1. The Star Online （http://thestar.com.my）
(1) Pakatan talks over ‘Allah’ issue, 6 January 2013
KUALA LUMPUR: The on-off Pakatan Rakyat meeting to discuss Lim Guan Eng's controversial “Allah” statement is on again, this time scheduled for Tuesday.
PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin confirmed that the top leadership of the Opposition coalition would discuss the controversy sparked by the DAP secretary-general's recent reference to it.
“The Pakatan leadership is schedule to meet at PKR's head office this Jan 8 to discuss and resolve the matter,” he said after attending the Pakatan Youth secretariat meeting here yesterday.
Shamsul refused to elaborate, only saying that the Pakatan youth leadership would take its cue from the outcome of the leadership's meeting next week.
DAP publicity chief Tony Pua confirmed the issue would be brought up during the Pakatan monthly leadership meeting.
Controversy over the “Allah” word cropped up when Lim, in his recent Christmas message, urged the Federal Government to allow Christians to use the word in their Malay version of the Bible.
Lim's message caused an uproar among Muslims, while some Muslim NGOs held protests in front of his Penang office last month.
PAS also hit out at Lim, stating firmly that the word “Allah” should not be used by Christians to refer to God; as it would only lead to confusion for both Muslims and Christians.
On Dec 27, Anwar conceded that an urgent meeting to discuss the matter was needed to resolve the issue, although discussions were held by the Pakatan leadership when the controversy surfaced in 2010.
On a separate issue, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi described RTM's decision to scrap a proposed forum, to allow itspresident Datuk Seri Hadi Awang to explain his infidel' label against Umno and its supporters, as a political ploy just when the general election is about to be held.
He chided Umno's claim that the National Fatwa Council had issued an edict against Hadi's 1981 message (amanat Haji Hadi), saying that only the Malacca Fatwa Council had done so.
(2) Churches to continue with ‘Allah’ in Malay Bible, 10 January 2013
PETALING JAYA: The Council of Churches (CCM) will continue to use the word “Allah” in the Malay version of the Bible, said the council's heads of churches.
The heads of churches had discussed the issue during their retreat in Ipoh, which began on Tuesday and ends today.
In a statement yesterday, CCM general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri noted that Malaysian Christians had been using the word in their Malay Bible and devotional life for centuries.
“Also, many indigenous communities in our nation have incorporated this word in their everyday language.
“That being the case, we shall continue this practice, and call on all parties to respect this fundamental right,” he said.
He added that the heads of churches agreed that the practice was a right “guaranteed to us in our Federal Constitution” under Article 11, which addresses freedom of religion.
Two days ago, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah decreed that non-Muslims in the state are barred from using “Allah” as it is a sacred word exclusive to Muslims.
Hours after the decree was announced, PAS and its allies in the Opposition pact took a common stand that the word “Allah” can be used by anyone for as long as it is not misused against the Muslim community.
(3) Haron: I’ll never agree to allow non-Muslims use 'Allah' , 10 January 2013
by SIRA HABIBU (sira@thestar.com.my)
PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy mursyidul am Datuk Dr Haron Din says he will never agree to any decision allowing the use of “kalimah Allah” by non-Muslims.
“Kalimah Allah dominates every surah in the Quran, while the word Allah cannot be found anywhere in the Bible,” he said.
He said this in response to the resurfacing of the contentious issue after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said recently that Christians should be allowed to use the word “Allah” in the Malay version of the Bible.
The PAS Syura Council meeting on Saturday is expected to be highly charged as many of the religious scholars in the party are not agreeable to Pakatan Rakyat's consensus to allow non-Muslims to use “kalimah Allah”.
Some members of the Syura Council were caught by surprise over the decision that was made without consulting the supreme body of the Islamist party.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said on Tuesday that Islam did not forbid non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” but it should not be abused.
Dr Haron described as kufur (disbelievers) those who allow non-Muslims to use the word “Allah”, as it could lead to syirik (shirk) when the word is used on the cross and other prayer paraphernalia.
PAS Ulama chief Datuk Dr Harun Taib had also expressed shock over Pakatan Rakyat's claim that a consensus had been reached.
In an immediate response on Tuesday, Harun said that as far as he could remember, the Syura Council had never made a decision on the matter.
PAS mursyidul am (spiritual leader) Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz was quoted in a Malay daily as saying that on a personal basis, he believed non-Muslims should be allowed to use “kalimah Allah”, as it could be the first step to preach Islam to them.
However, Nik Aziz said he would abide by the Syura Council's decision.
Meanwhile, Selangor Barisan Nasional coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed hit out at Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for defying the Selangor Sultan's advice to abide by a fatwa barring non-Muslims from using “kalimah Allah”.
Mohd Zin said Anwar, who claimed to be adviser to the Selangor Government, should be ashamed for being ignorant of the fact that the ruling prohibiting the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims for the propagation of other religions apart from Islam was stipulated in Section 9 of the Non-Islamic Religion Enactment (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) 1988.
“What kind of message is he trying to send?
“Is he trying to instigate Pakatan supporters to commit sedition?” he asked.
(4) Selangor MB: Not wrong to use ‘Allah’ but don’t abuse it, 10 January 2013
SHAH ALAM: It is not wrong for non-Muslims to use the word “Allah” as long as it is not intended to ridicule or abuse the term, said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
He said this was clearly stated in the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Selangor) Enactment 2003.
“When you are singing the Selangor state anthem, it is not an act of ridicule. But if someone is using the word to preach and convince Muslims to convert then that is wrong,” he said when asked if it was appropriate for non-Muslims to sing the state anthem, as one of its verses contained the word “Allah”.
On the state Government's stand regarding the use of “Allah” in Malay Bible, Khalid said Islam and its relevant laws were under the authority of the Sultan.
“His authority is accepted by the state government because the laws had been passed by the state legislative assembly,” he said.
(5) In the spotlight again over ‘Allah’ issue, 10 January 2013
by Joceline Tan
Religion has moved to the political centrestage again with the revival of the kalimah Allah' controversy.
POLITICS runs through Lim Guan Eng's veins and his speeches at almost every event, including religious occasions, is about politics, politics and more politics. The Penang Chief Minister's Christmas message last month was no different - he mentioned Lynas, the AES issue and money scandals.
But it was his call for the term “Allah” to be used in Bahasa Malaysia Bibles that landed his Pakatan Rakyat partners with a giant headache. It has made him a hero among the Christians but the matter stunned many Muslims who are not comfortable with the development.
Religion has once again moved to the political centrestage with the revival of the “kalimah Allah” issue.
On Tuesday, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang appeared at a press conference with PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang where Hadi read from a brief statement that appeared to endorse Guan Eng's Christmas message. Basically, Hadi said that Islam does not forbid non-Muslims from using the term “Allah” although it may not be equivalent to the actual meaning of the original Quranic word.
The three leaders looked rather tense and seemed in a hurry to get it over with. None of them were really comfortable about the subject matter and who can blame them?
The press conference was taking place on the same day as a no-nonsense statement from the Selangor Palace reminding everyone in the state that there is a fatwa decreeing that the term “Allah” is sacred and exclusive to Muslims. The Selangor fatwa was gazetted on Feb 18, 2010, shortly after the controversy over the Bahasa Malaysia language Bibles.
The Pakatan leadership appears to be going against the Palace and the state fatwa, whichever way one looks at it. For instance, a Malay daily had the following headline: “Sultan larang, Hadi benarkan” (the Sultan disallows, Hadi allows).
Actually, Hadi was being consistent in the sense that he had said more or less the same thing at the height of the issue in 2010. His problem is that a number of the leading ulama in his party do not agree with him.
Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the party's Pahang chief and the man seen as Hadi's likely successor, had just a couple of weeks ago said that the “kalimah Allah” was meant only for Muslims. The view is shared by Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib and the party's leading theologian Datuk Dr Haron Din.
In 2010, when Hadi was being hailed by Christians as an “accommodating leader,” many in PAS had disagreed with his stand but they kept their peace. The mood has shifted and the conservatives are less willing to hold their tongue this time around.
Hadi's latest statement has not gone down well with the party and the deafening silence on the part of Harakah daily on the issue says it all.
It has to be remembered that this is a party some of whose members are not even comfortable with wishing Christians “Merry Christmas” and which has protested against Muslims celebrating Valentine's day on the grounds that it has Christian connotations and encourages proximity between the sexes. PAS leaders are against cinemas which are seen as venues for vice activities and the unisex hair salon issue in Kelantan is still hanging in the air.
Some in Pakatan are upset with Guan Eng for stirring up this polemic issue so close to the general election. Even the Sultan of Selangor had expressed “shock and regret” over Guan Eng's Christmas message. They said DAP was already assured of the bulk of the Chinese and Christian votes and there was no need to hurt PAS on the Malay ground.
“PAS loses votes every time the Pakatan Rakyat Council makes a decision,” said a Selangor PAS member.
It was quite obvious Guan Eng was sealing in the DAP support in Sarawak and Sabah where there is a large Christian population. But the issue is a perception disaster for PAS which is seen as having lost its original ideals.
The next few months will be all about winning the undecided or the middleground. The issue is going to cost PAS among the undecided Malays and some are even talking about this being the turning point for Umno in Kelantan.
Hadi did not blame Guan Eng for raising the issue. Instead, Hadi accused Umno of turning the “kalimah Allah” into an election campaign issue and for allowing the mainstream media to report on it without considering the multi-religious nature of the country.
The party's powerful Syura Council which comprises all the top ulama is meeting on Saturday to deliberate the issue and many are bracing for a showdown between those who are for and those who are against the uninhibited use of “kalimah Allah”.
Hadi is up against the wall. He is still under pressure to explain the controversial “Amanat Haji Hadi” where he had deemed Muslims who supported Umno as “kafir” or infidels; now he has to explain his stand on the “kalimah Allah” to his party.
2. Malaysiakini（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
(1) 'Allah' decree prevents Sikhs from reading holy book, 8January 2013
The Malaysian Gudwaras Council (MGC) said today that the decree by the Selangor Sultan banning the use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims was akin to preventing Sikhs from reading their holy book.
This, its president Jagir Singh said in a statement today, is because the word 'Allah' is an integral part of the original text of Sikh Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji for reference to God.
"The Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains divine revelations and therefore, not a single word of these revelations in their original form can be changed, amended, or altered.
"Thus, any curtailment of the use of the words in the original text in the Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji will be tantamount to prohibiting Sikhs from reading their Holy Book and following their religion as enshrined in the federal constitution," he said.
Jagir said the council was saddened by the Selangor Sultan's decree of banning non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah'.
"The MGC is further dismayed that that no exceptions have been made in the decree.
"Other than this, we do not wish to make any further comments, except to say that we shall take up the issue at an appropriate forum," he said.
He also reminded the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) that despite its assertion of Section 9 of the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation amongst Muslim) Enactment 1988 bans non-Muslims from using the word ‘Allah', it had in fact been declared unconstitutional in a 2009 High Court ruling.
(2) Bishop hails Pakatan's deference to reason on 'Allah', 8 January 2013
by Terence Netto
Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing described the opinion of the top leadership of Pakatan Rakyat announced after a crucial meeting earlier today that the term ‘Allah’ was not exclusive to Muslims as embodying “a deference to reason and a rejection of myth.”
“I’m not surprised they have reiterated the view they propounded three years ago that the term is not exclusive to Muslims,” said the head of the Catholic Church in the Melaka-Johor diocese.
“By this reiteration, they have shown that their positions are not easily swayed by the vagrant impulses of opportunistic politicians,” said the vocal Jesuit-trained prelate.
The opinion of the Pakatan leadership was delivered by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang after the coalition’s principals mulled the matter at a meeting at the PKR headquarters.
A call by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng late last month that the federal government should allow Christians to use the term precipitated a minor crisis in the Pakatan leadership cohort when subaltern leaders in PAS departed from the consensus of three years ago by asking Christians not to use the term ‘Allah’ in faith education and worship rituals.
There followed a brief period of confusion but Pakatan supremo Anwar Ibrahim moved to quell the contretemps by saying that an urgent meeting would be called to revisit the consensus of January 2010.
While the Pakatan top leadership was mulling a reiteration of its stand, the Selangor sultan weighed into the controversy earlier today by forbidding non-Muslims to use of the term in his state.
Clarifications from the bishop
“Begging Your Highness’ pardon, I think he at times forgets that ours is a constitutional monarchy,” remarked Bishop Paul Tan of the sultan’s order.
Bishop Paul Tan said that he would like to clarify a few points. These are:
1. The first thing is that I do not pretend to speak for all Christians. I speak only as bishop of Melaka-Johor diocese.
2. I do not take any political side as this would go against the Catholic Church's teaching. Therefore, if anyone were to draw from what I have said that I am for PAS, I would like to make it clear that this is not my stand.
I will stand up for any person, be he or she an Umno or PAS or DAP or MCA member, who is a rational being and fights for the rights of the people. It does not matter what colour or shape or religious belief he or she has.
3. Although I am fully aware that the ‘Allah’ issue has been made use of by politicians of different hues for their political interests, I felt that I had to speak up on the aspect of religious freedom in the hot topic of ‘Allah’.
My position is identical with all the Christian leaders in their joint 1989 Kuching Declaration that Christians can and will use the term ‘Allah’.
(3) Can MCA tell Umno to back off on 'Allah'?, 9 January 2013
YOURSAY 'Now that Pakatan has decided on the issue, can MCA tell Umno to back off? Will BN call a PC to announce its ‘consensus' on the matter?'
Hadi: Islam doesn't prohibit others from using 'Allah'
YF: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, thanks for making an honest stand on this ‘Allah' issue. There has been too many ignorant comments over this that many people wonder whether religion makes you a hypocrite or a saint.
Your comments have saved the integrity of your faith and enhances your stand for truth. And this is where real Christians and Muslims have in common.
Ferdtan: When Hadi Awang, a learned Islamic graduated from Madinah and Al-Azhar universities, said that Islam doesn't prohibit others from using 'Allah', it carries weight.
Will the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) and the Selangor sultan, who earlier decreed that all non-Muslims in the state are banned from using the word ‘Allah', respond to this?
To be fair to all non-Muslims in Selangor, the sultan should immediately grant an audience to Hadi Awang to get his views and to come up with an agreement that is not conflicting for the good of all Selangorians.
Can we say that since we are supporters of Pakatan Rakyat, we are obliged to follow the PAS president version of the issue? Or should we as Selangoreans follow our sultan's decree?
If the palace doesn't respond to this different view on the use of ‘Allah', why should we be bothered with the royal decree? Indeed, who is right?
Not Convinced: Now that Pakatan has decided on the ‘Allah' issue, can MCA tell Umno to back off? Will BN call a press conference to announce its ‘consensus' decision on the matter?
Anonymous #19098644: The contrast between Pakatan and BN is very clear as exemplified by their opposing stands on the usage of the word ‘Allah'.
PAS' stand is based on holistic and fundamental understanding of the Quran. BN's stand is based on polemics and their narrow-minded, bigoted and divisive interpretation of the Holy Book.
The BN practices the rituals, but not the teachings of Islam. They indulge in outright corruption such as the latest controversy involving the Mindef (Defence Ministry) land, abuse of power to rob the native Sarawakians of their customary lands and many other scandals.
They are a disgrace to Islam and any other religion they profess. Such people cannot alllow free and fair elections and there can only be one outcome.
Asli Sarawak: ‘Allah' is a name both Muslims and Christians ascribe to their own perception of God, and both use the term in a reverent manner. There is no question of abuse unless one side insists on telling the other side that the later's perception is wrong.
There is also a practical problem if ‘tuhan' is to be used to describe the Christian God. The Rukun Negara will have to be changed to "Kepercayaan Kepada Allah". But that would be a problem for non-Muslims, no?
Azizi Khan: No one owns the name ‘Allah'. Not BN and not HRH (His Royal Highness) Sultan Selangor, as it is His name.
Muslims (nor anyone else for that matter) can claim right over others'. (This is why real Muslims have not claimed the name over a thousand years).
Umno Muslims need to ask themselves - do they own ‘Allah' ? Are they claiming to be mightier than ‘Allah'?
Rangerboy: Non-Muslims in Selangor are banned from using ‘Allah'? How then to sing the state anthem, "Allah lanjutkan usia tuanku"...?
Nicholas Lim: Luckily, ‘Allah' is not banned in Johor. Otherwise I cannot sing the Johor state anthem too.
Ah Boss: The statement of the sultan cannot apply to Sikhs, as they cannot be stopped from reciting their Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib, in its original text.
So whereever the word 'Allah' appears in the original text - and it does, 38 times or so - they are entitled to recite it as it is.
They are not translating from another language, and as such, the sultan could not have been referring to them.
Hopeful123: I used to wonder why the rulers are so dependent on their seemingly unqualified advisors. In this current age of Internet, everything is available at the fingertips.
Gone are the days when the rulers had no choice but to rely on such advisors. I find it strange that the rulers are not even able to comprehend simple and straightforward affairs.
Do they still need such advisors? They seem to be totally dependent on them that they can't even come to terms with simple matters.
Bumiasli: Here is a logical and reasonable explanation by a qualified man, Hadi Awang. So now what? Anyway taking God's law into their hands? What is the big issue here?
Nobody is insulting the word ‘Allah'. It is used as a respectful term by all races. How does it hurt if non-Muslims use it? And talking about banning the usage, what action can be taken against a non-Muslim who uses it?
Caripasal: I sometimes wonder if the ordinary Muslim ever bother about the use of ‘Allah' by others. One cannot steal Him away by simply uttering the word.
・The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments.
(4) Five contradictions in restricting the use of 'Allah', 9 January 2013
by Pak Sako
There are major contradictions in the claim that the word ‘Allah’ belongs only to Muslims and Islam and does not apply to non-Muslims and other religions (Jakim), and in the insistence that non-Muslims must convert to Islam to use the word ‘Allah’ (Perak’s mufti Harussani Zakaria).
The contradictions are as follows:
1. If we disallow non-Muslims from using the word ‘Allah’, are we implying that Allah has no relation to the non-Muslims, that Allah did not create the non-Muslims, but to whom Allah must belong if He is the Creator of all things?
2. If we say Allah is not the god of the non-Muslims, does this not imply that besides Allah there must exist a second god specifically for the non-Muslims, the former god of Muslim converts? Does this not clash with the Islamic concept of tauhid, which proposes that there cannot possibly be another god apart from Allah, and that no being can perform the work of a god other than Allah?
3. If we maintain that ‘Allah’ has no relevance to other religions, who then ultimately created these religions if not Allah, the Creator of all things? Are we suggesting that Allah got it wrong before unveiling Islam?
But if tauhid is to stand and Allah is the sole Creator, and if Allah is infallible, perfect and all-knowing, does it not mean that Allah happily created, with no games intended, all the variety of religions and religious philosophies including Christianity and Hinduism?
4. Therefore how can it be wrong for a Hindu, a Christian or a freethinker to refer to ‘Allah’ as our one common god? Must Sikhs, who are not Muslims, stop using the word ‘Allah’, though 'Allah' appears numerous times in their holy book, which is not the al-Quran?
5. If non-Muslims must convert to Islam before referring to ‘Allah’, is that to say Allah was not their Creator prior to them converting? But how can that be if Allah created everything and there is no god other than Allah? If we say non-Muslims are non-believers who do not recognise Allah, then why deny them the use of the word ‘Allah’ to recognise this Supreme Being and Ultimate Cause?
The restrictions on the use of ‘Allah’ conflict with the core tenets of Islam. They conflict also with those of other religions.
Open and respectful discourse
Therefore we need an open and respectful discourse involving all the affected groups in this matter.
This is to attain a better understanding of Islam, of other religions, of the nature of religion and god in general, and of the reality of living in a multi-religious society.
It is not enough for Islamic religious officials alone to convene and make decisions. Blindly accepting this or that authority’s unilateral interpretations or decrees cannot be the way to go. A resolution can only be found collectively.
It is thus necessary for each of us and all of us to question, discuss and learn widely to get closer to the truth. This is an essential counsel in Islam and in other religions.
It is clear that the exclusivist mentality of “this is for us, not for them, we are not the same so we cannot share” is not sustainable. It must be discarded.
We cannot escape from pursuing a broad-minded vision of religion that celebrates diversity and emphasises the shared values and other similarities across faiths.
・PAK SAKO is an economist and an academic. This article was originally published by the Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) on its website.
(5) We'll continue to use 'Allah', declares churches council, 9 January 2013
Although the the Selangor sultan has barred non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah' in religious affairs, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) today announced that all churches will continue to use the word as they deem it a right guaranteed by the federal constitution.
Ggeneral secretary Rev Hermen Shastri said the heads of churches of the CCM, meeting in their retreat in Ipoh, have noted the current discourse over the use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims.
“We wish to reiterate our stand that Malaysian Christians have been using the word 'Allah' in their Malay Bible and devotional life for centuries," he said in a statement.
“Also many indigenous communities in our nation have incorporated this word in their everyday language.
“That being the case, we shall continue this practice – a right guaranteed to us in our federal constitution (Article 11) and call on all parties to respect this fundamental right."
Yesterday Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah decreed that all non-Muslims in the state are banned from using the word ‘Allah' as this is exclusive to Muslims.
According to the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council, the ruler had expressed shock and regret over DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's statement urging the federal government to allow the word to be included in the Malay-language Bible.
However, Pakatan Rakyat has taken a different stance.
At a joint press conference with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang reiterated that Islam does not prohibit people of other faiths from using the word 'Allah', although this would not reach the original meaning of the Quran.
(6) 'Allah ban defies court ruling and PM's circular', 10 January 2013
by Hafiz Yatim
Lawyer Annou Xavier has written to the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) describing the latter’s statement in the prolonged ‘Allah’ issue as going against the spirit of the federal constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, as well as against the 2009 High Court decision in the Jill Ireland ‘Allah CD’ case.
Annou, in a three-page letter to the religious council, stated that the High Court had granted Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, a Melanau Christian whom he represented, the right to own and use materials containing the word ‘Allah’.
The May 4, 2009 order by the court, according to Annou, stated “the applicant be given a declaration that it is within her legitimate expectation to use the word Allah and have ownership, to obtain, use, and import such materials including printing items with the word for her own practise.”
He further brought Mais’ attention to a circular, dated April 11, 2011 and endorsed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, which stated that the government has agreed that non-Muslims may import, buy, print, publish, distribute, read and use the bible in any language, including Bahasa Malaysia.
“The purpose I am writing this letter is to bring attention to the court ruling and the PM's circular letter which is attached. It is as if Mais did not respect the court ruling and the circular letter issued by the PM.
“MAIS action in this matter seems not to respect the court’s decision or (is) belittling it.
"We wish to remind that each religious group is allowed to manage their own faith without interference from others, as this is prescribed under Article 11 (3) of the constitution.”
In light of this, Annou hopes Mais would not raise the Allah issue again.
'Respect rights of individuals'
Instead, Mais should respect the right of individuals of all races to practice their respective faiths, and not to use the issue to disrupt the unity of the nation’s multi-racial society.
Besides the case described by Annou, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had, in a landmark decision on Dec 31, 2009, declared the Home Ministry’s blanket ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ for non-Muslims as illegal, null and void.
However, the case is still pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Mais, in its statement on Tuesday, had announced a decree by Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah declaring all non-Muslims in the state are banned from using the word ‘Allah’ as it is a holy word exclusive to Muslims.
Pakatan and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had, also on Tuesday, announced the opposition’s consensus that Islam does not prohibit other religions from using the word, but reminded all parties that its usage not be abused.
(7) Sultan embroils himself in 'Allah' controversy, 10 January 2013
YOURSAY 'So which takes precedence now - the High Court judgment on setting aside the ban on the use of ‘Allah' or the sultan's decree?'
Selangor sultan shocked at Guan Eng's 'Allah' call
Gerard Lourdesamy: Let Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah decree as much as he likes but his decrees are not worth the paper on which it is written. The relationship between Allah and mankind transcends any earthly power, including rulers.
The decree does not have the force of law and is unconstitutional since the ruler is the head of the Islamic religion in Selangor and not the head of other non-Islamic religions in the state.
By taking such a partisan stand that reeks of politics and pandering only to Muslim/Malay interests, the ruler has strayed from his constitutional position and his obligation towards his non-Muslim/Malay subjects.
This decree is clearly a serious threat to Article 11 of the federal constitution and devoid of legality.
Anonymous#007: Indeed, patriotic citizens of this country should not continue to argue with the people who are bent on creating and maintaining a split between the different religious factions in this country.
I urge the patriotic Christian Malaysians to respect the wishes of the sultan for the sake of peace in our motherland and beloved country, Malaysia.
But on the same note, I respectfully ask what the sultan has to say about the Orang Asli children who had been forced to recite the ‘doa' by the Muslim teachers?
In this case, can't the teachers be charged under Section 9 of the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988 that prohibits the use of ‘Allah' by non-Muslim in any matter related to their religions?
Not Convinced: The Selangor sultan claimed that he was above politics and denied he was an Umno man. But why issued a statement banning non-Muslims from using ‘Allah' when the Umno government is seeking to appeal against a court decision on the matter?
And why released the statement on the day Pakatan Rakyat was to discuss its stand on the controversy?
So please don't blame Selangorians for thinking that Your Highness was attempting to thrown a spanner in the works for Pakatan.
Your ploy did not work. But your ‘above politics' reputation and the respect Selangorians have for you have however taken a severe beating.
Kgen: If the statement had been made by an Umno politician instead of DAP's Lim Guan Eng, would his highness have come out with this statement? I wonder.
ABBN: A truly and highly worthy of respect ruler would never get himself exploited or messed up in politics. He is considered above politics but not above laws.
He shall treat all his subjects of different religion fairly and equally with no discrimination in order to receive reciprocated respect and acceptance from the people. Respect is to be earned and not to be forced.
Victor Johan: Oh my benevolent royal sultan, I beg for your forgiveness, but may I, your humble servant and slave, may I and all the subjects of your state have the privilege and the grant to hear you, the supreme lord of the Islamic religion in the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan, may we have the honour to hear your recitation of the Holy Quran.
And we will be utmost gratified when you translate each of the verses in English language and in Bahasa Malaysia as well.
Your Excellency, we are only humbly requesting this because we know you are very learned in the religion of Islam, and as the head of all Muslims in Selangor, you have been setting an exemplary conduct of a thoroughbred Muslim, a wonderful human being that the Almighty Allah has created in His own Eyes and Hands.
We pray that you do this recital session soon, much before you are prayed upon. I beg for your kind forgiveness, a thousand times over.
Abasir: Every BN representative should go to each constituency in Selangor to repeat the sultan's declaration. In fact MCA, MIC and Umno should jointly print and distribute pamphlets saying the same.
Of course, the pamphlets should carry the photographs of the representatives. The people of Selangor will then be truly informed and be in a position to make an informed choice during GE13.
Proarte: It is sad to see the royals being manipulated by Umno. Let the Quran have the last word over this controversy:
"Argue not with the People of the Book (Jews, Christians) except in the fairest manner, unless it be those of them that are utterly unjust.
"Say to them, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to you. One is our God and your God; and we are those who submit ourselves to Him.'"
Toffeesturn: Back in the 1950s the Selangor sultan, the grandfather of the present sultan, visited La Salle School in Klang for our annual sports event.
Ours being a Christian brothers school, we got the St Johns Institution Band to play for us and we sang the anthem, ‘Allah Selamatkan Duli Yang Maha Mulia'. It was very different from the anthem you hear today.
Today his grandson is unnecessarily getting embroiled in an issue that is in the first place not even Islamic, as the term ‘Allah' - as Muslim scholars themselves will attest to - predates Islam, that means it was used by Christians and others before the Muslims used it.
His Highness is ruler of all his subjects and he must protect the rights of everyone, not only a small segment, because I believe many Muslims feel that we can use the word ‘Allah' too. Let ‘Allah' not be an issue. Indeed, it never should have become one in the first place.
Joker: We, the people of Selangor, hope His Majesty the Sultan of Selangor will issue a statement demanding the head of Selangor Wanita Umno to explain her involvement in the Puspahanas (National Defence Education Centre) scandal, which now threatens the hard-earned money of our servicemen under the care of Armed Forces retirement fund LTAT (Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera).
We, especially us Cheras folks, also hope that His Royal Highness would speak up against Syabas for the protracted water disruption specifically and lousy water distribution generally. The water quality is very bad as can be attested by the roaring business done by water filter companies.
Anonymous_40a7: The biggest question of them all - who's the puppet, and who's the master?
Your Highness, God has many names but...
・The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments.
(8) The complexities of the 'Allah' issue,10 January 2013
by Oon Yeoh
COMMENT Just like the hudud issue that keeps cropping up every now and then, the ‘Allah' issue has hit the headlines again.
It seems like Pakatan Rakyat had scored an own goal after conflicting comments about this matter were made by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
In his Christmas message, Lim had urged the federal government to allow the use of the world ‘Allah' in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible. Tuan Ibrahim responded by saying the word ‘Tuhan' should be used instead.
These contradictory messages became fodder for Pakatan's opponents, who claimed that this was the latest proof that the opposition coalition is a marriage of convenience and that DAP and PAS cannot work together.
DAP chairperson Karpal Singh clarified that Lim was referring specifically to the context of Sabah and Sarawak, where there is a long history of using ‘Allah' in the BM Bible.
Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mat Sabu (left) clarified that PAS' stance was that non-Muslims could indeed use ‘Allah'. His party boss Abdul Hadi Awang also affirmed this. As did Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim.
But just as the issue seemed to be resolved, another development has prolonged it. The Sultan of Selangor has decreed that ‘Allah' may be used only by Muslims. The Council of Churches of Malaysia (an umbrella body representing Protestant churches) announced that all churches will continue to use the phrase as it is within their constitutional right to do so.
Even the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (the umbrella body for Sikh temples) has stepped into the picture, saying any move to stop non-Muslims from using the word ‘Allah' in a religious text would be a restriction on Sikhs from practising their religion as the phrase also appears in Sikh scriptures.
I have privately spoken to Christian, Muslim and non-Christian/non-Muslim friends about this matter and the range of viewpoints are varied. Some simply don't care about it and think it's a case of making a mountain out of a molehill. Some though, are very passionate about the matter.
'Allah' generally associated with Islam
The basic Christian argument is that Christians in the Middle East have been using this phrase for thousands of years. A quick check on Wikipedia shows that ‘Allah' is used by Sikhs, Bahais, Mizrahi Jews and even pre-Islamic, pagan Arabs.
So, it does seem that there are indeed, other faiths that use that phrase. That said, it cannot be denied that to the average person, ‘Allah' is associated with Islam. If you doubt that, do a random survey with 10 people and ask them which religious group has ‘Allah' as its god. I'd be surprised if anyone actually said, "Christians in Sabah and Sarawak", "Bahais", "Sikhs", "Mizrahi Jews" or "pre-Islamic, pagan Arabs".
This is why to many Muslims and other non-Christians, it is puzzling why some Christians are so adamant about using ‘Allah' to denote God in the BM Bible (especially since the BM word for god is ‘Tuhan').
I've heard some arguments that in the Middle East, ‘Allah' is actually the generic term for ‘God'. I'm not sure that that is entirely true but even if it were, that's certainly not the case in Malaysia. Imagine the outcry from non-Muslims (including some Christians, I'm sure) if the first item in the Rukun Negara were to be changed from ‘Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan' to ‘Kepercayaan Kepada Allah'.
Now why is that? For the very reason I highlighted earlier. The phrase ‘Allah' is generally associated with Islam, and is not generally seen as a generic word for ‘God'.
A non-Christian, non-Muslim friend put it best when he said that when you use the phrase ‘Allah', it seems to refer to a specific God of a specific religion (and he wasn't referring to Christianity). In contrast, ‘Tuhan' is more universal and is suited for everyone, include atheists.
"Some people worship money, so money can be their god," he said jokingly. He has a point.
Possible confusion
The main argument of opponents to the usage of ‘Allah' in the BM Bible is that it could lead to confusion.
Basically, the concern is that some Muslims might pick up the BM Bible and mistake it for the Quran. That is the polite way of putting it. What some people are actually concerned about is that a BM Bible containing the word ‘Allah' could also be used to secretly convert Muslims into Christianity.
While many Christians refute the "confusion/conversion" factor as ridiculous, such concerns are not irrational. Christianity is an evangelical religion (and so too is Islam). Everyone knows that.
And there are common stories in the Bible and the Quran that relate to the Old Testament. Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham - they all appear in both books. Even Jesus appears in the Quran, although in that context he is a prophet rather than the son of God.
Karpal Singh has pointed out that ‘Allah' appears 37 times in the Sikh holy book. Ever wonder why no one is explicitly calling for a ban of its usage there? It's because there is no way anybody would mistake the Guru Granth Sahib for the Quran.
But a BM Bible with the phrase ‘Allah' in it - there's certainly a possibility (if not a likelihood) for confusion. Imagine reading in BM a passage that says Jesus is the son of ‘Allah'.
That said, I also feel anyone should have the right call their god by whatever name they wish. If someone wants to refer to their god as ‘Mickey Mouse', why should anyone complain (except perhaps, The Walt Disney Company, which might object on copyright grounds).
So strictly from a freedom of speech standpoint, Christians should be allowed to use the phrase ‘Allah' - a point that the High Court has ruled on (though it's being appealed by the Home Ministry).
What complicates matters is the fact that converting Muslims to any other religion is prohibited in Malaysia. A BM Bible which refers to God as ‘Allah' is going to be viewed with suspicion, whether or not there is actually any intent to convert someone using it.
・OON YEOH is a new media consultant.
(9) Report lodged against MP, 3 dailies over 'Allah' claim, 10 January 2013
by Susan Loone
Penang DAP has lodged a police report against Batu Pahat parliamentarian Mohd Puad Zarkashi and three dailies, alleging criminal defamation in reports about the party's alleged involvement in "printing and distributing" the Malay-language Bible.
National publicity secretary Zairil Khir Johari led party members in calling for action in relation to four reports in Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and New Straits Times on Jan 8 based on remarks by Mohd Puad, who is also Umno supreme council member, at a press conference in Putrajaya.
The report, lodged at the Jalan Pattani Northeast District police headquarters in Penang yesterday, urged that Mohd Puad and the dailies be probed under Section 499 of the Penal Code (attempting to incite racial tension).
"Mohd Puad's allegation is untrue and totally baseless. It is malicious slander meant to provoke racial and religious sentiments and to evoke hatred of Muslims towards the DAP," Zairil claimed.
He said Utusan had levelled the "wild allegation" that the DAP will not only print the "100,000 copies" of the Bible which will include the word ‘Allah', but will also distribute these free of charge in Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor and Penang.
It quoted Mohd Puad, who had cited information from a reliable source who he had refused to name, while calling on the DAP to clarify the claim.
Berita Harian also reported the allegation, as did the New Straits Times in a report headlined 'Bible move a ploy to win votes'.
Sue me, says Mohd Puad
Mohd Puad has brushed off DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's demand for a retraction of the remarks and dared Lim to sue him.
"I will not apologise for this and I am not afraid with DAP's threat to sue me. We will see what happens after this," he was quoted as saying in an Utusan report yesterday.
Lim, in dismissing the allegation, had said the DAP is not linked to any religion and that the party views this as a private matter that should not be "exploited or politicised".
（End）
