Cabinet...not the Minister that wants to ban '...the use of the word 'Allah' ..." , interesting

If I have been praying in Bahasa Melayu - as a Christian I also use the word Allah to refer to my God...as the name that I call my God - but now it seems that the Malaysian Courts are going to decide whether I, a non-Muslim, can call God ... Allah or not.

I do not think so.

This is a question of faith ...of matters between me and my God - and surely no court of law, or some Minister or some government is going to tell me how I am to address my own God. My God is Allah. I believe in Allah. I pray to Allah...

To even suggest that some words cannot be used by others but by only one particular ethnic or religious group is nonsense.

For a long time, many felt that it was just the 'narrow-minded' home Minister and his Minisitry who were behind the call to ban Catholics and Christians ...and Sikhs from using the word 'Allah' - but it seems that it is coming from the cabinet - the UMNO-led BN cabinet, where we also have Ministers from MCA, MIC, etc....

The Home Ministry may take legal action against the Catholic weekly, Herald, over its continued use of the word "Allah" in this week's issue.

Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar warned that the show of defiance could cause conflict and anger among other races in the country.

"We should abide by the law and the government's decision. The decision to ban the use of the word 'Allah' in its publication does not come from the ministry but from the cabinet.

"If anything happens, then don't put the blame on us. I will refer this matter to our legal unit." - New Straits Times, 23/1/2009, Syed Hamid warns the 'Herald'

Mind you - this is a question of faith - a question of religion...and it is best that this rather 'ignorant' Malaysian Prime Minisiter and Cabinet do seriously consider their threats and actions - it is best for all that this issue to be dropped soonest.

All Malaysian Christians, Catholics and Sikhs, and also all Malaysian Muslims and Hindus, who see this attempted ban on the usage of the term 'Allah' as wrong should go forth and lobby their respective Cabinet members.

The weekly's editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, was quoted by AFP as saying on Tuesday that he intended to continue doing so until the court rules on the issue next month.

"We find this restriction on the use of 'Allah' unacceptable when we have been using it as a translation for the word 'God' for centuries in Malaysia," he was quoted as saying.

The government last month ordered a ban on the Herald's Malay edition until the court makes its decision, as part of conditions for it to be allowed to continue publishing in English, Chinese and Tamil.

Andrew had also said Munshi Abdullah, the father of modern Malay literature, translated the Bible into Malay in 1852 and he also translated the word "God" as "Allah".

"So, there is strong historical proof of what has been used for centuries. - New Straits Times, 23/1/2009, Syed Hamid warns the 'Herald'

Note that it is only UMNO ...BN that is making this an issue. PAS (which has always been painted as Islamic extremist) have no issue about Christians and others using the word Allah...

Who brought up this 'sensitive issue' Mr Minsiter? Let us not forget that it is the government that did it when they tried to place restrictions on the usage of the word 'Allah'.

Why now - we wonder? Is it another desperate attampt to lobby back the support of Muslims in Malaysia?

Look at MIC...it is great that they are finally getting concerned about 'death in police custody'...but I wonder whether it is real concern - or just another attempt to get back Malaysian Indian support...