(Pic by Nikolai Mamluke / Dreamstime) THE argument that Malaysians are being asked to accept over the “Allah” issue sounds like this: “Muslims are the majority in this country. In a democracy, the majority’s wishes should be prioritised. Christians may have the right to use the word ‘Allah’, but why do it when it provokes […]
Herald
“Christians won’t stop using Allah”
By Ding Jo-AnnTHE attacks on Malaysian churches were a shocking way to start 2010. The unprecedented violence made headlines internationally as the foreign media pulled apart Malaysia’s carefully constructed image as a moderate Muslim nation. Following the attacks, there have been calls for Christians to drop their claim to refer to God as “Allah” for the sake […]
Allah debate #1
By Ding Jo-Ann and Lainie Yeoh*Quote by Dr Mohd Farid Mohd Shahran taken from “Allah” can be discussed calmly, The Nut Graph, 12 Jan 2010 The Nut Graph needs your support Please take our five-minute reader survey
PMs assured Christians of use of “Allah”
By Ding Jo-AnnPETALING JAYA, 13 Jan 2010: Even though the government banned the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims in 1986, the churches refrained from court action for more than 20 years because of assurances from two prime ministers. ShastriCouncil of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri told The Nut Graph that Christian leaders were […]
“Allah” can be discussed calmly
By Ding Jo-Ann(Corrected at 4:38pm, 12 Jan 2010) KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan 2010: Malaysians are mature enough to openly discuss issues without resorting to violence, said the organiser of an 11 Jan 2010 public forum on the “Allah” issue. Despite being told by police to cancel last night’s forum following the spate of attacks on churches, the […]
Responding to “Allah” differently
By Ding Jo-Ann(Pic by Adrian Van Leen / sxc.hu) PREDICTABLE. This best sums up the reactions by some Muslim groups and the government to the High Court’s 31 Dec 2009 decision to lift the ban on the use of “Allah” by Catholic paper Herald. Malaysians were probably able to anticipate the newspaper headlines and ensuing comments, given […]
Herald still can’t use the word ‘Allah’
By Chua Sue-AnnKUALA LUMPUR, 28 May 2009: Catholic weekly The Herald is still prohibited from using the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia version after the Kuala Lumpur High Court today quashed an application to stay its annual publication permit’s condition. The Herald was seeking to quash the condition attached to its annual publication permit dated 7 […]
Church can challenge “Allah” ban
(Archbishop’s ring image source: archway.org.my) KUALA LUMPUR, 24 April 2009: The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur was given leave by the High Court here today to quash the Home Ministry’s decision prohibiting the use of the word “Allah” in the Herald Catholic Weekly. Archbishop Datuk Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam was also granted leave to apply for […]
The problem with the “Allah” ban
By Deborah Loh and Shanon ShahIT is bewildering that a gazette on such a significant matter of public interest as the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims was issued and then rescinded just 24 hours after it was announced. Did not Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar spot the mistake in the ruling, which he signed? The gazette, […]
Handling of “Allah” usage disappointing
By Daniel ChaiCOUNCIL of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) Youth is disappointed and deeply regrets the Home Ministry’s lack of order and clarity in its handling of the restriction over the usage of “Allah”, involving the Bahasa Malaysia edition of the Roman Catholic Church’s publication Herald. The lack of order and clarity is obvious from the earlier prohibition […]
