1. The Malaysian Insider（http://www.themalaysianinsider.com）
(1) Now Malay NGOs demand Vatican embassy be closed, envoy expelled, 14 July 2013
by Lee Shi-Ian
The government has been urged to close down the Vatican City embassy in Malaysia and expel the ambassador Archbishop Joseph Marino for interfering in domestic affairs.
Utusan Malaysia reported that a coalition of Malay non-governmental organisations said strong measures were needed against Marino for misusing his diplomatic immunity.
"Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic ties, Marino has clearly overstepped his authority as an ambassador by interfering in the domestic affairs of Malaysia," said Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin.
A spokesman for the coalition of NGOs, Nasharudin Mat Isa, a former PAS deputy president, said Marino's support for the local Catholic Church to use the word "Allah" was unacceptable.
"Archbishop Marino has intentionally made a statement which could create anxiety among the public and threaten unity among Malaysians," Nasharudin claimed.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has been urged to summon the envoy to Wisma Putra and demand an explanation for the remarks he made.
Nasharudin said Archbishop Marino's statement was at odds with the official stand of the Malaysian government and had been intentionally made, especially in light of the fasting month.
The coalition of NGOs includes Yayasan Nassar, Pertubuhan Jalur Tiga (Jati), Pertubuhan Muafakat Sejahtera Masyarakat Malaysia (Muafakat), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).
Also included are Gabungan Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Pembela Islam (Pembela), Kelab Wartawan Muda Malaysia (KWMM) and Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM).
Marino, in his first interview as the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican equivalent to an ambassador, to Malaysia, had stirred controversy with his comments pertaining to the use of the word "Allah".
He stated his support for the stand of the Catholic Church in Malaysia and applauded the arguments made by the Christian Federation of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Jati deputy president Datuk Aidit Ghazali said Archbishop Marino's actions could have serious repercussions on the country if the government did not take action against the ambassador.
"The issue of using the word ‘Allah' is an extremely sensitive issue for Muslims in the country."
Muafakat president Ismail Mina Ahmad said the envoy was not a very smart person for discussing a domestic Malaysian subject, which was still under the purview of the courts.
"We understand that his presence here was supposed to strengthen the ties of understanding between Muslims and Christians, but it has turned out to be the opposite."
(2) “Allah” row; opportunity to re-brand, 14 July 2013
by Kuo Yong Kooi
Malaysian minorities are being used as a political football
There is a clear pattern here that the Malaysian minorities are being used as a political football by the authorities for many years now.
There are countless examples of this type of behaviour from the powers to be to continue on with this political football game to gain political mileage to stay in power.
The "Allah" row, the Child Conversion Bill, accusations of the Christian group trying to proselytise to the Muslims, vernacular school, two churches being fire-bombed in January 2010, call for Malay Bible burning festival by Perkasa in January 2013, cow head demonstration against Hindu temple in August 2009, Lina Joy apostasy issue and the latest July 2013, two Malay right wing NGOs call for the closure of the Malaysian Vatican office for openly supporting the Malaysian Catholic Church's stand on the "Allah" row just to name a few major ones.
Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng started the noise by making a call in his 2012 Christmas message for the Malay-language Bible, to be freely available.
That statement was used as a political mileage highly scored by UMNO against PAS.
The perception that Pakatan is being run by DAP is real in the eyes of the Malay heartland voters.
This issue is a point scorer for UMNO against PAS and Pakatan.
UMNO will play it to the hilt over and over again in future elections.
Another point to consider on the recent Conversion Bill issue was that most Malay members of parliament from the Pakatan Pact did not come out to make a bold stand against the Child Conversion Bill.
Anwar Ibrahim did relate the matter back to the days of Muhammad on the similar incidence but stated that he needed further consultation with the Pakatan Pact on this issue.
Unlike the "Allah" débâcle, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz came out openly to say that Christians can use the word "Allah" in the Malay-language Bible.
The Malay opposition members of the Pakatan pact are caught in this conundrum when the religion card was played on them.
They do not want to be seen as not Islamic enough. Unless the Pakatan pact redraw the strategy of "PAS ganti UMNO", it will be hard for them to outwit UMNO on matters Islam against other religions.
Pas Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib in a recent July 13th, 2013 press statement reaffirmed his position on the Allah word is exactly the type of response the UMNO master minds wanted.
It has a powerful divisive effect within the PAS rank and file and within the Pakatan Pact.
This can shatter the people's faith on the Pakatan Pact. This "sandiwara" has already started to replay again leading up the the Kuala Besut by-election.
Why not start a political football team or openly back one instead?
The interesting part is that there is a new political reality emerged in the light of the recent GE-13 results.
The current UMNO administration is now and will increasingly rely on the Christians majority East Malaysians to sustain a strong position in Putrajaya.
The question to ask is what are the best strategies that we can deploy to stop the UMNO administration from perpetuating this reckless and irresponsible path of dividing Malaysians?.
Is going to the courts over the "Allah" débâcle the best solution?
In reality, winning or loosing over the rights to use the word "Allah" in the Malay-language Bible will not be able to stop this political football from bouncing around by UMNO.
If UMNO looses it's appeal in court, it has a uniting factor for Muslims to stand behind UMNO on the matter.
If they win, it is a confidence booster to unite behind UMNO.
The only way to stop the political football from bouncing around is to form a political football team or openly back one.
By doing that, we can start directing the football to the direction we want to kick.
I have always worked against the idea of mixing religions and politics.
The Church has demonstrated tremendous human rights abuses in the past centuries.
I can forgive and forget if a religious base political party will always be a minority for the purpose of balance of power.
If that balance of power is directed appropriately, it is effective to stop all the nonsense spewed on us by UMNO and its mouthpiece Utusan.
I believe that there is a potential for the Malaysian Christians to be a formal political force in East Malaysia.
I guess the best way to start is to brainstorm on re-package the Christian brand that is prevalent in Malaysia at the moment.
The heart of all religions is non materialistic; re-brand into Liberation Theology?
The throw away materialistic society that we are living at the moment is the anti-thesis of all religions.
All the world great religions want us to live a simplistic lifestyle so that we can embark on a spiritual path of contemplation/prayers/meditation.
All devout religious followers are also advised to help the poor and disenfranchised.
Liberation theology began in Latin America in 1950s to the 60s within the Catholic Church.
It interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in relation to a liberation of unjust economic, political, or social conditions in Latin America.
Liberation theology had also influenced the people's power movement of the Philippine during the era of the Marcos dictatorship.
The common question asked by Liberation Theologians was that if Jesus is alive today he would fight for the plight of the poor and the disenfranchised.
I actually had a Filipino workmate in mid eighties who asked me this question.
If Jesus is alive in Philippine today would he be working for Emalda Marcos or for the poor?
That question changes my idea of what Christianity is.
The Latin America today was shaped to some extend by the activisms of the liberation theologians.
Probably the financially rich Church congregations in West Malaysia should make a field trip to Latin America or the Philippines and see how they work and try to apply that to East Malaysia situation.
If the liberation theology idea is not palatable, try making a field trip to America and see how the Church lobby group works in the Republicans and Democratic parties.
If hypothetically the Malaysian Christian lobby managed to get fifteen to twenty Christians MPs from East Malaysia who are not corruptible by UMNO money politics, all those racial and religious issues that we have faced for the last few years including the ranting from Utusan might just go away overnight.
Some might argue that setting up a new political party may complicate the multi-cornered fights situation that were rampant in East Malaysia as shown in the last General Election.
The opposition Pakatan pact has yet to find a remedy to that conundrum and that was one of the main reasons why BN won big in East Malaysia on the last 13th General Election.
The multi ethnic and multi religious winning formula against BN is so complex that any extension of a new political party or a political force with a new theme could either help or hinder the situation, it remains to be seen.
Using the unifying "Christian sister/brotherhoods" theme might be just what it is needed to put a common threat across the multi-cornered fights situation in East Malaysia.
We don't know unless we try it out.
I am not from East Malaysia so it is hard for me to assess and make suggestions on how easy it is to gather the energies of the East Malaysians together through a Christian bloc rather than the current personal leaderships, ethnic, regional and sub indigenous division bloc.
That diverse divisions were shown to be disastrous for the opposition forces in the past. It's about time all the opposition forces sit down and rehash an agreeable and winning formula to that conundrum.
The UMNO right wing group endless cycle of the "sandiwara" on Christians versus Muslim rivalry might well lead to a natural emergence of a united front of an East Malaysian Christian bloc to counter this situation.
Resources most likely can come from the financially rich West Malaysian Church congregations, the characteristics of the West Malaysian Christian congregations are different from the East Malaysians.
The West are more modern, trendy, well-educated, well connected group whereas the East are more traditional indigenous based.
The Liberation Theology type of approach might be suitable for East Malaysia.
The question posed is "is there a political will there"?
If there is, anything is possible in the world of politics.
To stay apolitical is not a good option
If the Malaysian Christian groups decide to continue to remain apolitical, going to court over the Allah issue will only settle that particular matter.
There will be more battles to come as we have previously seen the clear patterns of endless attacks from the reckless UMNO party machinery.
Another point is that the Christians should seek out partnerships from a bigger group like The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) to defend this together if they want to remain apolitical.
Defending the "Allah" issue alone falls prey to the master plan of divide and rule from the authorities. Unfortunately the word "Allah" does not affect the other religious groups.
I also have difficulty grappling the idea of spiritual growth has to be based on a particular word use.
I was often told by my Christians friends that "god" is hard to describe, god is all powerful, god is omnipresent, god is everything.
If that is the premise of what you believe then why argue over a word that we all agreed that it is hard to describe with words?
The same point of argument can be found in Buddhism. Buddhists had always said that it is very hard to describe "Nibbana".
If you have achieved enlightenment, there are no words that can describe that experience.
Buddhist that are not enlightened are encouraged to have faith in practising a "path" that would lead to enlightenment laid by the Buddha who is enlightened.
This logic would tell us that once you have understood and experienced enlightenment, you can call it whatever you want.
People would find it hard to understand when you try to describe it with words.
So to extend that logic to the argument over the use of the word "Allah", it can be any other form of expression if you want other people to understand you without using the word Allah.
You can just look up to the sky or point your index figure up there, if people understood what you meant, that's all it needed.
Assessing the intuitive "right" brain is the key in deeper understanding of any religions.
The logical thinking "left brain" are of little use when it comes to meditation, contemplation and connectedness with god.
Putting the "constitutional right" argument aside, the oxymoron here is we are going to the courts to argue over a use of a word that is hard to describe in words.
The Buddha described a "path" where followers can practice to get an understanding of what enlightenment is.
The Christians and Muslims also have their "paths".
I would agree with our Malaysian Christian friends that the courts are needed to mitigate a dispute when followers are not allowed to follow a particular path, but a word is not a path.
As a Buddhist, I've always been taught that the path and the practice is more important than words.
Words are ninety five percent rubbish when it comes to meditation in Buddhism.
The text and the words used are just guidelines for followers to practice a path.
That was why you have the "old" and the "new" testament to guide practitioners at different times in history.
Unfortunately humans had always misinterpreted whatever texts that were written in history.
This is a fundamental flaw of the mind that human beings carry.
It interpret and redefine what ever they have read according to their own prism/biases/world views that had been imposed/impregnated in their mind through cultural conditioning and upbringing.
That is why all religions are not monolithic, this topic is best left for another article.
If you think you have the right practising path, we can always use a different word to describe it.
There is really no need for any further arguments on the use of a particular word to practice the religion.
If we agree on that, it is best to drop the case because the basic flaws of our mind will lead to more cumulative conflicts over many other matters in the future and that can lead to a disastrous outcome.
As a Buddhist I was always taught to take all mishap or misfortune as an opportunity to learn and move on positively.
As for this case, winning the "Allah" word use case in court or redefining the word "Allah" in the Malay-language bible will not stop your religious community from be used as a political football.
Another real risk that we may face if the religious minorities decide to stay apolitical is that there are always a possibility of defections in the Malaysian political scene.
If hypothetically in a situation where the opposition wins only a small majority in a future election, we might see a scenario where the conservative "Ulama" factions of Pas made a move to defect over to the UMNO camp and upset the opposition's march to Putrajaya.
If you really think hard for the long term benefits of all ethnic and religious minorities, forming a formidable political force by taking the opportunity of the current political climate can be a positive way out of the predicament.
If not can someone think of a better way? - July 14, 2013.
・ This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
(3) Time the Christian politicians protected their flock, 14 July 2013
NEWS ANALYSIS - Datuk Seri Idris Jala. Tan Sri Joseph Kurup. Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili. Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum. Datuk Joseph Belaun. Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah. Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin. Datuk Richard Riot. Datuk Mary Yap…These names have several things in common: they are either ministers or deputy ministers in the Najib administration, represent constituencies in Sabah or Sarawak and are Christians.
Yes, they are Catholics, Protestants, Evangelical, and are members of Sidang Injil Borneo but do not expect any of them to lead the charge and defend the position of their faith in public.
Indeed, there is a better chance of there being four seasons in Malaysia than any Christian representative resigning from government on a matter of principle, say, because the administration going back on its word on the use of the word Allah by East Malaysians. Or even taking the fight to right-wing groups who in the past few years have threatened Christians.
They are ensconced in nice and comfortable positions of power and prefer others to do the heavy lifting.
So it is left to the various church leaders and even some non-Christian elected representatives to protect the constitutional right of freedom of worship and ensure fairness in public policies.
Think about it. When the controversy arose over the hurried Bill that allowed the conversion of children to Islam based on the consent of one parent, did you hear loud protests from Idris and gang? Or was it the Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz who reminded his own colleagues that it was unconscionable to force through legislation which was unfair and once rejected by the Cabinet in 2009?
To be fair, even MCA’s president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek went public with his displeasure over the proposed law, noting that the BN component party would not support its passage through Parliament.
The Bill has since been withdrawn, thanks to the principled positions taken by the likes of Nazri, Pakatan Rakyat and religious groups.
Now let’s move on to the more vexatious issue of the use of the word “Allah’’ by Christians. And this is where the silence of the Christian elected representatives is deafening, taking into the account this simple fact: 60 per cent of Malaysian Christians only speak Bahasa Malaysia and have done so since 1731.
The word Allah is used mainly by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak. In short, mainly constituents who voted for Messrs Kurup, Unggah and Riot into power use it.
East Malaysian Christians were allowed to use the word Allah for centuries until the then Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar prohibited its use, leading the Catholic Church to commence legal proceedings against the government.
In 2011, the High Court allowed the Catholic Church to use the word Allah. The government’s appeal against the decision will be before the courts soon.
But in the run-up to the Sarawak state elections in 2011, the Najib government made conciliatory moves, releasing the infamous 10-point resolution to issues faced by the Christian community.
Among other things, the 10-point solution allowed the importation of Malay-language Bibles or Al-Kitab. The 10-point solution was seen as a short-term solution as it did not address a couple of important issues: the prohibition of the use of the word Allah in Christian publications and the continued classification of the Malay-language bible as prejudicial to national security.
Mind you, Idris Jala was a key player in the 10-point solution initiative but he melted into the background when the then Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein suggested that the government plan was only a work in progress.
Since then, it has been clear that Prime Minister Najib Razak and his colleagues have decided that the word Allah cannot be used by non-Muslims. He said so in an interview with Al-Jazeera a few days before GE13.
And what did the likes of the Christian politicians do when they watched the interview or read transcripts? Zilch. Nothing. Business as usual.
Once again, church leaders had to clear the smog over the issue and come into the line of fire.
The Christian Federation of Malaysia has said that in the Malay language, Allah means God and Tuhan means Lord. Both God and Lord are used in the Bible and have different connotations. Allah cannot be substituted by Tuhan and by doing so, Bahasa-Malaysia speaking Christians will not be able to affirm the deity of Jesus Christ and teach the doctrine of the Trinity, said the federation recently.
“If churches in Malaysia agree to stop using the word “Allah’’, it means that the right to edit the Scripture of a major world religion has been given over to a secular government," it added.
The usual argument put forward by elected representatives of minority groups is that it is more effective to work quietly behind the scenes and not take a public position on controversial issues. A whole lot of good that approach did in fighting off the proposed conversion law.
It is quite clear that the quiet diplomacy of the Christian representatives in that instance failed miserably. In fact, by keeping quiet and not bringing the pulse of their constituents to the knowledge of the PM, these leaders are doing the government a great disservice because it creates the impression that only a handful of noisy Christians feel strongly about the Al-kitab or Allah issue.
Similarly, what did the Christian Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers do when Perkasa and Jati attacked the Vatican envoy for stating in moderate tones his support for the use of the word Allah by Christians here?
Precious little.
At some point you have to decide what is more important: the chauffeur-driver car and bodyguard or standing up for your faith and beliefs.
Or perhaps, it is time their constituents in Sabah and Sarawak send them a major message.
2. IBTimes (http://www.ibtimes.co.in)
Vatican Ambassador’s Insensitive ‘Allah’ Comment Sparks Outrage, Muslim NGOs Demand Archbishop’s Removal, 14 July 2013
by IBTimes Staff Reporter
Vatican City ambassador to Malaysia Archbishop Joseph Marino's controversial support for the use of word 'Allah' amongst Christians has created a religious furor with Malay Muslim groups demanding immediate apology or ouster of the diplomat.
Marino was reported lauding the local church's campaign to include the Arabic word 'Allah' as god amongst Christians.
The archbishop's open support has not gone down well with several Muslim groups who have considered the move as insensitive and highly offensive for Muslims and Malaysians.
Malaysian High court's ruling in 2009 had said the term 'Allah' was not exclusive to Islam. However, the decision has faced major flak in the Muslim-dominated country and the Home Ministry has ever since tried to overturn the ruling. Even PM Najib Razak had in April expressed his support for the withdrawal of the ruling which many Malaysian Muslims found was against their religious beliefs.
The recent Marino's open support for the opposite has snowballed into a major storm.
Malay rights groups Jati and Perkasa have been quite vocal slamming the Vatican envoy's comments and demanded an immediate apology within seven days lest he would be ousted.
Jati president Datuk Hasan Ali told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, "We strongly criticise the statement made by Archbishop Marino. The diplomat has misused his immunity by interfering with matters of the country."
"He has only been here for a month and half and already he has caused us so much concern. What more two years?"
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali also clearly stated his displeasure saying, "First, we criticise his statement. Second, he has seven days to retract his statement."" Third, if he fails to do so, we will urge the government to shut the embassy and chase him out," he said while cautioning, "He has to mind his words," reported Malaysian Insider.
Ibrahim also urged the PM's support in taking a firm stand and dealing with the matter at the earliest.
While Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom from the Prime Minister's Department said in a statement on Saturday, "The religious tolerance in this country should be taken into account when issuing statements that could be interpreted as disrupting racial harmony in Malaysia."
However, the president of the Council of Churches Malaysia, Bishop Philip Lok upholding Marino's support said that Christians have always been subjected to bashing from groups like Perkasa and others and wanted the PM's intervention to "do the right thing and reject extremism".
The archbishop's move was lauded by The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) deputy president Jagir Singh who said Marino had done the right thing and supported what was true.
As for retraction of Marino's statement, Singh believed it was unjustified, "It is not fair to ask him to do that. It is his right. The Archbishop's stand is correct."
To contact the editor, e-mail: editor@ibtimes.com
(End)
