Allah” in the publication.
Besides that, he claimed that the Priniting Presses and Publications Act 1984 does not empower and/or authorise the respondents to prohibit him from using the word.
Rev Murphy, 71, had named the Home Minister and Government as respondents in the application.The archbishop is named as an applicant in this action as publisher of the Herald.
He is also seeking costs and any relief deemed fit by the court.
© 1995-2009 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
4. Berita Harian Online (http://www.bharian.com.my)
Mahkamah beri kebenaran semak perkataan Allah dalam Herald, 24 April 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Biskop Gereja Katolik Kuala Lumpur diberi kebenaran oleh Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini untuk memohon membatalkan keputusan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) melarang penggunaan kalimah Allah dalam majalah 'Herald Catholic Weekly'.
Ketua Biskop Datuk Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam juga diberi kebenaran untuk memohon mendapatkan sembilan deklarasi, termasuk mengisytiharkan bahawa keputusan KDN dan kerajaan Malaysia adalah tidak sah dan di luar bidang kuasa (ultra vires) Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984.
Peguamnya, S Selvarajah memberitahu pemberita di sini bahawa Hakim Lau Bee Lan memberi kebenaran berkenaan but di kamar mengikut Perintah 53 Peraturan-Peraturan Mahkamah Tinggi.
Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Suzana Atan yang bertindak bagi pihak responden iaitu KDN dan kerajaan Malaysia tidak membantah kebenaran permohonan berkenaan.
Lau juga menetapkan 28 Mei ini untuk mendengar permohonan menangguhkan keputusan larangan KDN itu.
Pada 16 Februari lalu, Murphy, sebagai penerbit Herald, memfailkan permohonan semakan kehakiman (undang-undang) bagi membatalkan keputusan responden bertarikh 7 Jan 2009 dan permit penerbitan pemohon bagi tempoh 1 Januari 2009 hingga 31 Disember 2009 tertakluk kepada syarat bahawa beliau dilarang menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam Herald.
Tujuh deklarasi lain yang dituntut ialah:
1. Pemohon mempunyai hak berperlembagaan untuk menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam Herald dalam melaksanakan haknya bahawa agama lain selain agama Islam mungkin mengamalkan ajaran agama secara aman.
2. Bahawa Perkara 3(1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan tidak memberi kuasa kepada responden untuk melarang pemohon daripada menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam Herald.
3. Bahawa pemohon mempunyai hak berperlembagaan untuk menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam penerbitan mingguan itu dalam menunaikan haknya kepada kebebasan bersuara dan meluangkan pandangan.
4. Bahawa pemohon mempunyai hak berperlembagaan untuk menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam Herald dengan melaksanakan hak kebebasan beragama termasuk hak mengurus hal ehwal agama sendiri.
5. Bahawa pemohon mempunyai hak berperlembagaan untuk menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam Herald dengan melaksanakan haknya berkaitan pendidikan penganut Katolik dalam agama Kristian.
6. Bahawa Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984 tidak memberi kuasa kepada responden untuk melarang pemohon daripada menggunakan perkataan Allah dalam Herald.
7. Bahawa perkataan Allah bukan eksklusif kepada agama Islam. - Bernama
5．Utusan Malaysia (http://www.utusan.com.my)
Gereja Katolik diberi kebenaran mulakan prosiding, 25 April 2009
KUALA LUMPUR 24 April - Gereja Katolik hari ini diberi kebenaran untuk memulakan prosiding di Mahkamah Tinggi (Bahagian Rayuan dan Kuasa-Kuasa Khas) dalam usaha membatalkan keputusan Menteri Dalam Negeri yang melarang penggunaan perkataan Allah dalam penerbitan 'Herald - The Catholic Weekly'.
Hakim Lau Bee Lan turut memberi kebenaran yang sama berhubung sembilan perisytiharan yang dipohon oleh Gereja Katolik selepas mendengar hujahan kedua-dua pihak dalam prosiding yang dibuat di kamar beliau.
Antara perisytiharan yang dipohon ialah larangan bertarikh 7 Januari lalu oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri dan Kerajaan Malaysia yang dinamakan sebagai responden adalah salah di sisi undang-undang, batal dan tidak sah.
Gereja Katolik sebagai pemohon turut memohon perisytiharan bahawa larangan tersebut adalah ultra vires (melampaui batasan undang-undang) Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984 sehingga mahkamah membuat keputusan.
(Tamat)
