Pakatan Rakyat should intervene in non-exclusivity of "Allah" usage case

It would be good if Pakatan Rakyat, or the PKR, DAP and PAS should also intervene in the Catholic Herald case....

WHY? Because all Malaysians would really like to know what Pakatan Rakyat's position is on the matter, and as such they should intervene in this case as well...

Speaking at this ceramah taking this position or that is not enough (for after all, we know politicians - and how many cater to the crowd, changing positions depending on their audience..)

What is that case all about?

The applicant Roman Catholic Archbishop of KL Murphy Pakiam, had on March 19, filed for a judicial review against the internal security minister and the government over an order that banned the Herald from using the word "Allah" in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

The government believes the word is exclusive to Muslims and threatened to close down the newspaper if it defied the prohibition.

The archbishop, on behalf of the weekly, is seeking several declarations from the court.

Among them, the Herald wants the court to declare that the decision to prohibit it from using the word "Allah" in its publication is null and void and that the Herald is entitled to use the word in the publication and that the word "Allah" is not exclusive to the religion of Islam. - The Malaysian Insider, 9/7/2008 - "Catholic Herald suit attracts more parties"

7 State Islamic Religious Council from the Federal Territories, Perak, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Johor.

Malaysian Gurdwaras Council have applied to intervene...

We are still waiting for maybe the rest of the Christian Churches in Malaysia to intervene...

Before the 2008 General Elections, during campaigning period..

The PAS candidate in my area was very clear that the word "Allah" was not for exclusive Muslim usage only - hence the other religions can also use it.

Sadly, the PKR candidate was NOT THAT CLEAR - he said that he was not well-versed in theology BUT in his personal view, he saw no problem for Christians and others to use the word "Allah"

Anwar Ibrahim -- ye, the de facto leader of the Pakatan Rakyat - what is the position of the Pakatan Rakyat on this matter? Is it the same as the position of the Barisan Nasional??

Pakatan Rakyat - do not HIDE and avoid making a STAND now on this very important issue..

Pakatan Rakyat - Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PAS and DAP should also intervene...

Same too with regard to those BN political parties who some say may hold a very different view from the BN government - if you do not, then clearly MIC, MCA, GERAKAN, .....all do take the BN government's position...

Taking a stand and a position on a matter like this is not easy ---- but it must be done.

Or, is the position of the State Religious Councils of Perak, Penang, Selangor and Kedah - the position of the Pakatan Rakyat?

This is a REAL issue - so make a stand.