1. Malaysiakini(http://www.malaysiakini.com)
Alkitab 'printing error' only in the peninsula?, 20 July 2013
‘A book that is wrongly printed in peninsular Malaysia is at the same time considered correctly printed in East Malaysia. Umnoboleh.'
Can't compare Ibrahim Ali with Alvivi, says minister
Survivor: Get the facts right, Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan. The error in the Bible is the perception of Malays like Ibrahim Ali.
By threatening the burning of the Bible is an insult to the Christians, especially those worshipping God in the Malay language. Your argument is lopsided. We are not defending the Alvivi couple. Neither should you be defending Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali.
The act of both, whether it is Alvivi (bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee) or Ibrahim, hurts the feeling and offended the respective communities. What irks the public is the selective persecution, which is more heinous than the offence committed by Ibrahim Ali or Alvivi.
Geronimo: Okay, Abdul Rahman, what about Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria for sending false text messages saying that a mass baptism of Muslims was taking place at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Silibin, Perak.
As a result a mob gathered outside the church. The event was actually 100 children receiving their first Holy Communion and not a baptism ceremony involving Muslims. Had it not for the timely intervention of the police, the mob could have gotten out of hand and people killed in the melee.
The whole incident had traumatised everyone, especially the children, when the crowd started to act menacingly. Did the mufti apologise? No. All he did was to see the sultan, and he came out saying that the sultan was happy with his explanation.
So Abdul Rahman, I look forward to you twisting this fact into something else. You people are sick, real sick and urgently need treatment.
Ann: Since when was Ibrahim Ali appointed the authority on whether the bibles are correctly printed? Who is he to correct "printing errors" in the Bible?
FellowMalaysian: If Alvivi's actions are as inflammatory as to "cause friction among religions" as enthused by Rahman Dahlan, is he claiming that Ibrahim Ali's exhortation for the burning of the Alkitab will not incite religious animosity?
Abdul Rahman's claim that Ibrahim Ali called for the burning of the Alkitab as there were printing errors. If it were true, shouldn't it be the duty of the Christian order to perform such sacred acts? What business does a non-Christian like Ibrahim Ali got to do with misprinted Alkitab?
Invariably, without a doubt, it is regrettable to infer that Abdul Rahman's concern and attention is focused on the well-being of a distinct half of the population while leaving the other half frustrated, indignant and aghast wondering how a minister entrusted with duties of looking after their well-being has now just snarled at them.
Anonymous #02382443: All Malaysian irrespective of race, religion or creek should have no sympathy for idiots who are a disgrace to themselves and all associated with them.
They deserve the highest punishment prescribed. Don't compare them with others. Two wrong do not make a right.
Anonymous #44199885: Would the minister sing the same tune if a person were to call for the burning of the Sikh, Hindu, Islam or other religious holy books and scriptures because they were wrongly printed?
Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee did commit a wrong and should face the consequences of their action. It should be the same for Ibrahim Ali.
Failing to take action against Ibrahim Ali sends the message that those connected to the ruling party need never worry about the consequences of committing crimes against the people and our country.
This double standards undermines public confidence in BN and is a travesty of justice and violates the right of every Malaysian to be treated equally before the law. It is a good thing that Malaysians of all races, and in particular the Malays, see through this.
SpongeBob: Today in Malaysia, arresting, charging and prosecuting is very much politically motivated and highly influenced by emotions of race and religion.
Some are making much more seditious statement but no action has been taken, whereas for the one making a lesser degree of seditious statement, the process of prosecution is fast and immediate and with a heavy penalty.
What kind of precedent are we setting? What has happened to all those who took the oath to enforce and administer the law fairly? Is the oath a farce?
2zzzxxx: Tell me, Abdul Rahman, what will happen if someone were to suggest the burning the Quran in public?
Don't try sugarcoating Ibrahim Ali's call for the burning of bibles. Your government practises selective prosecution base on the person's race, religion and political leaning.
Gods Messenger: I hope the authorities will realise that the fault was when no action was taken against Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin over his racist remarks on the Hindu gods, hence others took it for granted that no action would be taken subsequently.
So do you now understand where the fault lies? Selective prosecution must end.
Lim Chong Leong: A book that is wrongly printed in peninsular Malaysia is at the same time considered correctly printed in East Malaysia. Umno boleh.
And the printing is done is Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world. There, too, it is correctly printed. The minister of well-being is clearly only interested in Umno's well-being.
・The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakinisubscribers.
2.The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
At least they agreed on one thing: only in Malaysia is Allah an issue, 5 September 2013
by Jennifer Gomez
In a heated online television discussion yesterday, three Muslim scholars were still agreed on one thing: that the use of the word “Allah” to describe gods of different religions – including the Christian god – is an issue only in Malaysia and nowhere else in the world.
But it still was an issue to two of the scholars as they argued there was an agenda behind Christians using Allah to refer to their god in Malay bibles.
"Christianity is said to be over 2,000 years old. They should have a big vocabulary bank to choose from to refer to God. The fact that they chose Allah was evidence that they have an agenda," argued Dr Khalif Muammar Harris, associate professor of the Center for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilization at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Agreeing with him, another panellist echoed the refrain of some that Christians had used the word to mislead East Malaysians to convert them to Christianity. Making this point was Dr Yusri Mohamad, chairman of the Coalition of Supporters of Islam (Pembela), who wanted the word "Allah" banned in Malay bibles.
"It is a Christian virus in the country. They cannot be faulted for having their own missionaries, but they are propagating the virus of pluralism, that all religions are the same," he said.
The forum "Is Allah exclusive to Islam – Law, Faith and Politics" was organised by MySuara.net, an online TV portal yesterday.
It was moderated by ex-Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin and held as a curtain raiser to Putrajaya's appeal set to be heard on Tuesday.
The appeal is against a 2009 High Court ruling that allowed the Catholic Church to use the word "Allah" in its weekly newspaper, the Herald.
Dr Asri, in his opening comments, said the word Allah was in a Catholic bible he bought in Jordan some time ago.
"They have been using the word a long time ago, and so it’s a non-issue in the Arab world," he noted.
But Dr Yusri responded that the word was currently being misused in the Malay bible.
"Yes, the problem is exclusive to Malaysia, but my personal opinion is it cannot be used in bibles. The National Fatwa Council also felt the same.
"The world would not turn upside down for the Christians if they are not allowed to use the word. It is actually not a big issue to them even if the word is banned. It’s not as though they don't have an alternative word that will not upset their Muslim friends," he said.
The third panellist, PAS Member of Parliament for Shah Alam Khalid Samad, felt that it was not an issue.
He argued that instead of banning the word from non-Muslim tracts, religious leaders and scholars should instead educate and create awareness on what Allah means to Muslims.
"We should try to make them understand and not make it seem that Islam in Malaysia is different from the rest of the world," said Khalid.
For this, he earned a rebuke from Dr Khalif who expressed shock that Khalid was taking a stand that was contrary to the ulama.
Dr Khalif argued that until now, the consensus among the ulama was not to support the use of the word by non-Muslims.
"It’s not about freedom of religion, but about respecting the sensitivities of Muslims, they should know their responsibility," Dr Khalif said.
Khalid shot back, "Allah didn't ask us to fight. He asked us to explain what Allah means."
Dr Asri then asked the panellists if the same hardline approach against Christians would be taken against Sikhs, if Muslims embraced Sikhism.
Sikhs also use Allah in their holy scripture and have taken a similar stand to the Catholics, pointing to the long-time usage of the word Allah in Malaysia and other countries by other religions.
Dr Khalif replied, "The issue here is Christianisation, where they are using the word Allah to convert Muslims. The Sikhs are not doing this."
But Khalid responded, "Our defence is knowledge, let us use that, and not use the issue to make the situation more tense."
Agreeing with Dr Asri that dialogue was the way forward, Dr Yusri said that on certain occasions, Muslim and non-Muslim representatives have met to discuss issues, but added that it was too late now as the Christians had taken the case to court.
Last month, the same court rejected the church's application to strike out Putrajaya's appeal.
On December 31, 2009, judge Lau Bee Lan allowed the church's judicial review application and lifted the home minister's ban, declaring it illegal, null and void.
The Herald is published in four languages, and has been using the word Allah as a translation for God in its Bahasa Malaysia-language section, catering to East Malaysians in the peninsula, since September 1995. The government argues that Allah should be used exclusively by Muslims.
(End)
