DAP National Vice Chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim had urged the federal government to rethink its insistence on banning Christians from using the word “Allah” in the religious service before the high court confirm its ruling.
The minister in the prime minister’s department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had been reported earlier as saying that he wanted all states without a ruler like Penang, Melaka, Federal Territories, Sabah and Sarawak to follow the gazette ban on the word “Allah” for non-Muslim publications.
As such, it is very unfair for Zahid to force all those states to gazette the ban without taking into account of the court’s judgment.
It is very clear that Zahid and the rest of the Umno leaders are using this sensitive issue simply to fight for positions in their party elections which is due to be held at the end of this month.
The home minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar had issued a gazette on last 16 February allowing the use of the word “Allah” in non-Muslim publications, only to reverse his decision later, reasoning that it was an error.
Tunku Aziz also mentioned that what is important is to accept the reality that Malaysia is a country where we share our lives and nobody has the right to portray himself as superior to another.
Showing posts with label Herald. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herald. Show all posts
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Herald gets nod for Malay language but not "Allah"
The BN federal government will allow the Malay edition of a Catholic newspaper to resume publication, lifting a ban imposed for its use of the word "Allah," an official said today.
The Herald, the country's main Roman Catholic newspaper, will not be allowed to use "Allah" as a translation for "God," however, said Che Din Yusoh, a senior official with the Home Ministry's publications control unit.
"If they stop printing the word 'Allah,' they can publish anytime," Che Din told The Associated Press. "You can use another word. It's permissible for us," he said, adding that the decision would be conveyed to the Herald by tomorrow.
The ministry had ordered the Herald last week to stop printing its Malay edition for violating a 2007 ban on the use of the word "Allah," except to refer to the Muslim God. The government says using the word could confuse Muslims, even though the newspaper is read almost exclusively by Christians.
Malay language is widely spoken by many indigenous Christian believers in Sabah and Sarawak states, who read the Herald's Malay edition regularly. The newspaper has continued to publish its English, Mandarin and Tamil editions.
The Herald has challenged the ban on "Allah" in court, saying that the translation has been used for centuries and that the Arabic word is a common reference to God that predates Islam. It says the ban is unconstitutional and threatens the religious freedom of the minorities in this nation.
The Herald, the country's main Roman Catholic newspaper, will not be allowed to use "Allah" as a translation for "God," however, said Che Din Yusoh, a senior official with the Home Ministry's publications control unit.
"If they stop printing the word 'Allah,' they can publish anytime," Che Din told The Associated Press. "You can use another word. It's permissible for us," he said, adding that the decision would be conveyed to the Herald by tomorrow.
The ministry had ordered the Herald last week to stop printing its Malay edition for violating a 2007 ban on the use of the word "Allah," except to refer to the Muslim God. The government says using the word could confuse Muslims, even though the newspaper is read almost exclusively by Christians.
Malay language is widely spoken by many indigenous Christian believers in Sabah and Sarawak states, who read the Herald's Malay edition regularly. The newspaper has continued to publish its English, Mandarin and Tamil editions.
The Herald has challenged the ban on "Allah" in court, saying that the translation has been used for centuries and that the Arabic word is a common reference to God that predates Islam. It says the ban is unconstitutional and threatens the religious freedom of the minorities in this nation.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
KDN’s ban on Herald unreasonable
The home affairs ministry (KDN) decision to ban the Catholic daily’s Herald publication in Bahasa Malaysia has been criticized and condemned as being unjust and does not reflect the federal government’s recognition on its local religious activities.
Instead, the KDN approval only allows the Herald to publish its articles in English, Chinese and Tamil. According to the editor of the Herald publication, the editorial is considering a possible legal action against the federal government and the ministry should these issues remain unresolved till then.
Can we imagine how ashamed we are for being disallowed to use our own national language if this were to make known to other people of different countries and region? The federal government’s move to ban the usage of Bahasa Malaysia in the Herald publication is a direct implication that the authorities were afraid of the so-called “conversion” onto the dominant community of this nation which might be carried out by the said Catholic daily.
In our federal constitution, the freedom of multi religious practice are guaranteed but in somehow restricted by the fact that to protect one religion which wanted to remain dominant and in control of the other religions. Is this really fair anyway?
Instead, the KDN approval only allows the Herald to publish its articles in English, Chinese and Tamil. According to the editor of the Herald publication, the editorial is considering a possible legal action against the federal government and the ministry should these issues remain unresolved till then.
Can we imagine how ashamed we are for being disallowed to use our own national language if this were to make known to other people of different countries and region? The federal government’s move to ban the usage of Bahasa Malaysia in the Herald publication is a direct implication that the authorities were afraid of the so-called “conversion” onto the dominant community of this nation which might be carried out by the said Catholic daily.
In our federal constitution, the freedom of multi religious practice are guaranteed but in somehow restricted by the fact that to protect one religion which wanted to remain dominant and in control of the other religions. Is this really fair anyway?
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