Kadayan Journal

Your Opinion matters

See letters below:

Thank you ladies and gentlemen for responding to my article “Muslim Exclusive word “Allah” I received many emails, some requested not to publish it in the blog.

Some thought I’m a songwriter, a bass guitar player and another thought I’m a teacher obviously those are new to me, just as I’m new to them. While another group sent sms, with lots of jokes, these are the closer ones, I like that too.

The remaining ones you may find them in the comments column.

Nearly more than 90% of responses are about the same. I’ve been in fact looking for something different.

One email though, from an old friend of mine, which I would like to highlight here. I’ve not asked permission from him to publish it. He may take legal action against me for publishing without his permission. I tried contacting him twice but no avail, his hp seemed to be switched off. I therefore leave the mercy on him.

The idea of posting his email rather than keeping it to myself is for us to share the views. I don’t see any absolute wrong nor do I see absolute right views yet. Just because one disagrees to one’s views it doesn’t mean one is bloody wrong.

I would reply his email at later stage, meanwhile let others respond too.

By the way it isn’t that difficult to see where one’s stands, in our context; I’m referring to political stands. By reading one’s saying, writings or doing is enough to provide inkling. One little note, no matter how much one tries to steer clear-apolitical, the more one’s tries to explain, the clearer one’s stand is, after all Kota Kinabalu or Kuching is a small place, people can smell one another even if one is hiding in a bathroom… enjoy your reading.

Amde Sidik

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Abd Jalil Haji Ghani wrote:

Dear all,

I read with interest all the past e mails that have been sent to me, some carried weights but most, mere frustration and expression of emotion. I do not wish to get myself involved in condemning the government nor do I wish to be branded as a supporter or opposition sympathiser. However, there are areas that need to be addressed and I shared some of your views. Much have been said about the weaknesses of the government but none given credits. I am sure, as a responsible citizen, we have to be fair and give credits where they are due.

I have seldom responded to all your comments but when you touched on one’s religion, as a Muslim, I am obliged to give my opinion and merely from the point of view of a scholar rather than an extreme believer.

Now that I have given you an introduction to my view, I would like to clear your understanding on the use of the word “ALLAH”.

I would like to start with a question?

1.  When the Priest who is in charge of the Herald decided to challenge the ruling made by the government, what is he trying to prove?

2.  Did the government ban the use of the word ALLAH for the Christians in churches?

3.  Did the government ban the Malay version of the bible that uses the word ALLAH?

As far as I know, the Malaysian Constitution stated very clearly that there is freedom of religious practices but in the same connection, that freedom is limited to not making attempt to preach the Muslims. In the court ruling, the court recognized the constitutional freedom but failed to recognize the supremacy of the Islamic religion as the official religion in the country. The case should have never been allowed to go to court as it challenges the country’s official religion and thereafter, challenges the official keeper of the Islamic religion i.e. The Yang Di Pertuan Agong.

The ban on the use of the word ALLAH initially was directed at the Herald. Yes, although the Herald is a religious newspapers, there is a prevaling influence that it goes public. Not that the Muslims are scared of being influenced or converted but we can’t stop the issue being discussed publicly. Once it goes public, it falls under the infringement of the Malaysian Constitution.

Secondly, I refer back to my question no 1. What is the priest trying to prove when the ban is only for the use of the word ALLAH in the Herald? This is not a religious issue but simply an issue of the word to be used in the newspapers! By challenging it in court, it becomes an open fight. The court may rule either way but the loser will be both parties. There will be no end except the public will be involved and there is no power that can stop the mind of the believers. Don’t blame the government.

Thirdly, The government did not even touch on the way how the other religions conduct their prayers in their own home of GOD. All religions are allowed to pray the way they want to. As a Muslim, I have attended churches’ ceremonies, Buddist practices, Indians’ temples and so on. I have seen the others prayed and never made any comment or opinion. I respect whatever they do including addressing their God/s. That was never an issue. I have also never heard the government making any comment or ruling on what other religions are doing in their own home of GOD.

Fourthly, The government has never made any comment or opinion on the contents of the bible, be it on the English,Chinese, Latin or Malay version.

Now that I have briefly explained the scenario, I would like all of you to ponder on my proposal.

1.  Since the Herald is a newspapers version, it should not try to propagate the public but just focus on religious issues concerning the Christians. When I mentioned the word “the public”, I am referring to a prevailing influence as the Heralds, although limited to Christian, there is a possibility that it is distributed freely to the public as in the PKR Newspapers edition being distributed to the public although it is only licensed to members’ reading pleasure. The Heralds is a publication and therefore, must follow certain newspapers’ ethics i.e. by using universally accepted words and universally here means words that can be found in the English Dictionary. The word ALLAH as in the Oxford Dictionary of Current English says, the Muslim and Arab name of God (Arabic). So, universally, the word ALLAH is only meant for the Muslim and Arab name of God. However, there is nothing to stop any religions from using whatever word or words they choose to address anything in their own home of GOD. This is where we learn to respect each other.

2.  Since the case has been brought to court and as I mentioned earlier, both parties would be the loser, there is always a possibility that it would anger either party for whatever ruling that will be made thereafter. The best way to go forward to maintain harmony and peace is both parties must compromise. My proposal is not for the court to interfere in any religious interpretation. We can stop now but we need the Yang Di Pertuan Agong to address this issue. The Yang Di Pertuan Agong. being the Head of the country and the Keeper of the Islam should put all these matters to rest by issuing a Royal Assent to stop the Herald from using the word ALLAh in its publication and to allow all religions to use whatever words they choose in their own home of GOD ( this is already enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution). It is actually a very small issue and can be resolved if only we want to compromise and avoid further misunderstanding. A small contribution(sacrifice) for a bigger gain (peace and harmony).

All intellects must not aggrevate the situation. Politicians and political writers must diffuse the unhealthy situation by explaining the confusion and seek the royal involvement. Advise the priest who works for the Herald to stop trying to prove that he can win. Victory is achieved only if we have harmony and peace. Don’t let the situation become…..winning the battle but lost the war (menang berperang tetapi kampung tergadai).

Regards,

Abdul Jalil Haji Ghani

On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 9:26 AM, Charles Gau <charlesgau@kensteel.com> wrote:

Share my view.
This is not the Allah issue but the politic.

As i remember this issue started since 80s during mahathir time and he was smart and power enough to solved/handled it outside the court. He knew the court and federal constitution could not solve this issue furthermore UMNO were in a great power.

He managed to call malays to unite under the ”Orang Melayu”. Since he can control the government by his racist ideology and not necessary for him seriously to bring up the religion issue to call the malays.

UMNO used the word of “Orang Malayu” and “Kita Islam” in other hand warned other parties do the same. These racist gained on their politics mileage and we can see the current result. Failure as multi ethnics and religion country.

Now B.N lack of malays supporters because the malay feed up with the UMNO racist ideology and found out most of the poor people in malaysia still bumis/malays (Sabah/Sarawak) after 5 decades of  independent.

The malay UMNOs supporters get used by the UMNO member for wealth in last few decades.

The remaining point to get back the malays support is only by religion. Hope the malay will unite in the name of Islam.

Look at the first statement from malays leaders after the court allowing Allah for christian, they support each other to gain malays confident but second day all the statement/everything change because they found the religion issue also failed to unite/gain malays supports.

Suddenly the B.N act as a hero to solve the issue on behalf of the people. By fact, the B.N plant this racist and started the Allah issue but the wise malays can see the politic agenda behind the scene.

Only good government policies will solve current issues not only the Allah for better malaysian people future.

God Bless Malaysia

By Sarawak IP
Charles Gau